The Fast Ride
Spectacular Bid and the Undoing of a Sure Thing
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Narrated by:
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Jack Gilden
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By:
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Jack Gilden
About this listen
In an era of spectacular thoroughbreds, Spectacular Bid was perhaps the most exalted racehorse of them all. In 1979, he won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes—and transcended his sport on a run of 12 consecutive stakes victories—but his quest for the Triple Crown was lost with a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes due to a series of bizarre events that have never been accurately reported.
In The Fast Ride, Jack Gilden tells the story of what really happened that day the Bid lost the biggest race of his life. Along the way, he introduces the listener to a cast of characters from the gilded age of late-20th-century horse racing, from Bid’s owners, the renowned Meyerhoff family, to Grover “Buddy” Delp, the fast-talking trainer, to teenage jockey Ronnie Franklin, whose meteoric rise to fame aboard Spectacular Bid came at the cost of his innocence and well-being. Also present are four of the era’s magnificent Latino riders, Ángel Cordero Jr., Jacinto Vasquez, Georgie Velasquez, and Ruben Hernandez, who all felt the sting of rejection and bigotry during their long careers even as they found their way and raised the level of competition to a feverish pitch.
Underlying Spectacular Bid’s saga was a thin line between hard work and excess, including substance abuse, animal manipulation and doping, and race fixing. Hardly anyone in the horse’s circle made it out unscathed or undamaged.
The Fast Ride is the story of a great racehorse, unfulfilled dreams, the exhilaration and steep price of striving at all costs, and an American era in which getting everything you ever wanted could be the most empty and unfulfilling sensation of all.
©2022 Jack Gilden (P)2022 Jack GildenListeners also enjoyed...
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Great book terrible narrator
- By B. P. H. on 10-31-18
By: Conrad Kerber, and others
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Seabiscuit
- An American Legend
- By: Laura Hillenbrand
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail.
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See you in the winner's circle
- By Janice on 06-26-13
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Jeff Gordon
- His Dream, Drive & Destiny
- By: Joe Garner
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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The first-ever authorized biography of Jeff Gordon, the four-time champion racing legend. For over a year, Garner interviewed and observed Gordon at races, at special events, and at home. The book is based on extensive interviews with Gordon - as well as in-depth interviews with dozens of family members, friends, competitors, and colleagues, some of whom have never gone on the record before.
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Great Listen!
- By Q on 12-01-22
By: Joe Garner
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A Flame of Pure Fire
- Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s
- By: Roger Kahn
- Narrated by: Kevin Yon
- Length: 17 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Through most of the Roaring '20s, Jack Dempsey was the heavyweight champion of the world. With his fierce good looks and matchless dedication to the kill, he was a fighter perfectly suited to his time. In A Flame of Pure Fire, renowned sports writer Roger Kahn not only chronicles the thrilling, brutal bouts of the Manassa Mauler, but also illustrates how the tumultuous 1920s shaped Dempsey - and how the champ, in turn, left an indelible mark on sports and American history.
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Ambitious but poorly executed
- By Keith on 10-02-19
By: Roger Kahn
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Cinderella Man
- James J. Braddock, Max Baer and the Greatest Upset in Boxing History
- By: Jeremy Schaap
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Lost in the annals of boxing is the sport's true Cinderella story. James J. Braddock, dubbed "Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon, was a once promising light heavyweight for whom a string of losses in the ring and a broken right hand happened to coincide with the Great Crash of 1929.
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Excellent
- By MA on 06-05-05
By: Jeremy Schaap
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The Man Who Listens to Horses
- By: Monty Roberts
- Narrated by: Ed Sala
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Monty Roberts' father, a traditional horse trainer, had taught his son to dominate a horse in order to "break" it. But when he was 13, Monty made a discovery that changed his life. As he watched a mare tame a rebellious colt, Monty saw that she was speaking to it through eye and body movements. Astonished, Monty realized that he could train horses by using their language, speaking to them in ways that would form trust and understanding. Developing techniques based on what he learned from the horses around him, Monty embarked on a remarkable career - one that would bring him international fame as the real Horse Whisperer.
