The Horse God Built

The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World’s Greatest Racehorse

By: Lawrence Scanlan

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

In The Horse God Built, best-selling equestrian writer Lawrence Scanlan has written a tribute to an exceptional man that is also a backroads journey to a corner of the racing world rarely visited. As a young black man growing up in South Carolina, Eddie Sweat struggled at several occupations before settling on the job he was born for - groom to North America's finest racehorses. As Secretariat's groom, loyal friend, and protector, Eddie understood the horse far better than anyone else. A wildly generous man who could read a horse with his eyes, he shared in little of the financial success or glamour of Secretariat's wins on the track, but won the heart of Big Red with his soft words and relentless devotion. In Scanlan's rich narrative, we get a groom's-eye view of the racing world and the vantage of a man who spent every possible moment with the horse he loved, yet who often basked in the horse's glory from the sidelines. More than anything else, The Horse God Built is a moving portrait of the powerful bond between human and horse.

©2007 Lawrence Scanlan (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This volume bulges with insight into and sensitivity toward the world of Thoroughbred horse racing." ( Publishers Weekly)

A great story about a great groom and his horse

It was a great story. It showed the story that many don't see. I loved it.

Wonderful book

I love this book because of the History and the reference of all the groom's that loved all the famous horses

Secretariat fans will love it

I was 13 in 1973 and Secretariat was my hero. I thought I’d read everything available about him and his connections. But I learned many new things in this book. Quite an enjoyable read.

A Gem For Secretariat and Horse Lovers

As one of the lucky ones who got to meet the Great Secretariat in 1986, this lovely and loving book provides so much background information about the people who cared for him and loved him best, particularly Eddie Sweat. His handler gave me some loose strands from his mane and I have cherished these, along with the pictures taken with him these many years and can attest, he DID love having his picture taken. While many of the stallions we visited exhibited aggressive, gnashing teeth, our lovely Big Red was held on a loose lead, with no chain over his nose or any restraint. He allowed me to pay his neck and shoulder as easily as one of my horses.

This book can serve as a wonderful teaching aid to anyone in the horse or even animal world on how to interact with our beloved furred and feathered charges. Love them and they will love you back. Kindness works better than meanness. Use the “sweat Method”. A great story and tribute to the Shed Row folks.

Good book

This was a good book but at places it rambled to topics that were unexpected. I thought from the name it was focused on Eddie Sweat even more than it was, but it did ramble to and from other people and horses. It was enjoyable and informative nonetheless.

Shorty

Loved it. White people did Eddie Wrong im white. Very sorry for a Wonderful Man

The Horse that God Built

Loved this book. I love Secretariat, but also learning about his groom, Eddie Sweat. I would. recommend this book to anyone.

Beautiful, compassionate and informative

Thought it was going to be a fact filled account of an outstanding horse. It was so much more. A wonderful twerking of the horse-human bond which can be shared.

Fantastic

Couldn't put it down! I vcd was 18 when Secretariat won the triple crown, I will never forget that. I loved the movie andd and this portrayal of his life and his groom❤🐎

The Horse God Built.

Wonderful book. Wonderful writer. I will read in few months . Accurate info. I loved it.