Keeneland Library will hold a handicapping event with Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach on April 29 to discuss contenders for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the supporting undercard of the historic race to be run in three days. The program kicks off the library's spring-summer activities, which will continue with the popular Library Lecture Series to spotlight legendary racing announcer Tom Durkin; champion racehorses A.P. Indy, Cody's Wish and Holy Bull; and a memorable journey on a retired racehorse by an acclaimed author.
"We are really excited about Keeneland Library's lineup of upcoming events and being able to feature expert handicapper Tom Leach and master storyteller Tom Durkin," Library Director Roda Ferraro said. "The Library Lecture Series also will present the inspirational accounts of Cody's Wish and a woman who rode a former racehorse from her farm in Maine across the country and will celebrate new releases on Racing Hall of Famers A.P. Indy and Holy Bull. Our spring and summer events are sure to please racing fans and our community patrons."
Leach, a veteran handicapper known as the "Voice of the Wildcats," is the longtime radio announcer for University of Kentucky football and men's basketball; host of the daily radio show "The Leach Report"; and a two-time Eclipse Award winner for horse racing coverage.
Doors for the evening open at 6 p.m. ET with a reception, including charcuterie, mint juleps and a non-alcoholic beverage station. Leach's program is from 6:30-8 p.m. ET. Tickets are $25 each and may be reserved at Keeneland.com/library or by calling 859 254-3412. A portion of proceeds benefit the Keeneland Library Foundation, which supports the Library's preservation, education and outreach efforts.
Library Lecture Series announced
Library Lecture Series events, which take place at Keeneland Library from 6:30-8:30 p.m., celebrate published works about Thoroughbred racing whose authors conducted research at Keeneland Library. The upcoming schedule is:
- May 21: Paul Halloran on Cody's Wish: A Boy, a Racehorse and a Fight for Life
- June 11: Tom Durkin on A Life's Calling: The Voice Behind the World's Greatest Horse Races
- July 8: Elizabeth Letts on The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
- Aug. 5: Lenny Shulman on A.P. Indy: Champion Racehorse and Breed-Shaping Sire
- Sept. 2: Avalyn Hunter on Holy Bull: An Unconventional Path to Racing Glory
Tickets for all Library Lecture Series events are $20 each and may be reserved at Keeneland.com/library or by calling 859 254-3412. A portion of proceeds benefit the Keeneland Library Foundation, which supports the Library's preservation, education and outreach efforts.
Copies of featured books also may be purchased in advance and signed by the authors during the reception following their presentations.
Here is a look at each book:
Cody's Wish: A Boy, A Racehorse and a Fight for Life
This is a story of resilience, triumph and love as seen in the inexplicable bond between the young boy Cody Dorman and the champion racehorse Cody's Wish.
Author Paul Halloran is a 40-year journalist from Boston. He first came upon the Cody's Wish story when covering the 2022 Forego (G1) at Saratoga, with his coverage earning him an honorable mention Eclipse Award. Halloran approached Cody's parents, Kelly and Leslie Dorman, with the idea for a book about Cody and his bond with the racehorse named for him in 2023.
A Life's Calling: The Voice Behind the World's Greatest Horse Races
Tom Durkin was the voice of the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Triple Crown along with calling the races for the New York Racing Association for more than two decades. He shares his fascinating story of life in the backwater stops of the Midwest learning his craft of calling horse races. He worked his way up to calling America's greatest races and becoming the iconic voice of the sport.
Durkin partnered with acclaimed writers Paul Volponi and Lenny Shulman to craft his biography, which will be released this spring.
The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
Author Elizabeth Letts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction and non-fiction and 2017 Pen USA Literary Award for Research Nonfiction recipient. A graduate of Yale College and the Yale School of Nursing, she is an equestrian and a former certified nurse-midwife. She also served in the Peace Corps in Morocco.
The Ride of Her Life is Letts' story of Maine farmer Annie Wilkins, who in 1954 at age 63 rode a former racehorse named Tarzan on a 4,000-mile trip through America's big cities and small towns. Their journey inspired an outpouring of neighborliness in a rapidly changing world.
A.P. Indy: Champion Racehorse and Breed-Shaping Sire
A son of Seattle Slew and a grandson of Secretariat—both Triple Crown winners—A.P. Indy overcame physical ailments to win the Belmont (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and be named 1992's Horse of the Year. A.P. Indy then became an influential stallion.
In A.P. Indy, author Lenny Shulman captures his personal connection to the champion and shares the stories of those who shaped the horse, including his trainer, owners, breeders, groom, and jockey—giving readers an inside look at the never-before-seen dynamics of the stall, track, and paddock.
Shulman is the author of several books about Thoroughbred racing. For 20 years, he served as features editor of BloodHorse. His awards include an Emmy for television writing and the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in Turf writing.
Holy Bull: An Unconventional Path to Racing Glory
Avalyn Hunter's book captures the spirit of the 1994 Horse of the Year, following Holy Bull's career from humble beginnings to the Racing Hall of Fame and highlighting the experiences of the people behind his success.
Hunter is a nationally recognized authority on Thoroughbred pedigrees and racing history whose work has appeared in numerous industry publications. She is the author of many equine-related titles, including The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies and Dream Derby: The Myth and Legend of Black Gold.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
