Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse: A Novel, Nov. 9 was awarded first prize in Castleton Lyons's 17th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, the sponsor of the prize said in a release Friday. The work of fiction tells the story of 19th century racehorse and sire Lexington by moving back and forth through time and space from the antebellum South to modern day New York and Washington D. C. At a reception held at Castleton Lyons outside of Lexington, Brooks received a check for $10,000 and a Tipperary...

An extraordinary time-hopping, historical novel; a compelling biography of potential greatness and a life cut short; and a powerful, category-bending work of fiction told as the oral history of a hard-luck horsewoman. Horse, by Geraldine Brooks, Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew's First Champion, by Mary Perdue, and Kick The Latch, by Kathryn Scanlan are the three finalists for the 17th Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, decided upon by a panel of racing and literary judges. "The 2022 nominees included a refreshing group of voices new to this Book Award,...

Three finalists, selected by a panel of judges from nearly two dozen submissions, have been announced for the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The finalists are: Death by Equine, a fictional mystery about a young racetrack veterinarian named Jessie Cameron who fills in for her vacationing mentor, only to be faced with his sudden and startling death, written by Annette Dashofy; Racetrack Rogues: One Woman's Story of Family, Love and Loss in the Horse Racing World, a fictional story of loss, love, and redemption, written by Dawn LeFevre; and...

Six semifinalists for the 16th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected by a panel of judges and were split evenly this year between fiction and non-fiction. The semifinalists were chosen from nearly two dozen submissions. The six semifinalists for books published in the 2021, listed alphabetically by title, are as follows: Death by Equine, by Annette Dashofy Dinky Becomes a Racehorse, by J. M. Chodkowski Head to Head, Conversations With a Generation of Horse Racing Legends, by Lenny Schulman Racetrack Rogues, One Woman's Story of Family, Love,...

The entry deadline for the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented annually by Castleton Lyons, is Dec. 31. The award is given to the author of the best book--as judged by a panel--on any aspect of Thoroughbred racing for work published this past year. Named for the late Castleton Lyons owner, the award rewards the winner with $10,000 and a Tipperary Crystal trophy. For further details, including the entry form, visit castletonlyons.com.

Edited Press Release Veteran turf writer Mark Shrager has won the 15th Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by Castleton Lyons, for Diane Crump, A Horse-Racing Pioneer's Life in the Saddle. The winner was announced on May 10 via Zoom conference for the second straight year due to pandemic concerns. Shrager, a previous Book Award finalist for The Great Sweepstakes of 1877, took top honors for his biography of Crump, who represented the face of hope for aspiring young women in the Sport of Kings in the late 1960s. She...

A trio of finalists have been announced for the 15th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The three finalists are Diane Crump, A Horse-Racing Pioneer's Life in the Saddle, by Mark Sharger; Good Things Come, by Linda Shantz; and Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop, Had a Way With Horses, by Vicki Moon. "This was the year of debut authors, including the fiction finalist [Vicki Moon]," said judge Kay Coyte, a former Washington Post and racing publications editor. "Part of the mission of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award is to encourage new...

For the first time in its 14-year history, the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award has gone to a multi-collaborative effort. The winner for works published in 2019 is "Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track," published through the Louisville Story Program and edited by Joe Manning.    The book features perspectives and pieces from a diverse cast of racetrackers based at Churchill Downs including exercise riders, grooms, assistant trainers, hotwalkers, outriders, security guards, silks makers and touts. "'Better Lucky Than Good' is a...

Panelists have selected three finalists for the 14th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, which will honor titles published in 2019. The three books include "Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track," by various authors, from Louisville Story Program, edited by Joe Manning; "Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory," by Lenny Shulman; and "The Triumph of Henry Cecil: The Authorised Biography," by Tony Rushmer. A total of 15 submissions were made this year before being narrowed down to the top three...

A total of six semi-finalists, from 15 submissions, for the 2020 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award have been selected by a panel of racing industry and literary judges. The semi-finalists are: Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track, by Louisville Story Program Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory, by Lenny Shulman The Key to the Quarter Pole, by Robin Traywick Williams Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century, by Peter Lee The Travers: 150 Years of Saratoga's Greatest Race,...

Entries have been announced for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, which honors long-form pieces on horse racing and offers $10,000 in prize money. Winners have traditionally been announced each April at a reception held in the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons farm near Lexington, Kentucky. This year will be different due to the broad reach of COVID-19; the springtime celebration honoring the winner and finalists has been postponed for now, with plans to reschedule as a possibly scaled-back event in the fall. Each of these...