The Big Horse

One of the best books I have ever read about horse racing. McGinnis is unsentimental, clear eyed and far too old to be sucked in by the romanticism that surrounds the track... Yet he succumbs, as any of us who love the horses does. But this book is mainly a biography of P.J. Johnston just about the last of a dying breed. Listen, if you like horse racing, you've got to get this book. If you like McGinnis, ditto.

At last a McGinnis book where he doesn't betray the trust of the protagonist! McGinniss' writing remains fluid and engaging. His subject -- P.G. Johnson, a legendary, if unsung, horse trainer -- is a fascinating curmudgeon. And what the story lacks in plot, it makes up for in rich character development. And, best of all, after finishing the book, I continued to like and admire the subject. A great horseracing book.

Any racing fan will find this a facinating and revealing portrait of the game. The late (sadly) PG Johnson and Volponi are the main subjects but there's juicy insight into many other characters. Get the book.

THE BIG HORSE is to what every trainer aspires. It is a horse that captures the imagination and wins the biggest stakes. P.G. Johnson's first big horse Volponi came in the twilight of Hall of Fame racing career. Volponi captured the 2002 Breeder's Cup Classic and prepares for the 2003 race in this account of horse and trainer. As a book Seabiscuit did it better, but that is almost like saying as a horse Secretariat did it better. Joe McGinniss takes you into the world of 21st Century horse racing in the same way Laura Hillenbrand returned us to the glamour of horse racing in the late 1930s. With a point of view switching between author and trainer the cadences are those of the denizens of the stables and betting windows. This particular authenticity surpasses even Hillenbrand. McGinniss has returned, and how we have missed him.

In THE BIG HORSE, Joe McGinniss tells the story of one horse trainer's desire and longing to have a horse that will bring fame as well as riches to his stable. This book may surprise McGinniss' readers, as this one does not have the spicy twist and turns we are accustomed to in his former books. Instead, McGinnis tells a truly unique and inspiring story about P.G. Johnson and a horse named Volponi. In his sixty years as a trainer, P.G. Johnson has never had a big horse. He has bred and trained some of the best, but none of them could compare to thoroughbreds like Funny Cide, Secretariat or Seabiscuit who all won races that brought in purses that totaled in the millions. He is an authority on training horses and well respected in the industry. As Joe McGinniss follows him from racetracks at Saratoga, to Belmont to the Aqueduct, we learn about the industry in all its glory and get a peek at the seamy underbelly of the profession. P.G. gives a blow-by-blow account of what it's like to be a horse trainer and have all your heartaches, desires and dreams tied to that one horse that can hopefully bring it all home. Volponi may be P.G.'s final chance at the big horse. This was a well-written and very interesting read. McGinniss did not disappoint readers with his storytelling abilities. I was catapulted into the horse racing industry in its current state, which is a sport on the decline. I was also allowed glimpses into the past when horse racing was the sport of the season and spectators came in droves to the tune of tens of thousands. The journey included walks with trainers, jockeys and owners to get a complete taste of what this sport is about. For those that love the sport of horse racing, this book is a must have. Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers