Henry Cecil: Trainer of Genius - Hardcover

Brough Scott

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1905156847 ISBN 13: 9781905156849

Publisher: Racing Post, 2013

Synopsis

The story of trainer Henry Cecil is one of the great redemption songs of sporting history: decades of success at the highest level followed by years in the professional and personal depths then a glorious resurrection topped by the unbeatable Frankel, widely considered the greatest racehorse of all time. Hollywood could not have scripted the tale better. Henry Cecil is the trainer who did not fit the mould: the shy, foppish figure who despite his aristocratic profile unleashed waves of popular affection previously unknown in Flat racing. The public loves Cecil, and he returns that affection with a bemused tilt of the head and self-effacing humour. Despite that self-deprecation, Cecil's record testifies to his being one of the greatest racehorse trainers in history, with 25 wins in English Classics to his credit including the Derby four times as well as countless other big-race victories around the world. But what makes the figure of Henry Cecil so compelling is the extraordinary personality behind the records, and no one is better placed to chronicle the giddy highs and desperate lows of his story than Brough Scott. The former jockey and now leading sports journalist has witnessed the Cecil genius at close quarters for decades, and tells the full story with honesty and candour as well as admiration and affection. This is one of the most gripping sporting stories ever told, and its cast list includes luminaries of the racing world such as Lester Piggott, Steve Cauthen and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, as well as equine heroes and heroines such as Kris, Oh So Sharp, Reference Point, Bosra Sham and the incomparable Frankel. The Henry Cecil story is an emotional rollercoaster. Stand by for an exhilarating ride. Winner of Horse Racing Book of the Year at the 2014 British Sports Book Awards.

About this title

About the Author:

BROUGH SCOTT, has covered racing for many years, broadcasting for ITV and Channel 4, as well as co-founding the Racing Post. Voted Best Racing Journalist of the Year 2010, he has written numerous books, including Of Horses and Heroes and Galloper Jack.

Review:

"By far the best book on racing I have ever read. It combines a truly extraordinary story, one that no novelist would have dared to submit, with brilliant writing by an author who is almost as knowledgeable about horses and the turf as his subject. It is a just tribute to a man who deserves to be admired beyond even his achievements."  —Spectator

"Scott's achievement has been to explain Cecil's genius and charisma without shying away from the more complex issues. The result is a wonderfully rounded portrait of one of the most endearing figures in British sport."  —Sunday Times

"Scott's tour of Cecil's inner self is as fascinating as it is illuminating."  —Daily Telegraph

About this edition

• Publisher: Racing Post
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1905156847
• ISBN 13: 9781905156849
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256