2026 Breeders’ Cup Starting Gate, Courtney Snow/ Past The Wire
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — “The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century,” a seminal history of past and present United States thoroughbred tracks, has been selected as the 20th recipient of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by the Ryan family’s Castleton Lyons to recognize excellence in thoroughbred racing literature published in 2025. “The Racetracks of America” was published by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in partnership with Keeneland Library. The Museum’s Brien Bouyea and Keeneland Library’s Roda Ferraro, representing the 440-page reference book’s partners, received the winner’s $10,000 check and Tipperary crystal trophy during a Nov. 4 reception held at Castleton Lyons’ historic stallion barn in Lexington, Ky.
Several of the 35 turf writers and authors whose essays comprised “The Racetracks of America” also were on hand, as were Keeneland Library curators who helped assemble the book’s hundreds of historical photos and other memorabilia.
“The broad scope of ‘The Racetracks of America’ makes it a winner on that merit alone,” said historian, author, and turf writer Dr. Maryjean Wall, one of four Book Award judges. “But when readers open this book they will discover an unexpected bonus in the refined writing, the keepsake photos, and the thoughtful presentation of what collectively amounts to one of the greatest stories ever told. Horse racing has been waiting a long time for such a book.”
“The Racetracks of America,” which received underwriting support from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., includes profiles of nearly 100 tracks, some grouped by racing circuit, from coast to coast, south Florida to Seattle, bullrings to Belmont. The book is extensively illustrated, with more than 600 photos, paintings, programs, officials’ badges and memorabilia. Author and historian Bouyea, the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame and communications director, had the formidable job of assembling the writing team, editing the book, and writing several chapters; multiple Eclipse Award winner Jay Hovdey wrote the foreword and contributed as an editor; and Ferraro and her Keeneland team of curators and researchers scoured their archives and those of sister historical societies and collectors across the country to find the best images and artifacts to illustrate the book and provide support to the authors.
In his remarks, Bouyea credited Museum trustee Stella Thayer, a former president of the institution and longtime co-owner of Tampa Bay Downs, with the idea of conceptualizing a comprehensive book to celebrate the Museum’s 75th anniversary in 2025. She envisioned “The Racetracks of America” as “a love letter to the sport, something to show its tradition and history,” Bouyea said. The end result, said Ferraro, is a tribute to “these living, breathing places at the core of the American racing experience. The beauty of this book is that it celebrates how we as people have shaped these places and how those places have shaped us.”
“Brien and the team he assembled and led did a remarkable job chronicling the important history of our American racetracks through outstanding research and masterful writing that will be treasured by fans of the sport for generations,” said Charlotte Weber, the Museum’s board chair. “The partnership between the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Keeneland Library really produced a winner here. Both institutions have served the sport with distinction for decades and this book is a shining example of the passion they share for racing and its rich history.”
Dr. Tony Ryan, the late philanthropist and founder of Ryanair, loved a good book and was equally passionate about horse racing. Observing that book-length racing works such as Laura Hillenbrand’s 2001 bestseller “Seabiscuit: An American Legend” had received no industry recognition, he worked with Thoroughbred Times editor Mark Simon to launch the literature award in 2006. Since Dr. Ryan’s passing in 2007, the competition has been carried forward by his son, Shane. Past Book Award honorees have included best-selling authors and winners of a National Book Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and Eclipse and Sovereign awards.
Contributing writers for “The Racetracks of America” included Bouyea, Ferraro, Hovdey, Michael Blowen, the late Edward L. Bowen, Caton Bredar, Andrew Champagne, the late Bill Christine, Sean Clancy, Don Clippinger, Steven Crist, Mary Eddy, Bob Ehalt, Tracy Gantz, Teresa Genaro, David Grening, Bill Heller, Dick Jerardi, Jennifer Kelly, Byron King, Jody Lamp, Ed McNamara, Jim Melia, Joe Nevills, Dorothy Ours, Josh Pons, Jay Privman, Nicole Russo, Mark Shrager, Lynne Snierson, Michael Veitch, Natalie Voss, Gary West, Jon White, and Kim Wickens.
Two other finalists were honored at the Castleton Lyons ceremony: Gary O’Dell, author of “Reinventing the American Thoroughbred: The Arabian Adventures of Alexander Keene Richards,” and Katie Bo Lillis, author of “Death of a Racehorse: An American Story.”
“One of the nicest things about this evening is actually the stories that we hear about the three books,” Shane Ryan said from a podium set up between rows of Castleton Lyons stallion stalls. “Again, congratulations to Brien, Katie Bo, and Gary. The stories, for me, are what makes the night. … You’re all winners at the end of the day.”
For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.
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