A fiercely determined athlete, father, and soft-spoken Cajun, Randy Romero is one the greatest riders in Thoroughbred history. Despite enduring twenty-five major surgeries, burning more than sixty percent of his body due to an explosion, suffering physical abuse from his father, and self-abuse to meet certain weight requirements, Romero never considered quitting the sport for a second. He survived all of these setbacks to pursue his goals in racing, eventually retiring with a still record of 181 victories. More than fifty years old and undergoing dialysis, the jockey is a living legend.
Romero began his career as a nine year old in backwoods Louisiana. Determined to branch out to bigger venues, he soon won races at Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs, Churchill Downs, and even Keeneland in Kentucky. He eventually went on to win twenty-five riding titles at ten different racetracks with such notable horses as Wavering Monarch, Rocket's Magic, Personal Ensign, and Go for Wand.
In this candid biography, Bill Heller follows Romero's career from his humble beginnings to his final race. Romero's wife, mother, and those involved in the fast-paced world of Thoroughbred racing provide firsthand commentary on the sports star's life. Personal photographs of the jockey with his family, as well as images of the rider in victorious glory, accompany this riveting biography.
Award-winning author Bill Heller is the racing editor for Thoroughbred Style. In addition to publishing twenty books, he is the author of hundreds of magazine articles for approximately eighty different publications. He contributes regularly to Trainer Magazine and Canadian Sportsman and handicaps New York Thoroughbred racing for the Daily Gazette. The prior national president and chairman of the board of the United States Harness Writers Association, he serves as vice president of the Saratoga Harness Museum and Hall of Fame. Because of his expertise in Thoroughbred racing, Heller has been the recipient of ten awards for magazine writing, including two first place honors in the American Horse Publications awards, William Leggett Breeders' Cup Award, and the Eclipse Award for magazine writing on Thoroughbred racing. Having graduated with honors from the State University of Albany with a degree in political science and a minor in journalism, Heller resides in Albany, New York, with his wife.
