Deadline Set for Horsenameographies Book Submissions

Award-winning publisher Caballo Press of Ann Arbor has set December 14, 2009, as the deadline for horse lovers to submit their life stories in a race horse name. Selected names will be inclued in their upcoming book, Horsenameographies: Life Stories in a Race Horse Name by Lovers of Horses Everywhere. The deadline was moved up months in advance due to the large number of contributions. In two-and-a-half months over six-hundred names have been submitted, and it is expected to climb to well over 850 by December 14.

The book will be released on April 14, two weeks before the running of the 2010 Kentucky Derby. In order to make sure that the first printing meets demand, pre-orders will be accepted starting on January 14. The book will be available exclusively through Caballo Press of Ann Arbor’s website, www.caballopress.com . In a show of appreciation, copies of Horsenameographies will be released to those selected for inclusion in the book two weeks prior to its nation wide release.

Horsenameographies have ranged from the comical to the inspirational to the heart wrenching. “Nervous Breakdown” captured J. De La Torre’s life story in a race horse name. In explaining the name De La Torre jokingly shared, “I’m sound physically but unsound mentally! I must be to be in this sport.”

“Entirely Special” was contributed by N. Treusch in tribute to a special person in her life. In submitting the name, Treusch wrote, “This guy saw me through breast cancer treatment; was my partner on many incredible rides; fate brought us together. He was, indeed, Entirely Special.”

The touching race horse name, “See You at the Wire,” was submitted by K. Toler who wrote that, “Horses have given me the inspiration I have needed throughout my life to attain many goals for myself and my daughters. When it seems we can’t or the struggles seem too hard — Horses have made me see that the impossible is very possible.”

Photographs that capture the essence of a person’s horsenameography have accompanied a number of the submissions. At least twenty-five of these photographs will be featured in the book.

Life stories in a race horse name can be submitted up until December 14 at www.caballopress.com . Official Jockey Club rules which limit the number of letters, spaces and punctuations for the naming of race horses to eighteen will not being enforced in order to allow contributors to be as creative as possible. The book will be designed and edited by Rudolph Valier Alvarado, the recipient of the 2009 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, formerly known as the Thoroughbred Times/Castleton Lyons Book Award.