For the first time in its history, books by female authors dominate the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award shortlist. Following an independent judging process by a panel of experts in sports and journalism, four of the six are titles written by women, the highest percentage of female finalists since the competition started in 1989.

Among them is the horse racing novel ‘Kick the Latch,’ written by Kathryn Scanlan. ‘Kick the Latch,’ based on real-life interviews with a female horse trainer, captures the challenging, yet inspiring, life on the backstretch and its unique milieu of grooms, hotwalkers, gamblers, racing officials, and the like.

The William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, which is the world’s most valuable and longest-running sports writing prize, includes a £30,000 cash prize for the winner, and will be contested by six authors:

· Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs

· Concussed: Sport’s Uncomfortable Truth by Sam Peters

· Good for a Girl: My Life Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman

· Kick The Latch by Kathryn Scanlan

· Unbreakable by Ronnie O’Sullivan

· Unfair Play: The Battle for Women’s Sport by Sharron Davies with Craig Lord

Now in its 35th year, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is dedicated to rewarding excellence in sports writing and provides authors and publishers a platform to showcase and promote their books. The first William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award took place in 1989, earning it the title of the longest-established competition in the industry.

The winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2023 Award will be declared on 30th November 2023 at an official award ceremony at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London. The Award has a £30,000 cash prize for the winner and the shortlisted authors will each receive £3,000 and a leather-bound copy of their book.