Review of California Chrome Our Story

Emily_Jen · Post by **Emily_Jen** » 08 Mar 2022, 19:19

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "California Chrome Our Story" by Perry Martin.]

4 out of 4 stars

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In California Chrome Our Story, Perry Martin presents a clear-eyed look at the business of breeding and racing a champion racehorse and all the thrills and heartaches that go along with it. Martin also makes an effort to clear the social media and internet fog surrounding a racehorse called California Chrome and to dispel what he calls “the salacious gossip which in today’s world passes as journalism.” This book is dedicated to the author’s late wife, Denise, with whom he shared thirty-five years.

The author begins by talking about risk management and the inefficiencies of the equine marketplace, as well as how breeding horses for sale or racing purposes constitute the highest risk in horseracing. Martin then answers the question of who he and Denise are and how they got into the horseracing business. We then see how he acquired a horse on a partnership deal with a man named Steve Coburn, a purchase that became the origin of the name “Dumb Ass Partners.” The author then narrates how this horse was bred to produce the award-winning California Chrome. The writer then takes readers through Chrome’s career as a racehorse and as a stallion. All the while, Martin narrates the numerous competitions in which Chrome took part, as well as his victories and defeats.

I will start by saying that this book deserves a perfect score of 4 out of 4. I found nothing to dislike about the publication. I like how the author used a first-person narrative style to tell the story. That way, I got to see things from his perspective and understand his reactions to several occurrences as they related to Chrome. The tone of the author is also conversational, which is nice to see. Bits of humor are sprinkled throughout the narration in a way that readers wouldn’t feel bored of the author’s tale. For example, readers would find the origin of the name of the partnership between Martin and Coburn hilarious. Chrome is a special horse, and readers would be thrilled while they read about him and his achievements.

I also like how the author cleared the air concerning some of the stories the media circulated about some decisions he made at some points in Chrome’s career. I found his explanations even more believable because of how the author started the book by giving a brief history about himself and his thought process. That way, I was able to tell whether the explanations he provided to clear the air were consistent with his character. For example, the author explained the real reason why he and his wife did not attend the 2014 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. The false story circulated by the press attributed his absence to the way he was treated badly at the Kentucky Derby.

Furthermore, it was interesting to read about the pictures on the cover and back pages of this edition. I found it interesting to learn about how and when these images were taken. The “contents” page was also something that I appreciated. It helped me locate the exact pages of several interesting chapters I wanted to reread. This 252-page book is an excellent read.

I was also thrilled to learn about how things work in the horseracing business, from breeding racehorses to factors to consider while trying to predict horses’ performance on the tracks. The pictures of California Chrome on some pages of the book are refreshing to see. The pictures also made me more attached to Chrome. I even went on YouTube to watch his performance in Dubai in 2016. It was an exciting experience and a joy to watch. I have become significantly interested in horseracing thanks to this book. Additionally, the text is professionally edited. I recommend this book to readers that are interested in horseracing. However, the publication is filled with profane words. Sensitive readers should take note.

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California Chrome Our Story
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