Although some racing fans seem to feel that the breeding side of the industry doesn't affect them, it is from the breeding farms our runners come and most go back there when their racing days are over. Without the breeding industry there would be no racing.

This book explores 24 of the 20th century's most influencial sires from their career at the track down through their descendents to the present day. Sometimes it is amazing a line survives today such as Commando, one of only 20 progeny of the great runner Domino, who only sired 27 foals himself but is represented today by the great sire Broad Brush. Other foundation sires covered are: Star Shoot, Fair Play, Sir Gallahad III, Challenger II, Blenheim II, Hyperion, Bull Lea, Princequillo, Rough'n Tumble, Nearco, Nasrullah, Bold Ruler, Hail to Reason, Blushing Groom, Ribot, Native Dancer, Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Nijinsky II, Nureyev, Danzig, Sadler's Wells, and Storm Cat. For each you get a full pedigree with female family, their racing career, their best offspring, and an analysis of their male line of descent. There are several sections of black and white photos of the stallions and their best descendents.

The final section titled "Worldwide Influences" covers the greatest sire of the 20th century, Northern Dancer, and his most influential sons. It is amazing the impact this one horse has had on racing throughout the world and how his legacy continues to dominate racing today. Just recently the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the biggest race in Europe, was won by his direct male descendent Sinndar. With his grandson Storm Cat racking up new record yearling prices at the sales and wins at the track, the Northern Dancer legacy is sure to continue.

The narratives for the horses are well written and entertaining, each a mini history lesson on racing. Not only are the horses covered but also many of the people who were responsible for making racing what it is today. If you want to learn about stars of the the past, this book is a good spot to start.

In the back of the book is a chart showing the male lines of descent from Eclipse, Herod, and Matchem, the three 18th century English stallions to which all Thoroughbreds today may be traced, to present day active stallions. It is interesting to trace back from a stallion of today and see who is hiding back there in his ancestors.

The book is published by the Blood Horse's Eclipse Press and can be ordered from them for $34.95 or compare prices at mySimon.

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