Stride for Stride: The Legacy of Bright Dawn

by Thomas Marshall

Fate, a touch too much whiskey, and a rainy Irish night transpire to crash Bright Dawn, the very valuable and very pregnant mare, into the farm where Thresis McGee lives with her grandparents. With... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825305357
• ISBN13: 9780825305351
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Beaufort Books
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

a fast beginnig to a long race

This is an excellent start for what I hope is a long series. I fell in love with the filly immediately and was drawn into the intrigue of the "brothers." I was impressed by the author's story line and development of the characters without the usual obscenities, murders, violence etc. The plot evolves smoothly and effortlessly as the mare Bright Dawn and her babies mature in the beautiful green countryside of Ireland. The eventual emergence of the American trainer and racing lead to an exciting conclusion. The best part of the book is that this story is far from finished.

Enjoyable Read

Can't wait for the next book. Held my attention from start to finish. An enjoyable read, interesting no violence and obscenities. The author has a unique, sensitive understanding of horses and people.

A thrilling thoroughbred read

Ireland, the Emerald Isle, known for its luscious, rolling country sides, links golf is also the home of some of the greatest horses in the history of thoroughbred and steeplechase racing opens the first act in Thomas Marshall's novel "Stride for Stride: The Legacy of Bright Dawn." The first-time author introduces the reader to Bright Dawn, a mare, ready to give birth in Ireland, but is involved in an early morning accident along one of the island's many twisting, fog-ridden country roads. Several miracles occur in the first few pages of "Stride for Stride," the survival of Bright Dawn as well as the birth of her twins, highly unusual in thoroughbreds. The connection contracted for one foal, the first born, the colt, not the second, his sister, the filly. The equine group is taken in by the McGee's, grandfather Jack, grandmother Anne, and the other heroine in the novel, Thresis. The two young animals are cared for with a tremendous amount of love and care by the McGee's, especially Thresis, who is enthralled by the thoroughbreds. Eventually the two are named by Thresis McGee's secret benefactor with help from the McGee's two colorful neighbors, the Kelly brothers, Bernard and Brendan. The twin thoroughbreds, the books primary characters, are called King Stephen and Most Innocent. The story develops with the colt, King Stephen, raised with his mother, Bright Star, eventually being sent to America, as planned. The miracle birth of the twin, the smaller built filly, Most Innocent, is kept from the ownership group. While slightly untruthful, the lack of disclosure proves to be legal. Thresis McGee has dreams of becoming a horse trainer and Most Innocent is to be her first love as well as her first thoroughbred. King Stephen, is ready to shock the racing world with his up-front blazing speed. The spectacular colt is trained by American hotshot, Archie Miller, who utilizes a methodical, hard training, scheduling style to train the horses of his owner, George Steimetz. It is his assistant trainer, Ronald Curry, who befriends King Stephen, with his gentle, carrying manner and plays the hero to Miller's villain on the backstretch. While King Stephen is making his mark in America, Most Innocent is given her opportunities at a slower pace back in Ireland. Being slower and somewhat lacking the killer, thoroughbred instincts of her brother, Most Innocent is brought slowly along by Thresis and her middle-aged trainer Eammon Daly. Marshall also introduces two endearing, colorful characters into his plot line with the introduction of John Quinn and Marco the Romanian, a jockey who doesn't talk to people, only to horses and a horse whisperer who can communicate with horses. While strange in description, the group, making up "Team Innocent" enjoys frustrations, hopes, dreams as well as growing success with Most Innocent. The success of King Stephen is quick and un-stifled, by his systematic trainer and boisterous owner, winning at Belmont, the Saratoga Special a