A Knight Errant

About this book

Horse racing is an insiders' game. Few know it like legendary horseracing pioneer Barry Irwin. He envisioned A Knight Errant for 50 years as Thoroughbred racing's version of "The Natural." The breeder, owner and syndicator of Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom wanted to show what made horse lovers, handicappers and racing fans so passionate about the Sport of Kings and what it was really like to campaign a Champion racehorse. Set in Southern California in 1977, the novel dives into a racetrack culture at the dawn of PED (performance enhancing drugs) use that led Irwin and his cohorts to push for Federal legislation resulting in the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). Knight Errant was destined never to race. Plagued by an undiagnosed ailment, written off by his famous owner, he had been turned into a trail horse when Turf Writer Bill Richards chanced upon him at a ranchito in the hills above Santa Anita racetrack. He immediately recognized Knight Errant as one of the fastest animals he ever witnessed in a morning workout.Richards, the vet, the trainer, the breeder and a cast of characters that Damon Runyon would surely recognize, are taken on the wildest ride of their lives by a once-in-a-lifetime racehorse. A deeply authentic novel of Thoroughbred racing, long-shot dreams, and the hope inspired by a truly great horse.