Biographies

Not a biography but AP McCoy's first novel (out November) to be called Taking The Fall. Features claiming rider Duncan Claymore "who cannot keep his mouth shut".
 
I've not read Dunwoody's first one but read his follow up Method in my Madness and really enjoyed it. Its about what he did in the 10 years since stopping riding
 
Horsetrader: the Robert Sangster story is really very good.
Terry Biddlecombe's autobiog from mid 70s was quite interesting: Jim Culloty has my copy and I cant get it back.
Quest For Greatness by Laura Thompson (tells of Lammtarra and the 1995 flat season) is a little left of field in style. Its a love it or hate it kind of book. Different but good.
Ouija Board and Grundy were the 2 books I got at Cheltenham last year. Fantastic if predictable endings!
 
Agree the Bobby Beasley book is one of the best biographies I have read
If you ever see Quentin Gilbey's biography it's worth it
Hern's was a good read and probably worth hearing his account of his sacking by the Queen
Peter Walwyn's funny and no punches pulled but some of it wrong
The Brigadier Gerard biograpphy a good read and wonderful story but a bit full of unwarranted posturing by Hislop
Ian Balding's disappointing
Mercer's OK but he could have made it more hard hitting but didn't
Nicholson's interesting in parts
Of all the books on Royal Racing, Bill Curling's is the best but was 1979, so misses the sale of Height of Fashion and the Hern sacking. Muscat's recent book doesn't quite make up for that.
Alan Lee (the Times columnist) wrote a superb book on jump racing in about 1980 that even a non-racing person would enjoy.
 
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rorydelargy said:
Bobby Beasley's autobiography the best I've read, unless you count oldies like Sods I Have Cut On The Turf (Jack Leach) or Men And Horses I Have Known (George Lambton). Both of those are top-notchers.
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Haven't read Beasley's book, but I'm definitely with you on the other two, they're easily the best biographies of racing people I've come across, quite outstanding and wonderfully entertaining reads, even for non-sports/racing fans.

As for horses, not very original I know, but Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit really is the business.

Most racing, and other sporting biographies are dire formulaic rubbish, usually ghosted by people who aren't terribly good at writing.
 
i got Lord Oaksey's "Mince Pies For Starters" in audio cd format.
Well worth getting in either form.
Peter Walwyn came across as very Basil Fawltyish in his.
"Children well reared, knew how to address nanny and the servants"; "hunting sets one for life, you can always trust someone who mounts to hounds" ." Cumani , who I always refer to as 'the wop'" If that rocks your boat, dont buy it.Had its moments though.
 
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