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Wild Ride: The Rise and Fall of Calumet Farm Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty

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Journalist Auerbach untangles the spiderweb of financial machinations that enveloped, consumed, and ultimately destroyed one of the most famous horseracing stables in the world. Through three generations of the Wright family, Calumet led, lost, and regained its preeminence as a breeding farm and racing stable only to lose everything, including the family's fortune, in the fourth generation. Chronicling the history of Calumet and its fall into the depths of massive debt, this well-researched, fast-paced book sheds new light on the destruction of Calumet and exposes the excesses of the 1980s. Highly recommended.
Susan Hamburger, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

Author:	Ann Hagedorn Auerbach
Paperback:	480 pages
Publisher:	Holt Paperbacks
Publication Date:	December 15, 1995
ISBN:	0805042423
Package Length:	6.8 inches
Package Width:	4.1 inches
Package Height:	1.0 inches
Package Weight:	0.35 pounds
Average Customer Rating:	based on 22 reviews

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: 4.5

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What a ride it was! Aug 04, 2008
A fantastic book that provides thrills and suspense from cover to cover. The book details the story of the revered Calument Farms that dominated the American horse racing scene for most of the 20th century before a sudden collapse into bankruptcy. It's a story of a rise of the American Dream and then a fall into shame due to deceit and greed.

This book would be enjoyed by horse racing enthusiasts as well as just about anyone that enjoys a good suspense thriller.

FABULOUS STORY.........I am urging everyone to read it!! Jun 13, 2008
I could hardly put this book down!! In fact, after I finished it in two days, I read parts of it again!! The author gives factual details about a terrible tragedy, and the loss of a wonderful horse. With the recent interest in horseracing, after the tragic loss of Eight Belles, people should be aware that horseracing is not all mint juleps and fancy hats.
Wild Ride is a gripping tale of what happened to Alydar, the horse that propelled the last Triple Crown Winner, Affirmed, to his status in history.
Even if you are not a horseracing fan (which I was not, until I read this book!), you will learn so much about the behind-the-scenes events of an American tragedy. Somewhere else I read these quotes: "Dogs and cats have become our pets, but horses, we have deemed, should be our slaves"...........and "Every person who has ever owned a pet will stand before God to testify as to his master's stewardship". Keeping those thoughts in mind, the book will justify the author's purpose for getting this TRUE story out in the open. EXCELLENT READ!!!!

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Astonishing Story... May 16, 2007
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...

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Financial shenanigans and excess destroy a racing dynasty Mar 04, 2007
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.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Ripping The Veneer Off The Sport Of Kings Sep 01, 2006
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.