Synopses & Reviews
IPPY Award Bronze Medalist for Juvenile Fiction
Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist for Young Readers Fiction (8-12)
Winner of Mom's Choice Gold Medal
Kirkus 2012 Best of Indie Selection
Written from the horses point of view and filled with authentic details, this young adult novel chronicles the life of a well-bred Thoroughbred racehorse destined for greatness. After a promising—and winning—start on the path to the Triple Crown, a series of bad-luck events end Rajas racing career, and he finds himself pulled into the random world of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. His odyssey takes him from the breeding farms of Ocala, Florida, to the stakes races on the Kentucky Derby trail; from competing as a show jumper on the “A” show circuit to becoming a member of the New York City Mounted Police and witnessing the horrors of the livestock auction. Finally, Raja finds himself in a stable belonging to a retired steeplechase jockey and his 16-year-old niece, where he finally has a chance to realize his destiny.
Review
“Lifelong equestrian Hambleton makes an impressive outing as a first-time author of juvenile fiction, weaving her knowledge and love of horses, horsemanship, and the world of competitive racing into a moving narrative that will keep fellow horse-loving readers of any age enthralled.” —Kirkus
About the Author
Anne Hambleton has been involved with horses for more than 40 years as a trainer, amateur steeplechase jockey, and show jumper. She lives in Weybridge, Vermont. Margaret Kauffman is an illustrator, sculptor, and portrait artist who has received awards from the American Academy of Equine Art and the Kentucky Derby Museum. Her work has appeared on the cover of Chronicle of the Horse and in Abroad magazine, Country magazine, Equine Images, and Spur. She lives in Millerton, New York.