A trio of finalists have been selected from an incredibly strong slate of entries for the 19th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. These represent the captivating tales of a dynastic racing family; a long-ago racehorse and stallion who left an indelible stamp on America’s Thoroughbred industry; and of a legendary 19th century black jockey – all penned by authors of remarkable talent.

The late Dr. Ryan, founded the award back in 2006 to recognize the best books of each year written with a horse racing backdrop. The world-renowned businessman/philanthropist attached a $10,000 winner’s prize to the competition, with $1,000 going to each of two finalists, along with Tipperary crystal trophies.

The winner’s ceremony will be held in the loft above the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family’s Castleton Lyons near Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.

Judges for 2023 were: Kay Coyte, an Eclipse Award-winning former editor at the Washington Post; Caton Bredar, award-winning television broadcaster and racing analyst; and former Boston Globe columnist Diane White.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order, by author name):

“Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey”

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Author: Katherine C. Mooney

An accomplished racing historian herein tells the story of a legendary Black jockey born during slavery, who en route to glory as a rider, dealt with virulent racism and ever-worsening health issues. Isaac Murphy won three Kentucky Derbys and compiled an unmatchable 44% win-rate before his untimely passing at 35. Nearly 60 years later, in 1955, he became the first jockey inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Despite his diminutive size, Murphy was a larger-than-life character, known for integrity and scrupulous honesty — at a time when corruption flourished in racing — as well as an almost surreal skill in the saddle. Arguably racing’s first superstar, he remains revered even today as one of the best jockeys of all time. Read more about the idea and execution of Katherine Mooney's book.

“The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty”

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Author: Curtis Stock

Those who have followed racing for a while will likely recall Ron Turcotte as the jockey who guided Secretariat to his electrifying 1973 Triple Crown sweep, and who later was permanently paralyzed in a racing accident. What they may not know is that Turcotte led a family of accomplished jockeys, all with stories to tell, and that the five race-riding brothers together won more than 8,200 races. Curtis Stock — an 11-time Sovereign Award winner for writing—penned and researched this tale of one of the sport’s biggest dynasties. It is a biography and oral history, largely based on decades of interviews, and it illustrates how often triumph and tragedy go hand-in-hand in the world of racing. Learn more about author Curtic Stock and the inspiration for this book.

“Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse”

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Author: Kim Wickens

This skillfully researched work tells the story of one of America’s greatest, most influential Thoroughbreds. In portraying the life of mid-19^th century champion Lexington, Kim Wickens shows just what racing meant to America during the pre-Civil War era … how epic races and heroic racehorses dominated the scene, drawing massive crowds to tracks. In the 1850s, Lexington was the biggest crowd pleaser of all, a charismatic colt of record-breaking speed and untold stamina, whose Hall of Fame career Wickens traces, along with the colorful cast of human characters around him. After encroaching blindness took him off the track, Lexington entered stud in Kentucky, where he endured the dangers of the Civil War before becoming a 16-time leading American sire. Even 160 years later, he can still be found in the far reaches of the pedigrees of countless top racehorses. Read more about Kim Wickens.

For further information, contact Kerrie Cahill at kcahill@castletonlyons.com