Suspense

Due to a barn fire, Alec needs a lot of money quickly. With Black Minx running the three-year-old classic races, maybe she'll bring in the funds, but Alec decides to bring the Black to the races as well. Interestingly, there's none of the old trouble with the Black trying to fight every other horse he sees; he's suddenly well-behaved. There are other problems, but eventually the Black's comeback pits him against the best three-year-old and the best older horse of the year. ( )

Hopeful Farm is in need of a new barn, and the only way to raise the needed funds is by racing Black Minx, and The Black! Can Alec and Henry keep The Black's daughter in top racing condition after the Kentucky Derby, and also transition The Black from his life at stud to a successful new career as an older handicap racer?

Another good, solid entry in The Black Stallion series. ( )

Alec is desperate. A raging fire has destroyed the barn at Hopeful Farm, and it's going to cost $100,000 to rebuild it.

If you want to know what life is like at the racetrack, pick up one of Walter Farley's books! It is incredibly hard to find an author who captures the essence of the horse, the race, or the track the way Farley does. To top all of that off, he is an amazing adventure writer for anyone in the mood for a quick chapter book read. Some parts of the story are a little contrived, but that was the adventure style of the time. I will always say that young readers who love horses should be given this book (indeed, the entire series) as a gift. They are guaranteed to enjoy it over and over again. ( )