Kim Wickens has been named winner of the 2023 Dr. Tony Ryan Guide Award for excellence in Thoroughbred racing literature along with her meticulously researched and fantastically written biography of the good 19th century stallion Lexington.
The e book, “Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Instances of America’s Legendary Racehorse,” creates a vivid time capsule again to the pre- and post- Civil Struggle period through which he lived. This was the second straight 12 months a e book in regards to the peerless sire was honored, following Geraldine Brooks’ 2022 win for her novel, “Horse.”
Be taught Extra About Creator Kim Wickens
“Lexington” is the primary e book authored by Wickens, a former prison protection lawyer who at the moment resides in Kentucky.
“One of many largest challenges of nonfiction writing about early Thoroughbred racing is making the information present in 1800s racing publications, newspapers, and different information come alive on the trendy web page,” lead decide Kay Coyte mentioned. “Wickens tells the factual story of Lexington and the characters surrounding him with heat, intelligence, typically humor, and at all times magnificence. She clearly cherished her topic and she or he breathed her enthusiasm into each chapter.”
Different finalists included “Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey,” by Katherine C. Mooney, and “The Turcottes: The Exceptional Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty,” by Curtis Inventory. The three prime books had been chosen from 22 entries, all revealed through the 2023 calendar 12 months. (Jennifer Kelly reviewed for America’s Greatest Racing each Mooney’s e book on Isaac Murphy and Inventory’s e book on the Turcotte household.)
“The nominees for this 12 months’s Guide Award had been a rare group,” Coyte mentioned. “We had entries from three former winners and a number of other finalists, but a few of the strongest titles had been by first-time authors.”
A panel of three literary and racing business judges, headed by Coyte, a former editor on the Washington Publish, labored collectively in figuring out this 12 months’s outcomes. Coyte was joined by award-winning tv broadcast journalist Caton Bredar and former Boston Globe columnist Diane White of Outdated Pals Thoroughbred Retirement.
The finalists had been acknowledged at a cocktail reception on Nov. 20, held within the loft above the historic stallion barn on the Ryan household’s Castleton Lyons, close to Lexington. As at all times, a $10,000 first prize was awarded, with $1,000 going to every of the runners-up. All three acquired Tipperary crystal trophies within the type of Castleton Lyons’ iconic stone tower.
Now in its 18th 12 months, the award was based in 2006 by famous philanthropist and world businessman Dr. Tony Ryan. The objective was to showcase the most effective book-length writing with a horse racing backdrop. Since his 2007 passing, the competitors has been continued by Dr. Ryan’s son and present president of Castleton Lyons, Shane Ryan. Previous honorees have included a Pulitzer Prize winner, a recipient of the Nationwide Guide Award, and a number of other Eclipse Award-winners for writing.
