Alan Patterson

Raised around cotton, cows, and horses, Alan Patterson was in the saddle at the age of 3. By the time he turned 5, he wanted nothing more than to become a World Champion Cowboy. After his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Alan began to ride racehorses and, at the age of 10, started to compete in match races. At the age of 17, Alan became a professional jockey.

The Vietnam War interrupted Alan’s horse racing career. He joined the Marines and saw combat in Vietnam. As his company’s “tunnel rat,” Alan distinguished himself and was quickly promoted to Sergeant.

Back home in the United States, Alan continued to ride professionally again. His highly successful career spanned 28 years, and he rode at 74 racetracks. Riding injuries finally forced Alan to retire.

In 2003, Alan made his motion picture debut when famous jockey Chris McCarron asked him to be the stunt rider and double on the Oscar-nominated film “Seabiscuit.” On the set, the movie's stars, Jeff Bridges and Elizabeth Banks, urged Alan to turn his adventurous life on and off the racetrack into a book. Following their advice, Alan began to write what is now “A Hole Through The Wind.”