Secretariat

When her family's Meadow Stables faced closure after her father fell ill, Penny Chenery, a housewife and mother with no background in racing, stepped in to run it. She turned to trainer Lucien Laurin and a group of accomplished jockeys to help her find her footing in a sport dominated by men. Her rivalry with the Phipps family's powerful racing operation shaped her early choices, including a gamble to breed her mare Somethingroyal to Bold Ruler, the country's most popular stallion. The two stables settled the terms of the foals with a coin toss, and Penny lost. The wait for the unborn foal turned out to be worthwhile when a bright chestnut colt arrived, later known as Secretariat and nicknamed "Big Red." His rise led to the first Triple Crown in twenty-five years and to what many consider one of the greatest racehorses ever.

William Nack, a longtime Sports Illustrated writer, tells this account as both a portrait of a remarkable horse and a study of Penny Chenery's determination. The book follows the horse's career and the people who shaped it, setting the story against the world of American thoroughbred racing. It has remained in print for more than thirty years since its first publication.

After her success with Secretariat, Chenery became the first woman elected to The Jockey Club, a milestone that changed the face of American horse racing. Her story gives the book a second focus beyond the track, appealing to readers who enjoy sports narratives and stories of personal courage.