Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets
Staff of Blood-Horse Publications

Pub Date: April 2007. When Giacomo charged across the finish liine in the 2005 Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1, he stunned his few backers with a whopping $102 payoff. Giacomo's shocking win earned him a spot in Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets, which explores the stories of twelve of the Kentucky Derby's most unlikely winners.

In 1904 Elwood became the first starter owned by a woman, one Lasca Durnell. In an entertaining tale surrounding this early Derby, Mrs. Durnell failed to tell her husband she had nominated the colt for the Derby -- and her husband was the trainer! In between Elwood's victory and Giacomo's, Donerail returned a record payoff in 1913 that still stands; Gallahadion bested the popular Bimelech, ending Col. E.R. Bradley's quest for a fifth Kentucky Derby win; Dark Star defeated the seemingly invincible Native Dancer; Iron Liege, a second-stringer from the Calumet Farm stable, capitalized on a rival jockey's miscue; Canonero II went from laughing stock to hero; and Genuine Risk won one for the girls.

This collection includes a chart of each race as well as a selection of historical photos. Written by the staff and correspondents of the Lexington, Ky.-based Blood-Horse Publications, Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets pays tribute to some of the sport's biggest underdogs and improbable heroes.

About the Authors:

Rena Baer is an assistant editor with Eclipse Press and also writes freelance for various magazines.
Edward L. Bowen is the award-winning author of eighteen books, including Masters of the Turf, on the great trainers of the early 20th century.
Timothy T. Capps is the author of the Thoroughbred Legends books on Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, and Affirmed and Alydar.
John Eisenberg, a sports columnist for the Baltimore Sun, is the author of biographies on Native Dancer and Lil E. Tee.
Steve Haskin is the award-winning national correspondent for The Blood-Horse and author of several books, including Horse Racing’s Holy Grail: The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby.
Avalyn Hunter is a Thoroughbred pedigree researcher and author of The Kingmaker: How Northern Dancer Founded a Racing Dynasty.
Michele MacDonald lives in Lexington, Ky., and works as a freelance writer, with her work having been published in the United States, Britain, and Dubai.
Eliza McGraw is a freelance writer living in Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared in The Blood-Horse, EQUUS, and The Washington Post.
Gary McMillen is the New Orleans correspondent for The Blood-Horse and writes for Louisiana Horse magazine.
Gary West is a sportswriter and horse racing columnist for the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram.

Praise for Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets:

"For racing history fans and lovers of the long shot, this book is a treat."
--Lauren Maruskin, The Equiery

Hardcover
6 x 9
208 pages
Product #B11-1121
16-page photo well
List Price: $24.95
ISBN: 978-1-58150-156-8