The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event

If you like the world of thoroughbred horse racing and history, this book is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I finished reading it the day before the 2025 derby which greatly added to the enjoyment of both the derby and the book.

I bought this as a birthday present for my brother-in-law, who likes horse racing. He said that he liked it. Of course, you have to like racing to like this book.

James Nicholson provides a facinating review of Kentucky Derby history with knowledge and insight enhanced by his family as one of Kentucky’s leading horse breeding and racing entities. Excellent book.

Tremendous analysis of how the Kentucky Derby evolved throughout the years. Very interesting and well written.

You will learn all about Kentucky's historic dichotomy, hillbilly vs old South gentry. You will learn Matt Wynn's life story. You will learn what novelties were fir sale. What you will read virtually nothing about are the horses who ran.This book is extremely repetitive, and could have used a good editor. It seems to me the author wanted to write a biography of Wynn but was talked out of it in favor of this. Like any student assigned a 1000 word essay with just 2 pages of material, he repeated earlier themes and used a lot of fillers.I even tried the audio book version hoping it sounded better, but the reader mispronounced so many names it was too painful. Each time he said 'Lord Derby' (using er sound) I physically cringed. The name and the original race is pronounced DAH-bee.So if you like horse racing there is little in this book that is appealing. If you are looking for a history of Kentucky and to a lesser extent Louisville with only a passing distracting mention of Thoroughbreds this book is for you.

Order was delivered in the time frame promised

Great book on the history of the derby

A gift for my wife. She loved it.