The Horse God Built: The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World's Greatest Racehorse

This is an amazing story of Secretariat! 0Packed full of information that’s not known to most people. This would be a great book for anyone e who loves horses.

Great read about horse racing and the people on the backside of the track who receive so little recognition

There was considerable research over years by the author. Meeting the people closest to Secretariat, those who were family members of those close to Big Red from the beginning to the end of his life. The races, wins and loses, records which still stand. Photographs in black and white capture the magnificent horse and those whose lives were changed because of their relationship with him. Eddie Sweat and his love for Big Red was reciprocal, no one knew "Baby" like Eddie.

This was a study in Horse Racing in this country. I have followed the Triple Crown over the years but never under the back story surrounding the sport. The author brings to light the good, bad and the ugly regarding the sport. I give it a 4 rating rather than 5 because while the title emphasizes the Horse that God built the story goes in many directions. While very interesting and educating, sometimes lost track of the real story about Secretariat. However, would recommend to anyone interest in thoroughbred racing.

Mr. Scanlan, thank you for saying what needed to be said, for exposing what millions still choose not to see or think about and for so many excellent topics you cover in this book, who's title is dead on. The book rates a 5 with me and hide rate it higher if i could. While the book seemed to start.... not slow but not in the direction I thought it would, I found myself unable to put it down. Please dont start reading this book and not finish, for in doing so, its as tho you order a mouth-watering desert, entree, what-have you, and when its placed before you, you're content just to breath in the aroma of your favorite food! The farther I read, the deeper i got into thisa book; the more onlookers assumed I had a cold for I was unable to read more than a page once past the half way point without tears welling up in my eyes or just straight out crying. Moved emotionaly for so many reasons. You come to learn much about the author tho I dont think it was always intentional. If you care about horses, if you've known that fussion of souls that occurs between horse and human he writes about, calling it a "connection", and it certainly is that, you'll be refreshed as I was to read about it, to be allowed a glimpse into that most personal & intimate area of the relationship between horse/human that few know of and even fewer have been privilaged enough to experience it, then get this book. I purposely have only alluded to the books content:he's the writter. I can only say that its moving, inspiring, sad and up-lifting & hopefully you will libe by "Shorty's" mantra: "love your horse, and your horse will love you". One last point. Scanlan speaks about the ability of comunication, how a study done by the University of Pennsylvania found that "98% of pet owners talk to their animals as if to a sympathetic friend". (Its the next sentence I hope will resonate and bring real change) ...how many ~listen~ to their animals, as Eddie Sweat listened to Secretariat ~ listened with his ears, his heart, he listened in his bones. And in doing so, "A great horse passed thru him". It was the paragraph just preceding this that was so moving that even tho it consisted of only 11 lines it took me what must have been 10 minutes to read; I simply couldnt see thru thew tears. Why would I, a 50 year old man cry while reading a small paragraph about an old gray gelding and his stable mates? If you love horses treat yourself to these gems that Scanlan nestles through-out this book. Tho admittedly, this encounter stirred me more than most of the others. And tho the feelings of humans was most certainly involved, it was the privilage they were given, as painful, touching or tear-jerking as it may be, to witness what he calls a "Ceremony" but I will call a realm that exists but few have witnessed.Thank you Mr. Scanlan.... Thank you.

The book is called “The Horse God Built” but it focuses more on Secretariat’s groom than on the horse itself. This is great to a point, but the author basically worships Eddie Sweat and finds absolutely no flaws in him, even calling him a “saint” (despite his relationship/family history- children with three different women, etc.). It’s too one sided and also it’s not well organized so you kind of get dragged all over. Solid book but a bit disappointing.

This is an amazing read. Get ready to go where you had not expected to travel. The author is brave enough to let the story take him where it goes and we follow along gladly. Originally a story about a great horse and that might have been enough but it goes on to tell us about the society the horse keeps and how it influences his life. Not talking here about the high society but the low society the person who cleans out his stall and rubs him down. His groom Eddie Sweat is the number one person in Secretariat’s life and the hero of this story and how it made Secretariat a better horse and I for one feel it has made me a better person for having learned all about him. I loved this book and found it’s willingness to follow the heart line, where the deepest emotions lie to be extremely rewarding and I think other readers will as well.