Secretariat

This is a wonderful coffee-table volume about the greatest thoroughbred race horse the world has known. It's loaded with all sorts of photos of the people involved in every aspect of his life from before he was foaled through training for the track and his life after he retired to stud. It is very well-written. I'm hooked on an online video of the Belmont Stakes so I had to have this book. It's luxurious, big and beautiful. If you remember the Belmont this is the book for you. If you are too young to remember that race you will learn about Secretariat's history and accomplishments. After all these years people still boast about owning one of his greatgrandchildren. It's doubtful his Belmont record will ever be broken.

I watched the Disney movie and then was compelled to look up all the old books on Big Red that I'd read before. It's funny, but the passage of time doesn't seem to lessen the emotion I feel about this amazing horse, and in reading this book, I found myself deeply involved again in all the players and the stories behind each race. I love the photos, and some of them brought tears, such as Secretariat being led off the track for the last time, Ron Turcotte kissing him goodbye, and especially the picture of Eddie Sweat, the groom, standing alone with his suitcase, back to the camera, but apparently wiping tears as he said goodbye to Secretariat at Claiborne farm. Those of us who have been impacted by this horse will love to go back in time with this story and these pictures, but a warning that the "Where They Are" section at the end can really bring up the emotions. You realize that not just the horse, but the people around him, touched you deeply. I'm glad there are books like this, videos, and a web site to help us keep Big Red alive in our hearts.

I was initially given a copy of this book in 1975. As a horse crazed teenager, I read every page of text and thumbed through the photographs hundreds, if not thousands of times. Secretariat was truly a magnificent racehorse who thrilled a nation in the Spring of 1973. Raymond G. Wolfe has captured all the splendor of "Big Red" in this coffee table worthy book. Although I still have my First Edition copy from 1975, I purchased an updated hardcopy in 2010 that included a chapter on the passing of Secretariat. And once again, I read every page of text and thumbed through the photographs as though it was the first time I had opened the book. For a brief moment, I was transported back in time to when I was a horse crazed teenager and Secretariat was moving like lightning around the one and a half mile Belmont track as he obliterated his competition by 31 lengths! Thank you Raymond G. Wolfe for the book and the gift of re-experiecing a glorious time in horse racing history!

Lots of gorgeous pictures and information on my favorite horse.

Love the coffee table book. Great quality. Addition to my Secretariat collection.

Why does Secretariat bring tears to our eyes ? A little less than perfection can make us smile, but this horse ("horse" is such an understatement)is so emotionally overwhelming, some of us cry. Although I haven't read the other books listed here, "Secretariat" by Raymond G. Woolfe may be the definitive book about this unique champion. There are details that put the reader at the scene and in the action. In the back of the book are special features: Secretariat's lineage (his bloodlines), his winning get (progeny), and biographical sketches of what happened to the significant persons in his life. (This feature of the book is especially interesting if you've seen the movie.)There is a copious supply of pictures, both black and white and color. If you buy this book, allow an hour just to look through it, then read it to relive vicariously the days of horseracing glory. I have the original newspaper page about his winning the Belmont,which I had considered selling. I think not; it's a physical means of contact over the years with a magnificent creature. This is a fulfilling book for anyone who loves horses, especially this one.

Excellent

This is a treasure of a book about Big Red. It is full of wonderful pictures, some showing off his exquisite conformation even at a very early age. The text is well written and helps to convey the endearing personality of this beautiful champion. If you are familiar only with his accomplishments on the track you only know half the story. His personality was the other half of the story. Secretariat was a real extrovert who was very attuned to people. This book is written in a way that gives you a sense of his personality and that is what I really appreciate about it--that and the beautiful pictures, of course. This book is written with warmth and respect and I find it a more enjoyable read than Nack's book on Secretariat which is primarily facts and racing stats.

Fantastic book with some marvelous photographs. Loved it.

I would enjoy any book on the subject of Big Red, but this book was particularly fine because of the pictures, many of them taken when Secretariat was actually racing. The standout photograph, for me, was the cover shot, of Secretariat launching himself into one of his lightning-fast rushes during a race. Once witnessed, never forgotten. The text does spend some time on Secretariat's growing months at The Meadow, but concentrates most of its time detailing all of Secretariat's races, complete with lots of insider information. There is also a final chapter about Secretariat's years at stud at Claiborne Farms, complete with information about his most outstanding offspring. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and have referred to the photographs and race details over and over. Add in a foreward by Ron Turcotte, Secretariat's jockey, on which strength I bought the book, and you have an excellent book for all fans of this unforgettably great race horse.

A lovely picture book about that most wonderful and loveable horse (and his also loveable peer, Riva Ridge). The text is uneven, tho there are sometimes gems, but the photos are good, and there are enough of them to satisfy. Some of the portraits of Secretariat, and some of the racing shots, are beautiful. He was such a beautiful horse. The Bill Nack book has much more detail, and while it had me gripped so that I read it all through, I found it pedestrian. No good for a child's imagination. This would be the one.

Love this book. Great gift or coffee table book of a wonderful moment in history.

Great story about a great horse. I was too young to appreciate Secretariat when he ran his races. However, I watched the movie just out and wondered more about the horse. (The movie is also amazing, watched the ending over and over). One of the things I noticed from the book was just how much more of a horse Secretariat was. The pictures of him show the "power" he possessed. While the horses used it the movie version were good, after viewing the real thing, they didn't even come close to showcasing his form. The book was an easy read and it told the real story not the movie version. It was also interesting to find out that a lot of his colts also went on to be champions.