Castleton Lyons announced Tuesday the selection of six semifinalists for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred sports literature published in 2024.
The semifinalists showcase the diversity of racing literature with histories, biographies, a memoir, and two works of fiction. Nearly 20 submissions were received, demonstrating the resilience of horse racing literature despite industry controversies and recent global economic challenges.
Three finalists will be announced in the coming weeks, with the winner receiving a $10,000 prize at a cocktail reception this fall at Castleton Lyons farm near Lexington.
The six semifinalists, listed alphabetically by title, include:
Beggar’s Ride, by John Perrotta, a mystery sequel to his 2015 novel If Wishes Were Horses, continuing the story of runaway teenager and New York backstretch worker Hamilton Greer.
Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption, by Arthur B. Hancock III, chronicles the story of a pre-eminent racing family, a legendary Thoroughbred farm, and Hancock’s personal journey from a profound fall from grace to triumphant redemption that propelled him to the heights of the Thoroughbred industry.
The History of the Kentucky Derby in 75 Objects, by Kentucky Derby Museum and Jessica K. Whitehead, released to coincide with the Derby’s sesquicentennial celebration, tells the story of America’s longest continuously held sporting event through a coffee-table format.
Jockey Queen: Lillian Jenkinson Holder, Horse Racing’s Fearless Lady, by Roger Peach, explores how a girl from Nebraska dominated the Midwest’s tough bush tracks long before women were licensed to ride in American parimutuel races, often outperforming male riders.
Letters From Country Life: Adolphe Pons, Man o’ War, and the Founding of Maryland’s Oldest Thoroughbred Farm, by Josh Pons, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning writer and third-generation horseman. Pons discovered trunks of correspondence to his grandfather Adolphe Pons in the century-old farmhouse basement in 2016, offering rare insights into his grandfather’s life through voices from the past.
What Horses Do After Racing: The Story of Good Carma, by Jay Privman, features four ex-racehorses dreaming about potential second careers in show jumping, trail riding, dressage, or therapy. Privman, long passionate about Thoroughbred aftercare, has become increasingly involved in this area.
