"Six Weeks in Saratoga" available! Go get it!

"Six Weeks in Saratoga: How Three-Year-Old Rachel Alexandra Beat the Boys and Became Horse of the Year" published July 1, 2011. Keep it locked here, at The Carryover or go to SUNY Press to order your copy ... right now! Or head on down to your favorite bookseller.

Praise for "Six Weeks in Saratoga"

“Going behind the scenes of three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra’s 2009 triumph … O’Meara makes her story gallop and gleam.” — Chronogram

“The [book] is one of enjoyable promise, and as the author recounts little moments and inside conversations, he provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of the figures he covers. The narrative keeps game pace with outside literary standards and features bursts of brilliance, and I found it a refreshing change from the selection of racing-themed volumes available today. As O’Meara brings his subjects to life, you find yourself thinking this is the kind of guy whose work I want to follow.” — Claire Novak, ESPN.com

“O’Meara … provide[s] a tremendous amount of detail from behind the scenes that the reader would not have otherwise enjoyed … Six Weeks is essentially a Rachel book, but it’s told without neglecting the always rich backdrop of a Saratoga meet. That means there’s history, surprises, characters (human and equine), great racing, foggy mornings and sun-splashed afternoons—plenty of material through which O’Meara could exercise his descriptive abilities.” — Schenectady Daily Gazette
“O’Meara fell for a magical place and magnificent horse, which is a lovely malady that often befalls horse people, and with a great deal of heart he tells us how and why. You’ll never forget his Six Weeks in Saratoga, either.” — Joe Drape, author of Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen

“Brendan O’Meara tells the story of this proud horse with verve and great historical insight. Six Weeks in Saratoga marks the debut of an exciting new talent.” — Wil Haygood, author of Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson

“Brendan O’Meara’s Six Weeks in Saratoga is a victory to be savored by those who treasure good writing in general and tales of the track in particular. Horses may win races, but they also win hearts as this impressive book proves beyond doubt. A memorable, sure-footed debut.” — Madeleine Blais, author of In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle

Friday, April 9, 2010

True Love

Once upon a time Rachel Alexandra's connections planned on running in the $100 Trillion Apple Blossom Invitational against racing's best ovaries in Zenyatta.

I'm so happy they're not running into each other.

For you see, Ms. Carryover had to befriend someone ten years ago in college and this someone is getting married tonight and we were cordially invited away from the Apple Blossom—I mean, invited to their wedding. When Ms. Carryover said the wedding was the weekend of April 10, I said, Ok.

Not so fast.

The wedding is Friday, April 9. Oh, Ms. Carryover, you do know that Rachel and Zenyatta are running in the Apple Blossom, right? 

I mean, it's not really her fault, is it? I could go so far as to blame her for making this friend at Rutgers and for staying in touch with them over the years, but that's a tad extreme. All right, beyond extreme. However, this is a large reason why I have cut my social circle down to near-annorexic levels—should the moment come when Ms. Carryover wants to watch a Horse of the Year run against an undefeated horse, I will not get in her way. How unselfish of me!

Has it really come to this? The fact of the matter is it doesn't bother me, but I like to give her guff.

Even without Rachel in the race I still find it deeply interesting. Mainly I don't think Zenyatta's a lock, but then again, maybe she is a lock. Maybe not. God, I sound like Brett Favre (pronounced, favor, by the way).

The dirt issue is my main bag. I know she won this race two years ago, so don't comment and say that she can run on dirt. I know she CAN, but CAN she, really? She's won 15 straight races with 14 of those coming on Cali-Cushion-Ride-Track.

No matter, for those who can watch it, enjoy it, love that she's around while I'm doing the freakin' Macarena. Enjoy the moment because when and if she ties Cigar's 16-race win streak record, you can say you saw it. Rachel or no Rachel, I'm hot for Zenyatta.

Now that's true love.
Posted by at

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

When are you going to stop doubting her? (Insert Irish accent) Zenyatta, she is the best!

April 10, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Brendan O'Meara said...

(Scottish accent), Ahhh, I doooon't knooooow!

April 10, 2010 at 12:29 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)