Ashforth's Curiosities of Horseracing

(Hardback)

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Publishing Details

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Description

A sport based on one animal sitting on top of another and trying (usually) to be the first pair to reach a wooden stick is a curiosity in itself. So it's no surprise that horseracing is full of curiosities. The curiosities in this collection have been chosen to arouse interest. They are stories of those curious creatures people, and of horses. The curiosities are arranged in themes so that the reader can dip in and out, as the mood takes them. The collection should leave them with a benevolent view of an intriguing sport, if they didn't already have one. Owners, jockeys, the horses, racecourses, officials, prizes, trainers and staff, racing journalists, betting, bookmakers, punters, skulduggery one of Britain's best loved racing journalists David Ashforth has found the stories to capture the readers attention on all these topics and more. AUTHOR: David Ashforth was twice voted Horserace Writer of the Year, he worked for The Sporting Life and Racing Post and, in the USA, was a columnist for the Racing Times and Daily Racing Form. He is also a talented author having written Racing Crazy and The Bluffers Guide to Horseracing. 50 colour, 25 b/w illustrations

Reviews

Curiosities, to shorten the title, is just a lovely book to handle, let alone read. I like chapter headings that provoke interest yet gives little away and Mr.Ashforth is a master of the craft. Three such examples to whet the appetite are: Prince Khalid Chooses His Curtains. Frank Goes Legless. Eclipse Has Seven Feet. It all makes perfect sense once read. The reader will always learn something new, fascinating or downright unnecessary by reading a David Ashforth book.

-- Keith Knight * Horse Racing Matters *

Immensely readable, entertaining and informative from beginning to end.

For my money, no one has ever been better at expressing the punter's love of racing that survives repeated and brutal misfortune, nor at finding and describing some of its odder characters. He is clear-eyed about the game, seeing its faults alongside its qualities; he can do an in-depth investigation or a jocular piece that makes you laugh that's why Ashforth's Curiosities of Horseracing is a must-read for me and doubtless for many of you who share my enthusiasm for its author There's a cast of thousands in Ashforth's 247 pages, including Sid James, Charles Dickens and Joe 'Mincemeat' Griffin, who features on the cover. It'll keep you in bedside reading for a very long time, I reckon.

-- Chris Cook, The Front Runner Column * The Racing Post *

One of Britains best-loved racing journalists, David Ashforth has found the stories to capture the readers attention on all these topics and more. This book is the perfect gift for horseracing fans.

-- Michael Sagar * Hounds Magazine *

If the tales are well chosen, then the writing of them is something one has come to expect from the irreverent wordsmith.Its no surprise that what Ashforth treats us to is less of a history lesson and more of a celebration of the ways in which our sport embraces, nurtures and even helps to create a world thats as odd as it is inspiring.

-- Peter Thomas * Racing Post *

There are plenty witty racing journalists but not many of them can translate that wit to the written word in an engagingly warm manner in quite the way Ashforth has consistently done throughout his career.

-- David Cormack * Racing Forum *

Ashforth's Curiosities of Horseracingby David Ashforth (20 hardback) reveals a sportfull of quirks and curiosities. This fascinating and fun collection of tales will leave you with anenriched view of a fascinating sport.

-- Lorna Mayberry * Countryside Magazine (NFU) *

Ashforths account is a refreshing reminder of all the amusing, interesting and colourful characters that the racing world has to offer.

* Fitzdares Times (issue 22) *

Organised by category and designed for readers to experience in any order they choose, Ashforths book collects shorts about racing from around the world. From preserving Phar Lap to racing the wrong horse, this collection will share stories sure to entertain fans who enjoy a good turn of phrase and a bit of trivia about the sport we all love.

-- Jennifer Kelly * Americas Best Racing *

Each of Ashforths curiositieshas been chosen to arouse interest. They are stories of those curious creatures people, and of horses. The curiosities are arranged in themes so that the reader can dip in and out, as the mood takes them. The collection should leave them with a benevolent view of an intriguing sport, if they didnt already have one.

* Horsetalk NZ *

As were talking Christmas trees, and the gifts that potentially lie thereunder, I splashedout the full price of 20 to grabcopy of theimmensely entertainingAshforthsCuriosities of Horseracing(MerlinUnwinBooks), andI dont regret a penny spent.This one will not be heading for the local Oxfam bookshop.DavidAshforthwas a regular contributor to theSporting LifeandRacing Postand he has collated around 250 vignettes all numbered and indexed, so dipping in and out is a joy on a myriad of viewpoints of the sport. There are very few more skilled writersthanAshforthand his forensic research liberallyspeckledwith his trademark-understated witmakes for hours of pleasure.

-- Robert Cooper * Racing Ahead magazine *

He has an eye for a curiosity and his research is brilliant. Theres a story here for everyone in this wonderful and abundant collection. Its a steal at 20.

* Racing Post, Racing and Football Outlook *

Author Bio

David Ashforth was twice voted Horserace Writer of the Year, he worked for The Sporting Life and Racing Post and, in the USA, was a columnist for the Racing Times and Daily Racing Form. He is also a talented author having written Racing Crazy and The Bluffers Guide to Horseracing.