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I have adjusted the list, taking account of your views and those of many other people.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Foinavon by David Owen
20. Not by a long shotI was looking out for a book which I saw but didn’t buy and wish I had – quite lavish and big, a pictorial history of the great Newmarket training yards but can’t find it – any help appreciated.
“When Bobby met Christy,” by Declan Colley,should definitely be on the list. It’s about the great chaser Captain Christy and his jockey Bobby Beasley. It makes for painful reading, brutal tragedy mixed with the triumph, but is diligently researched and beautifully written.
On the down side, how is Dawn Run, by Anne Holland on the list? An enthralling story made into a dull, poorly-written heap of shiteThanks for the reply. The question is ‘which books will stand the test of time?’, not ‘which are the best written?’. I think it is more likely that, in 100 years time, racing historians will want to read about Dawn Run, Champion Hurdler and Gold Cup winner, rather than Captain Christy, and will seek out Anne Holland’s book irrespective of whether it is well written or not. However, if more people propose the book you suggest then it will force its way onto the list.
Many thanks for replying.I was looking out for a book which I saw but didn’t buy and wish I had – quite lavish and big, a pictorial history of the great Newmarket training yards but can’t find it – any help appreciated.
Was it “The Heath and the Horse: A History of Newmarket Heath”? It is quite big, a bit lavish, its historical, its Newmarket, it has pictures, but it is about not just about the training yards. But it might be the one you seek. By David Oldrey, Timothy Cox & Richard Nash.
Over 600 views and opinions and still ‘A Long Time gone’ is judged to be the most likely book to still be used in 100 years time. A book which contains a detailed history of 90 former courses.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Foinavon by David Owen
20. Not by a long shotI cant see that many opinions here..
either way i disagree that books about specific horses will capture imagination to any great extent. Surely timeform would be the best source unless its a superbly put together piece with a truly great story such as Seabiscuit
Ive tried both mccoy bios and quickly gave up. Boring
Jeffrey Bernard isnt on the list.
I totally agree that people will want to still research The Derby/Oaks in 100 years time and few books on the subject are more comprehensive than the Michael Church pair. The same is almost certainly true about the Grand National, but which of the Grand National books is still likely to be referred to in a century?
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. The Derby Stakes/The Oaks by Michael Church
3. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
4. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
5. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
6. McIllvanney on horse racing
7. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
8. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
9. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
10. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
11. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
12. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
13. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
14. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
15. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
16. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
20. Foinavon by David OwenOn the subject of The Derby Stakes by Michael Church.
He has in the past published 2 books. 1 in 1997 The Derby Stakes (1780-1997) 608 pages and appears to be in landscape format and have a green cover with a limited edition of 1314 copies.
1 in 2006 The Derby Stakes – The complete History 1780-2006 640 pages and appears to be in portrait format and has a purple cover with a limited edition of 1140 copies.
There has recently been another book published The Derby Stakes ‘The Blue Ribbon of the Turf’ Revised and Updated 1780 – 2016 235 pages in portrait format with a limited edition of 650 copies priced at £65.
I purchased the recent book and, for the cost, I was slightly disappointed. Although each Derby is dealt with and has lots of facts I was expecting more historical descriptions on each years Derby, similar to Roger Mortimers book The History of the Derby Stakes published in 1973
Having not seen any of Michael Churchs 2 previous books I was wondering if anybody has seen these and could let me know if each Derby is dealt with the same as in this revised edition.
Surely there are two categories – books that HAVE stood the test of time (e.g. the Lambton one) and those people believe WILL stand the test of time.
That is an excellent, very useful appraisal. Have you also purchased a copy of ‘The Oaks’ by Michael Church?
I am sure that one of his Derby books will still be used in 100 years time, and include it in the list without reference to a particular edition.As time goes on surely the two lists merge into one. If the same survey had been carried out in 1924 then ‘Men and Horses I have known’ would surely have made the list, and I am convinced, like you, that it will remain on the list for a further 8 years i.e. survived for a century. As you rightly say, others on the list currently being assembled are ones we believe will still be around in 100 years time. Chris Pitt’s A Long Time gone is now 20 years old, and most respondents believe it will still be being used in a further 80 years time, although no one can predict whether a more detailed reference book of old courses will emerge in the meantime.
I did not purchase a copy of the Oaks.
Apparently if you buy both books at the same time you can get them for £99.
I was not tempted though £65 for 1 book was enough for me.
Chestnut I have the 1997 book by Michael Church, dedicated to Phantom.
It gives a brief background to each winner and then a description of the race. Each year is covered by 2 pages, the second page gives details of the winner’s pedigree.
A lovely book but if you want a proper history of the race with historical facts probably not what you are seeking.
By the way I also have the new History of the St. Leger by Tony Barber, 495 pages including index and in large portrait format.
Not read it yet but it looks to be a thorough history of the race.Saw on the Injured Jockeys Fund website on Monday, under Fundraising events, a series of books called ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gone tomorrow’ and decided to buy all 4. Hope that they arrive today, for they purport to cover over 1500 former places where racing took place in the UK and Ireland. Given that Chris Pitt’s book proved so popular when covering 90 courses, it will be interesting to see whether books covering over 1500 ‘courses’ stands the test of time.
The link to the IJF page is:
http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/whos-fundraising.aspGiven that Chris Pitt’s book ‘A Long Time Gone’ , which covered 90 former racecourses, was rated so highly on this survey, I wonder where the IJF recently advertised ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow’ might end up on the list given it provides a history of almost 1600 former courses?
http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/fundraising-news.asp?$=323&o=
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. The Derby Stakes/The Oaks by Michael Church
3. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
4. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
5. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
6. McIllvanney on horse racing
7. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
8. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
9. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
10. Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow by John Slusar
11. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
12. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
13. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
14. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
15. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
16. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
17. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
18. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
19. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
20. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
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