Even horse lovers who are ambivalent about racing will love reading about how foals spend the first two years of their lives in Susan Nusser's Kentucky Derby Dreams. Her story starts at 7 a.m. on February 12, 2009, at the height of foaling season--illustrating those first few moments before and after a mare gives birth--and ends a year and a half later, at a sale where the youngsters, true Thoroughbreds all, will meet their new owners and become elite athletes.
Joe Taylor started Taylor Made ranch; now, 30 years later, four of his sons have turned a respected family business into a leading influence in horse management and sales practices. However, the real pleasure of reading Kentucky Derby Dreams is in getting to know the horses and experiencing what's involved in keeping them healthy and happy. Nusser addresses the more controversial aspects of Thoroughbred racing, too--many believe the recent tragic injuries are a result of the industry's shift from racing to the more lucrative breeding. Young horses are therefore raced less frequently, to avoid incurring losses that could impact their value, and as a result are trained less rigorously, left unprepared for the strain racing places on their bodies.
But the Taylors are not involved in the training and racing aspects of the industry. Their focus is on breeding sound, healthy horses that could one day become the next Derby champion. Reading about the Taylors' dedication to Thoroughbred horses is nearly as exciting as watching one cross the finish line. --Kristen Galles from Book Club Classics