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Great read/listen for any horse lover
- By Anonymous User on 09-07-18
By: Monty Roberts
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The Comeback
- Greg LeMond, the True King of American Cycling, and a Legendary Tour de France
- By: Daniel de Vise
- Narrated by: Pete Cross
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Greg LeMond stunned the sporting world by becoming the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986, defeating French cycling legend Bernard Hinault. Nine months later, LeMond lay in a hospital bed, his career as a bicycle racer seemingly over. And yet, barely two years after this crisis, LeMond mounted a comeback. In 1989, he once again won the Tour - by a narrow margin of eight seconds. It remains the closest Tour de France in history. The Comeback chronicles the life of this great American athlete, from his roots in Nevada and California to the heights of global fame.
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Good book. Flawed reading.
- By david savage on 07-23-18
By: Daniel de Vise
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The Year of the Horses
- By: Courtney Maum
- Narrated by: Courtney Maum
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Courtney Maum is thirty-seven years old when she finds herself in an indoor arena in Connecticut, moments away from stepping back into the saddle. For her, this is not just a riding lesson, but a last-ditch attempt to pull herself back from the brink even though riding is a relic from the past she walked away from. She hasn’t been on or near a horse in over thirty years.
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Heart felt story about how horses can help heal us
- By Anonymous User on 10-07-24
By: Courtney Maum
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The Boxing Kings
- When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring
- By: Paul Beston
- Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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The Boxing Kings tells the story of the heavyweight title in the days when it was a defining institution in the United States. Author Paul Beston places special emphasis on those champions who held a central place in American culture beyond just in the boxing ring, including John L. Sullivan, who made the title a commercial property; Jack Johnson, who in 1908 became the first black man to claim the title; Joe Louis, whose contributions to racial tolerance and social progress transcended even his greatness in the ring; and many more.
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An outstanding book on heavyweight champions
- By LSmith on 02-01-18
By: Paul Beston
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Out of the Shadow of Greatness
- By: Michael Hembree
- Narrated by: Robert Sams
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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The story of NASCAR's legendary racer - newly revised Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s name virtually assured that his life would not be ordinary. Over the past decade, he has fulfilled that destiny. His father, one of the most successful drivers in the history of international motorsports, gave his son more than his name. Dale Earnhardt Sr. placed Dale Jr. in position to follow the footsteps and tire tracks he had left from Darlington to Daytona, from coast to coast, from one championship to the next.
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do better research
- By David Thom on 08-05-22
By: Michael Hembree
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Two Hours
- The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon
- By: Ed Caesar
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Two hours to cover 26 miles and 385 yards. Its running's Everest, a feat once seen as impossible for the human body. Now we can glimpse the mountaintop. The sub-two-hour marathon requires an exceptional feat of speed, mental strength, and endurance. The pioneer will have to endure more, live braver, plan better, and be luckier than any who has run before. Ed Caesar takes us into the world of elite runners: the greatest marathoners on Earth.
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I liked it!
- By Amazon Customer on 05-07-16
By: Ed Caesar
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Cycle of Lies
- The Fall of Lance Armstrong
- By: Juliet Macur
- Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The definitive account of Lance Armstrong's spectacular rise and fall. In June 2013, when Lance Armstrong fled his palatial home in Texas, downsizing in the face of multimillion-dollar lawsuits, Juliet Macur was there - talking to his girlfriend and children and listening to Armstrong's version of the truth. She was one of the few media members aside from Oprah Winfrey to be granted extended one-on-one access to the most famous pariah in sports. At the center of Cycle of Lies is Armstrong himself, revealed through face-to-face interviews.
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...Pants on Fire
- By Mel on 03-25-14
By: Juliet Macur
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Rebel
- My Life Outside the Lines
- By: Nick Nolte
- Narrated by: Nick Nolte, Christian Baskous
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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In a career spanning five decades, Nick Nolte has endured the rites of Hollywood celebrity. Rising from obscurity to leading roles and Oscar nominations, he has been both celebrated and vilified in the media; survived marriages, divorces, and a string of romances; was named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine; and suffered public humiliation over his drug and alcohol issues, including a drug-fueled trip down a "long road of nothingness" that ended in arrest.
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Great read! No fooling.
- By Action Joe on 05-31-18
By: Nick Nolte
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The Pursuit of Happyness (Abridged)
- By: Chris Gardner
- Narrated by: Andre Blake
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Abridged
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At the age of 20, Chris Gardner arrived in San Francisco to pursue a promising career in medicine. However, he surprised everyone and himself by setting his sights on the competitive world of high finance. Yet no sooner had he landed an entry-level position at a prestigious firm, Gardner found himself caught in a web of incredibly challenging circumstances that left him part of the city's working homeless with his toddler son.
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Very Good Story!
