Six published works have been named semifinalists for the fourth annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by Lexington’s Castleton Lyons farms and Thoroughbred Times.

Renamed in 2009 for the late founder of Castleton Lyons who created the prize in ’06 to reward literary excellence, the award is presented annually for the best book published about an aspect of the Thoroughbred industry. The winning author receives a $10,000 prize and a trophy made of custom-designed Irish crystal. The runners-up will each receive a trophy and a check for $1,000. The winner will be announced during an invitation-only reception on April 23 at Castleton Lyons in Lexington.

The 2009 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award semifinalists:

The Training Game: An Inside Look at American Racing’s Top Trainers

Author: Karen M. Johnson

Publisher: Daily Racing Form Press

Beyond the Homestretch: What I’ve Learned from Saving Racehorses

Author: Lynn Reardon

Publisher: New World Library

The Kentucky Derby Vault: A History of the Run for the Roses

Author: Andrew Plattner

Publisher: Whitman Publishing

Kokomo Joe: The Story of the First Japanese American Jockey in the United States

Author: John Christgau

Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Keeneland’s Ted Bassett: My Life

Authors: James E. “Ted” Bassett III and Bill Mooney

Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Equine ER: Stories from a Year of an Equine Veterinary Hospital

Author: Leslie Guttman

Publisher: Eclipse Press

The six semifinalists were chosen from books published during 2009 and submitted to Thoroughbred Times for consideration. They are a broad assortment of well-written biographies, autobiographies, journals, and histories.

The winner will be selected by a panel of three judges: Mary Simon, Kay Coyte, and Dr. Rudolph Alvarado. Alvarado’s The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita won the 2008 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The other Book Award winners are Joe Drape for Black Maestro, on the life of Jimmy Winkfield, in 2006; and T. D. Thornton for Not by a Long Shot: A Season at a Hard-Luck Horse Track, about Suffolk Downs in suburban Boston, in ’07.

For more information, contact Thoroughbred Times President and Editor Mark Simon, (859) 260-9800 or [email protected].

About Castleton Lyons:

Owned by Shane Ryan, Castleton Lyons is a full-service Thoroughbred farm based in Lexington that is situated on land with a distinguished history with horses dating back more than 200 years. The 1,200-acre farm stands the stallions Bernstein and Modigliani, and races two-time 2009 Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti.

Castleton Lyons, 2469 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 455-9222

About Thoroughbred Times:

Thoroughbred Times Company publishes the Thoroughbred Times, a weekly newsmagazine for owners, breeders, trainers, and racing enthusiasts worldwide. Thoroughbred Times also publishes an annual Stallion Directory, the Buyer’s Guides for auctions, an annual Auction Review, the daily electronic newsletter Thoroughbred Times TODAY, and maintains a comprehensive website at http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Thoroughbred Times, P.O. Box 8237, Lexington, KY 40533 (859) 260-9800