Loved everything Black Stallion when I was a kid, but I read the books in Swedish so it's not always easy to know what they were in English. I particularly enjoyed this book - which I have read multiple times - when I a few years later became involved in the "trotting" world. For about ten years of my life I lived and breathed for everything "horse". Eventually I decided that I was better cut out for a desk job and went to college to get a business degree. Working with horses as a professional usually means gruelling and unpredictably long hours with little earnings. The hours I work tend still to be long, but I am duly compensated.

Aside from 'The Black Stallion Revolts' this one was my next favorite of the Black Stallion books.

3 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book, far more than I was expecting, but the title was dumb. It was niche and incredibly easy to misunderstand if unfamiliar with the sport at large or the specifics of the novel. It should have been renamed.

This book focuses on Farley's strengths, which are horse-racing and the characters Alec and Henry. His other characters are generally unlikable - I couldn't stand Jimmy Creech, either in his first appearance in the series, or when he was even worse in this book.

I recommend to fans of Farley's first two books in the series, and those looking for a fun children's book about horse-racing.

The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt...I enjoyed seeing Bonfire, Jimmy Creech, George and Tom again, but I knew before opening the thing that if Henry and Alec showed up, there would be conflict. Just as I dreaded, there was. Apparently, Henry and Alec can do absolutely no wrong. I was okay with them being right about a few things, but why did they have to take over the whole show? And why did there have to be in-fighting? I would have enjoyed it a lot more if all of them had just worked together to help Bonfire and Tom get over their accident and face their fears. As it was, I just felt like Farley brought in Henry and Alec so he could prove (to himself or the audience, it isn't clear which) that they are the best no matter what the circumstances.

I am so conflicted with this book ! Lets start with the cover , the edition that i have makes me frustrated . I mean were is the harness ? Does the artist even know what a blood bay looks like ? and what the hell is that horse doing ? trotting ? cantering? pacing ? just so unhappy with the artwork!

then , lets move on to the story , i read the blood bay colt first and in that book tom was a mature horse crazy kid who respected his horse above all else . In this book he was described as an easily intimated, immature boy that gives into pressure even at the expense of his horse . The Alec character come down as very judgmental of that only to do basically the same thing . It felt as though Walter was in a hurry to get rid of the characters that raised this horse only to put the "star" Alec in the story . Then to try to make up for it by having henry and Alec walk away after and let his "friends" take the glory .. I just didnt like that . This is one story that i am really not happy about .

Old men. This book is mostly about old men. Also horses, of course, and racing. But the heart of it is the old men who know the way things are done, and old men in opposition to one another, and old men trying to help young men despite the young men being kinda jerks. I love Henry Dailey, the irascible old git. The moment when Si takes his teeth out is pure gold. And of course Bonfire is a dream colt. Alec's not perfect here, and he learns some things- though I'm not sure I've ever met a young man so humble and ready to be steered. As always, pulse-pounding race scenes.