- By Lito Da Critic on 06-02-06
By: Chris Gardner
What listeners say about The Fast Ride
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-02-22
Enthralling, Beautiful, and Tragic
This book is absolutely riveting, it has an excitement and tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, yet it's all true. I highly recommend this, the exciting journey author Jack Guilden takes you on is one for the ages!
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- tommy moore
- 09-20-22
A Compelling story superbly presented!
Fantastic read for those who follow horse racing or Maryland history. Gilden’s talent in taking disparate subject matter and revealing the connections is breathtaking. From the heart-pounding track races, to the seedy drug culture and the majesty of Maryland horse country to the corruption of money, every scene in the story is expertly woven together and vividly revealed to the reader.
Reads like a novel, yet every word is true. Every character is fully developed, blemishes and all. Gilden pulls no punches in describing historic events that shaped Spectacular Bid’s journey.
“The Fast Ride” is an engaging work that provides insight into a story that has never been told. Must read!
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- Lauren Brown
- 09-01-22
Spectacular Story!
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story about a young jockey, Ronnie Franklin, and an amazing horse, Spectacular Bid. I have never been a real horse racing fan, but was captivated right out of the gate! Jack Gilden does an incredible job of drawing you in right away to the world of Baltimore and it's storied horse racing history. Also, you become fascinated with how the young jockey came to his occupation, his struggles and victories, and what an amazing horse Spectacular Bid truly was. Jack Gilden's excitement and enthusiasm for the material is contagious!! It not only entertained me, but taught me so much about my home town of Baltimore and the racing industry in general. I highly recommend this book!
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- Susan Hackney
- 03-27-23
I didn't want it to end!
Fantastic story. I didn't want it to end. But, I love horse racing and the stories about the horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners. Highly recommended!
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- Anonymous User
- 05-27-23
Very enjoyable
This is a great summer read. As a lifelong Marylander I highly recommend this book!
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-24-22
Fast Ride
This was a very enjoyable book. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the characters and the backside environment.
Being a racetrack veterinarian I could relate to what was going on. I knew the veterinarians mentioned from Manny Gilman to Alex Harthill and Jimmy Stewart. He captured their exploits perfectly.
I recommend this book to anyone who who has ever stepped on the backside of a racetrack.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary Norwood, DVM
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- Andover Way
- 10-09-22
Worth the listen
I enjoyed the book. It was as much of a historical reflection on American life in the late 70s & early 80s, as it is a deep dive into Spectacular Bid’s amazing career in-spite of it all. The play-by-play description of the races brought delight to my mind. I felt as if I was on horseback right there. I think I want every horse race commentated to me that way now!
And then, I reflected on this story of basic child abuse and how the times and all that was at stake made it easy to ignore. As a Nation, we fail to realize that the majority of children abused are male - most problems in school, homeless, suicides, inmates are male. While we blame men for all sorts of societal ills, we fail at supporting young male adults. The book was full of moments to ponder. I found myself rewatching the old races & interviews online, engaged in the mysteries the author revealed to us.
I recommend this book if you’re looking for a page turner full of colorful characters that take your mind behind the scenes of what was not a more innocent time. I appreciate the deep dive the author has presented in this slice of life tale. I appreciate the celebration of these fabulous historic equine & human athletes who are worth remembering - Spectacular Bid, Ronnie & others.
As feedback for the audible readers & production - the transitions between chapters felt rushed with little or no pause between, so sometimes difficult to keep clarity on characters.
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- Davida
- 04-23-23
It was supposed to be about Spectacular Bid
Horrible story. I did not want a history of Baltimore. Just the horse that I knew well. I went to Claiborne to visit him and Big Red. Why is that alcoholic and drug abuser in the hall of fame. He destroyed a lot of young lives. He should have been arrested and in jail. No I would not recommend this book if they are true horse lovers.
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- John Long
- 10-02-24
A beautiful and cruel world
Incredible writing. Real people.
Love the stories of everyone involved and careful explanations. I hope that the Franklins and Ronny have been redeemed in some way. I love the powerful life truths concerning fathers and son, the cruel nightmare of drug use, the sadness of wounds being passed down! …and so much more provoking truth lessons. Kindness, love.
And most of all the horses and riders. I know I have to keep riding and keep at it and see what happens.
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- A. Odell
- 01-18-23
Great book. The Incredible research made for a great read!!
So much detail and research went into this book. A great read. I didn’t want it to end! Would make a great movie!!
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