The Bottom Line
The Byerley Turk is known as one of the three foundation stallions of the Thoroughbred breed, but how he came to England is mostly a mystery. British turfwriter Jeremy James combines thorough research and skillful storywriting to come up with this exciting "account" of the life of this important stallion. Although not a racing book in the truest sense, racing fans interested in world history will enjoy this artistic effort.
Pros
- An exciting tie-in of the life of the Byerley Turk to late 1600's European history
- Reader also learns about the tail end of the Ottoman Empire
Cons
- Not a book about racing, mostly about history only
- Only passing mention is made of his stud career, no mention of his descendents
- Use of ancient Turkish terminology was difficult to follow at times
Description
- The Byerley Turk was foaled around 1679 in a remote Balkan village in the Ottoman Empire.
- Born during a thunderstorm, he did not fear the sounds of cannons or gunfire.
- He was a warhorse for the powerful Empire, with his archer groom aboard.
- The pair was a killing machine, combining the speed of the horse with the accuracy of the archer.
- When Budapest fell to the Christians, he was captured by James Fitzjames and brought to England.
- Fitzjames sold the stallion to Colonel Robert Byerley.
- After winning the King James's Plate, Byerley took the Turk into battle in Ireland.
- Having retired from active duty, Byerley took care of the Turk until the horse passed away in 1703
Guide Review - Review: The Byerley Turk
The Byerley Turk lived through a very violent time in Europe's history, with the seemingly invincible Ottoman Empire expanding its territories. The horse, named "Azarax", proved to be the fastest, but the most difficult to control, allowing his groom, a master archer, to ride the horse in battle. Azarax and the groom are constantly on the move, from their home in the Balkans, to Constantinople, and to Budapest, while fighting for the Ottomans against the Christians in some of the bloodiest battles ever fought. With the fall of Buda to the Christian forces, the captured horse is brought to England, where his new owner Colonel Robert Byerley rides him to victory in the King James's Plate before using the horse in battle in Ireland.
This may mostly be a work of fiction designed to incorporate the horse into world events, this was done so smoothly that the story is very believable indeed. This is truly an epic account of the life of a magnificent animal, extending from the palaces of the Ottoman Empire to the streets of London, including a cast of fascinating historical figures such as the Soliman Chia, Ali-aga Izobegovic, the brutal Sultan Kara Mustafa, bookmaker William Hill, and his most famous owner Colonel Robert Byerley.
Fans looking for a book about racing will be disappointed, as there is no mention of the Byerley Turk's descendents, but those who enjoy learning about world history will appreciate this artistic tie-in of the life of this very important stallion.
