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Wild Ride: The Rise and Fall of Calumet Farm Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty | 
 enlarge | Author: Ann Hagedorn Auerbach
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy Used: $4.50
You Save: $15.50 (78%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 169657
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.1 x 1
ISBN: 0805042423
EAN: 9780805042429
ASIN: 0805042423
Publication Date: December 15, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Using many never-reported facts, award-winning writer Anne Hagedorn Auerbach chronicles the compelling and tragic story behind the downfall of Thoroughbred racing's crown jewel.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Astonishing Story... May 16, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
By far and away, this is the best book I have ever read. It is enthralling, astounding in its detail, it is meticulously researched, beautifully and stylishly written. Auerbach's book is the classiest piece of reading I have completed. I couldn't put it down, and it will lead you along the road from awe to woe. I could read anything about the Bluegrass and the thoroughbred industry, but this book will cross genres from horse fans to general public.
But be advised, it is an involving read and you need to concentrate. But I found my emotions building with every chapter and a sure void when I discovered that the book ends before the completion of the Calumet story which, by my own research, continues long after the close of pages in 1995...
 Financial shenanigans and excess destroy a racing dynasty March 4, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
At last a detailed explanation as to what caused the implosion of the seemingly solid Calumet Farms throughbred racing dynasty. How could things go so wrong, so fast? An interesting mix of human pettiness, ignorance and weakness, greed, and then the Farm was lost to greater and greater accelerating debt. Detailed portraits of many of the Calumet favorites, especially Alydar, who's accidental death stopped the cash machine that was keeping the farm afloat in a sea of debt. Interesting crosscurrents of bad feduciary management by the trust's bank managers, criminal activity, gangland ties, possible drug peddling for cash, contracts that were fast and loose and pledged the same assets over and over again. If you like racing and remember the Calumet lock on winning and its great horses, this is a fascinating book. If you are looking for just a "horse" book you should look elsewhere, but this is a great story from the get-go.
Ripping The Veneer Off The Sport Of Kings September 1, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I vividly remember the reports in the sports section concerning the death of Alydar and then the financial collapse of Calumet Farm. Little did I know then that it was as criminal as anything found on the front page of a major daily.
Ann Hagedorn Auerbach does an outstanding job of piecing together the jagged financial picture of the crumbled puzzle pieces left by J.T. Lundy. The book also poses poignant questions - many remaining unanswered today - concerning the death of a great champion who seemingly was worth more in death because of the huge insurance windfall gained by Lundy.
And please don't be fooled by the pomp on major race days covered on national TV/cable; the Thoroughbred industry is driven by racers graduating to the stud farm and commanding oftentimes six figures per mating.
Though the book is about 10 years old, you will wonder if there are more Lundy's cooking up schemes to defraud others while striding nonchalantly under the backdrop of beautiful turf, colorful silks and million-dollar runners.
Depressing But True June 27, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the story of the downfall of the premier horse racing & breeding farm as well as the death of the legendary racehorse stallion Alydar, due to, of course, greed. Rest in peace Alydar.
The author follows the money trail expertly, & as a horse person, I have seen this scenario in a smaller scale before (downfall of a stable etc) due to greed.
It is a shame that real horsepeople do not own these farms/stables. Money is still directing what is happening to all horse breeds to this day. Witness the "Dubai" (Doobie) Brothers are still buying up the best bloodstock of the USA, & they are not just limiting themselves to Thoroughbreds (also Arabians, Saddlebreds).
I gave the book only 4 stars as it is depressing. However, it is very well written.
 This is Not a Horse Racing Book June 12, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
There may be a horse on the cover, but this is not a horse racing book. If you want a book that covers the entire history of Calumet - you'll have to keep waiting. This book is primarily about J.T. Lundy and the investments he made that ultimately led to the Alydar tragedy.
Citation - one of the greatest racehorses of all time and easily the greatest horse ever bred at Calumet (no offense to Whirlaway) - gets a whopping paragraph mention.
Many portions of this book get bogged down with discussions of trust funds, banks, liens, etc. If you want to know how not to run a business, this is for you. If you want to know how not to run a horse farm, this is for you. If you are just plain curious in how Calumet went so downhill so fast, this is for you.
If you want to read about horse racing - this book is not for you.
Auerbach seems to grasp the basics of horse racing...but she apparently never actually visited the farm...several times referring to Keeneland (which is directly next door to Calumet) as several miles away...Since she's a Wall Street Journal writer, obviously the business side of everything is extremely sound.
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