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The
Agua Caliente Story: Remembering Mexico's Legendary Racetrack
David
Jimenez Beltran
Pub Date: October 2004. South-of-the-border
racetrack Agua Caliente combined the elegance of an exclusive
resort and the excitement of a popular Hollywood nightclub.
Hollywood stars flocked to the racetrack. Horse racing
stars appeared there, too, among them jockeys George Woolf,
Eddie Arcaro, Bill Shoemaker, and John Longden. The great
Australian champion Phar Lap made his only North American
start there, and Seabiscuit, Round Table, and other top
horses raced there.
Agua
Caliente was not without its troubles, enduring shut downs,
fires, and floods. But during its forty-year history,
Agua Caliente would give racing fans many fond memories
of romantic Old Mexico.
Author
David Jimenez Beltran feels a special connection to old
Agua Caliente and that fondness is evident as he takes
the reader on a journey through a fascinating piece of
American and Mexican history. Numerous historical photographs
-- many from the author's collection -- complement Beltran's
words.
For
a detailed look at this book, click here.
Read
a Q&A with the
author.
About the Author:
A former resident of Tijuana, David Beltran grew up near
Agua Caliente Racetrack. Starting at age two, he attended
the races there along with his father, Eugenio Beltran
Sr., and his older brother, Gene Jr. He also has attended
the races throughout Southern California, New York, and
Mexico City.
The compilation of historical data on Caliente has been
a lifelong pursuit for David, who also is interested in
the general history of Thoroughbred racing. His research
has appeared on several horse racing Web sites, including
www.damepaso.com, www.infohipico.com, and www.todosport.com.mx,
as well as in the Mexican horse racing magazine A Caballo.
In addition, he participated in a pictorial exhibit of
Thoroughbred racing history in Tijuana at Tijuana’s
Historical Society, Cultural Center, and Civic Hall during
2003. He contributed a photograph to the illustrated version
of Laura Hillenbrand’s bestseller, Seabiscuit:
An American Legend, and has donated material to the
Keeneland Library.
The Agua Caliente Story is David’s
first book. He works for a food distribution company in
Chula Vista, California, where he lives with his wife
Minerva.
Praise
for David Beltran and The Agua Caliente Story:
“Among
sports venues, few have histories more colorful than that
of Mexico’s grand Agua Caliente racecourse. As the
proving ground of many of the sport’s legendary horses,
riders, and trainers, Agua Caliente was a vital part of
American racing in its golden era. The story of this beautiful,
festive racecourse is one well worth telling.”
--
Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit
****
“(David)
Beltran has done an admirable job presenting this great
track to racing fans who may not have realized just how
important a place Caliente holds in the history of Thoroughbred
racing. One need only go to their nearest track to see
many Caliente innovations in use today. Beltran, through
his book, has ensured that the track which introduced
him to the sport will never be forgotten.”
--Cindy
Pierson Dulay, Horse-Races.net
****
"For
this writer...The Agua Caliente Story has brought
back many memories of summer weekends spent in the beautiful
Clubhouse of the Tijuana track during the 1960s, where
I cashed a $64 quinella and nearly won the 5-10 on my
maiden attempt. It was a book I couldn't put down and
is sure to become a beloved addition to any racing fan's
library."
--Debra
Ginsburg, California Thoroughbred
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Softcover
10 x 8
208 pages
B/W photos throughout
Product #B11-1088
List Price: $19.95
ISBN: 1-58150-115-3
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