Author Archives: admin

(one of the most amusing, and often humbling, aspects to studying the history of Thoroughbred horses is how many times we humans get it wrong.  The saga of Diomed is a perfect case in point. ) … Diomed’s final victory was a King’s … Continue reading →

THE REVENGE OF DIOMED (When I was asked by Thoroughbred Times to write about Canada’s contribution to the gene pool all those years ago, my research took me back several generations.  The article, serialized over 4 issues, was the inspiration for … Continue reading →

(Today we hit one of the most astonishing discoveries in this, the evolution of Canada’s dominant Thoroughbred bloodlines – one that no one would likely have considered in a month of Sundays:  An Underground Railroad for horses) RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME … Continue reading →

(..there’s a saying that you can’t know where you are going, if you don’t know where you’ve been.  While I had written books about E.P. Taylor, Northern Dancer, and Nearctic, I knew little, if anything, about the early history of Thoroughbreds in Canada.  … Continue reading →

(writing Rivers of Gold was a bit like chasing a Unicorn through a mystical forest – I simply had no idea where it would lead me.  Unlike writing Northern Dancer, or Dark Horse, or any of my other books, there … Continue reading →

(When we moved the riding horses from Windfields Toronto estate to the Oshawa farm, they were housed in a loafing shed just across the lane from the mares.  Indeed, long-time farm manager, Peter Poole, made every effort to ensure the riding … Continue reading →

(This chapter is titled “CANADA, HOME OF THE HARDIER HYBRID”  And, for me, this is when things really started to get interesting.  The pieces were falling into place.  Much to my absolute delight I began to understand how Canada and … Continue reading →

(Not dissimilar to the actual writing of a book, this blog appears to be setting its own course:  part excerpts, and part diary of long-distance writing.  For me its like watching a home movie as I recall various turning points along the … Continue reading →

(My interest in genetics was born, in no small part, of necessity.  The thing, of course, that distinguishes the Thoroughbred from other horse breeds is nervous energy.  Many years ago my friend, Judy Mappin, and I found ourselves with a horse who’s … Continue reading →

(researching and writing Rivers of Gold I was dragged further and further back in time…eventually, all the way back to the very origins of the Thoroughbred.  Back to Charles II who was determined to improve the quality of his running horses.) … Continue reading →