b4breeding

Cover of Standardbreds Old Friends book

Some months ago I saw this book advertised in Harness Update newsletter, and ordered a copy from America.

That’s not a cheap exercise when you have to pay virtually the same again to ship it out, but wow! it was worth it.

It is a beautifully produced hardback book of over 200 pages, with sensational photos by Barbara D. Livingston and stories by Ellen Harvey. The subjects of each chapter are a standardbred racing horse who is now living in happy retirement – their story and photos of their current life.

Time passes….and some have already died, the most well known being Matts Scooter who is given a wonderful write up in this book, and Cam’s Card Shark likewise.

Other well known standardbreds in retirement are also in the book – CR Kay Suzie, Jate Lobell, Lady Ashlee Ann, Lilting Laughter, Mack Lobell, Moni Maker, Three Mile Island amongst them. But there are many others less well known but good performers with a great story to tell. I haven’t read all of them yet – I’m a slow reader and to be honest I want this book to last a long time.

I am not sure if copies are still available, but if you love reading about and seeing photos of great race horses and broodmares being well looked after in older age, then it’s worth considering buying a copy or sharing one between friends.

You order it online – Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Gift Catalogue = and all the proceeds of the sale go to help defray their day-to-day expenses.

Try to click here to get straight to the book or here to reach the overall website for the Harness Racing Museum USA.