Kings of the Turf

This is an exquisite collection of essays that profiles twelve of the most successful trainers in Irish history. Having come up with his definitive dozen...the author provides great insight into the life of a racehorse trainer' Yorkshire Post Ireland has always been at the heart of horse racing, but increasingly its horses and trainers have come to dominate at the highest level, both on the flat and in National Hunt. Top owners like John Magnier (himself an Irishman) choose an Irish trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who has taken over from and continued the winning tradition of the legendary Vincent O'Brien. The Cheltenham Festival, highlight of the jumping year, has in recent years become a remarkable Irish festival, as tens of thousands of punters go for the craic and to see the best horses of trainers like Willie Mullins, Jessica Harrington and Dessie Hughes - Hedgehunter, Moscow Flyer and Hardy Eustace - triumph in the biggest races. Now Michael Clower has profiled the 12 most successful racehorse trainers in Ireland at the moment.
As well as those mentioned already they include Michael Hourigan, trainer of the great steeplechaser Beef or Salmon, flat trainer John Oxx, and the distinctly larger-than-life Edward O'Grady. Michael Clower was Irish racing correspondent for the Sunday Times. He is also the author of best-selling biographies of Mick Kinane, Charlie Swan and Istabraq. He now lives in South Africa.