Horse of a Different Color: A Tale of Breeding Geniuses, Dominant Females, and the Fastest Derby Winner Since Secretariat - Hardcover

Squires, Jim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1586481177 ISBN 13: 9781586481179

Publisher: PublicAffairs, 2002

Synopsis

The former editor of the Chicago Tribune tells the story of his entry into the world of thoroughbred breeding, profiles Kentucky's racehorse culture, and chronicles his successful breeding of Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner.

About this title

About the Author

James D. Squires has been breeding and raising horses in Kentucky since 1990. From 1981 to 1989 he was the editor of the Chicago Tribune, having previously been the paper's Washington bureau chief and the editor of the Orlando Sentinel. He is the author of two previous nonfiction books. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Squires lives with his wife Mary Anne at Two Bucks Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

Reviews

After a career in journalism that ended with his dismissal as the editor of the Chicago Tribune, Squires and his wife, known here as "the dominant female," decided to indulge their passion. They sunk their savings into a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky's bluegrass country and set out to breed good horses, thereby becoming among the biggest risk takers in a gambling game. For Squires, the risk was rewarded when he mated a modest mare with an unproven stallion and came up with Monarchos, the hero of last year's Kentucky Derby. Mixing the pride of a parent with a self-deprecating humor, Squires makes Monarchos' dramatic ascent to the pinnacle of his sport a ride we can share, just as he did. It's a ride most racing fans won't want to miss. Dennis Dodge
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The breeder of the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, Squires was previously the editor of the Chicago Tribune, whose staff won seven Pulitzers in eight years. But when he was terminated in a management shake-up, he decided to take his horse hobby to the next level. For 20 years his avocation had been raising reining horses, cutting horses, and jumpers. When he made breeding thoroughbred racehorses his second career, no one, himself included, believed that he could make a living at such a risk-filled business. However, using some of the same skills he had used as an editor a willingness to take risks, an ability to analyze a situation by separating fact from emotion, and maintaining a sense of humor Squires was able not only to make a living at breeding racehorses but to breed a horse whose speed in the Kentucky Derby was second only to Secretariat's. His story of this success is fast paced and fun to read. It will appeal not only to horseracing fans but also to people making midlife career changes. Readers who liked Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit and Joe Drape's Race for the Triple Crown will appreciate this book. Recommended for public libraries and libraries with racing collections. Patsy E. Gray, Huntsville P.L., AL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1586481177
• ISBN 13: 9781586481179
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320