Montello Public Library

Out of the clouds, the unlikely horseman and unwanted colt who conquered the sport of kings, Linda Carroll and David Rosner

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 290-302) and index

individual biography

index present

non fiction

Out of the clouds

bibliography

1019836194

Linda Carroll and David Rosner

the unlikely horseman and unwanted colt who conquered the sport of kings

In the wake of World War II, as turmoil and chaos were giving way to a spirit of optimism, Americans were looking for inspiration and role models showing that it was possible to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top-and they found it in Stymie, the failed racehorse plucked from the discard heap by trainer Hirsch Jacobs. Like Stymie, Jacobs was a commoner in "The Sport of Kings," a dirt-poor Brooklyn city slicker who forged an unlikely career as racing's winningest trainer by buying cheap, unsound nags and magically transforming them into winners. The $1,500 pittance Jacobs paid to claim Stymie became history's biggest bargain as the ultimate iron horse went on to run a whopping 131 races and win 25 stakes, becoming the first Thoroughbred ever to earn more than $900,000. The Cinderella champion nicknamed "The People's Horse" captivated the masses with his rousing charge-from-behind stretch runs, his gritty blue-collar work ethic, and his rags-to-riches success story

At first sight -- "The pigeon man" -- From pigeons to platers -- Runyonesque -- The odd couple -- Staking his claim -- King of the claimers -- The winningest trainer ever -- Quest for a champion -- A kingdom for a horse -- Slow starter -- Claim to fame -- War horse -- Coming from out of the clouds -- "The people's horse" -- Assault on the record book -- The richest racehorse ever -- Striking gold -- Consummate closer -- The empire that Stymie built