Page Cooper (1891–1958)

From the book flap:

"This is the story of two boys and a colt, Thunder, a race horse of illustrious lineage but plagued with an inherited tendency toward accident. On the Long Island horse farm and riding academy where the story takes place, young Peter, whose father owns Thunder, and his friend Spud, a thirteen year old colored boy who has the gift of healing hands- and can make friends with animals, take over the job of training Thunder. Helping them along is Gramps, Spud's grandfather, whose vivid anecdotes and tales about Man o'War, whose groom he was, inspire these boys in their own venture to racing. And around Thunder gather a host of kids and animals- Lee, Peter's neighboring girl friend, who shares in the boys' dream. Trixie, Thunder's temperamental little canine playmate and mascot. Gina and her animal hospital. There are many things in this book to thrill and to captivate the young reader; the horse farm and riding academy, the bringing up and training of Thunder, the carnivals where the boys put on shows to earn money for Thunder's upkeep, a forest fire, and the great Babylon Handicap.

The true-to-life background of horse care and training, friendship between two boys of different races, plus all the excitement of a real horse tail, all add up to make this story exciting teen age reading. "… (mais)

Very enjoyable. Included some pictures that I hadn't seen before - including one of Big Red being exercises at 22 still full of fire. The bit at the back going more indepth into his pedigree was interesting but I wish that the author had added modern color genetics comments to some of the statements (being surprised that a bay or brown can produce a chestnut and what does it mean that 'black has an affinity for chestnut' - not her exact words but similar.) I mean were both parents chestnut? And they produced a black horse? That would be unlikely - although I hesitate to say that anything is impossible.… (mais)