Most people are well aware of the Kentucky Derby, and perhaps "The Triple Crown" of horse racing. But, many others know little about "The Sport of Kings." Out of the Clouds is a book any horse lover would enjoy because it shares in-depth stories about the horses who are fortunate enough to have Hirsch Jacobs as their trainer. Many horses he brings to national attention.
Anyone who enjoys a "rags to riches" story will like Out of the Clouds, a moniker applied to one of trainer Hirsch Jacobs' best horses.
Authors Linda Carroll and David Rosner provide more than adequate statistics, numbers and sportswriter quotes to fill out the person we are first introduced to as a young, carrier-pigeon trainer named Hirsch Jacobs. In like fashion, the reader is also privy to detailed information on winnings and records of many well- known horses such as Man o' War, and Seabiscuit. These stories and statistics are interesting, but at times become cumbersome. The kernel story centers, or should center, on Jacobs and "his" horse, Stymie. At times, however, because there are so many details and facets, the story seems to veer far afield from the horse, Stymie, that is Jacobs' career lynchpin.
Overall, the book is chock full of great human and horse stories. Only because there seems a disjoint of organization did I give this book four (4) stars.

This is a beautifully written story about a red-haired boy Hirsch Jacobs, who became a wonderful pigeon trainer and then was later introduced to horse training. He partners up with Izzy Bieber, an inveterate gambler and businessman who provides the capital to buy the horses for Hirsch to train. They run their stable of horses like a business and not a hobby and in time become successful and then some.

Yet they are known for buying mostly cheap “claimers” or horses picked up in claiming races, where the owner allows them to be sold for a set amount if the horse races to anyone paying the claim fee and filing for them before the race starts. It’s usually done on a losing or recalcitrant young horse that the owner is fed up with and just wants off their hands.

Jacobs turned out to have a real talent for figuring out what these horses needed to become race ready, even to compete against more expensive horses with better breeding bought by the rich horse people. The types who paid others to find and train their horses for them and just did it as a hobby, only hoping to be able to stand in the winner’s circle one day.

He was a horse whisperer back before anyone knew what such a thing was. He was great at learning from others during his early years just hanging around the tracks and helping out, asking lots of insightful questions and by the time he started training and trying different things himself, he was becoming a natural.

The book gives lots of history on the different race tracks all over mostly the eastern US and even in Cuba from back in that time. Much of the focus is of course on the wonderful chestnut colt he gets in a claiming race and turned into a champion named Stymie.

“This was a bright red horse, a showy chestnut with a crooked blaze that gave him an almost comic, devil-may-care look”...”He held his red head high, and the faster he ran the higher he held it. Sort of like the redhead he worked for.”

An enjoyable book for those who like history, horses, non-fiction and rags to riches, it’s a great story.  An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley,  authors Linda Carroll & David Rosner, and the publisher for my honest review.

Hachette Books

Publication: May 29, 2018.

I did enjoy this book, but I love everything about horses. I feel it would appeal to teens and adults who are horse fans. It is well written and has enough action to keep readers engaged.

Linda Carroll and David Rosner weave together a large tapestry of characters and scenes to illustrate the come from behind success of a horse named Stymie and a storied owner/trainer named Hirsh Jacobs. The best animal stories are the true ones, and this story has all the ingredients that will have readers longing for a film version to see footage of the unusual racing style of Stymie. A New York story, an American story, a well told narrative that will please horse lovers and readers who enjoy 20th Century American history.

I love reading books about famous horses, and Stymie was one horse that is definitely worth knowing about. His breeders wrote him off early on, but Hirsch Jacobs saw his potential and it payed off in a big way during the WWII years when the public needed to rally around a champion.

Stymie was bought by trainer, Hirsch Jacobs in a claiming race for a dirt cheap price. Once under Jacobs care, Stymie blossomed into one of the most powerful racehorses in the history of the sport and earned Jacobs more money than he ever would have dared to imagine.

The story begins with Jacobs as a boy racing pigeons. As he grew older, he became interested in horses and applied his knowledge of pigeons to the horses. Jacobs was an honest family man who did not gamble, but ended up in a partnership with well-known gambler and bachelor, Isador Beiber. What was unusual about the partnership was that neither were part of the Blueblood wealthy horsing world.

There is quite a bit about gambling in the book in reference to horse racing, but overall this is a very clean book and chronicles Jacobs’ lifetime and the life and career of Stymie, a thoroughbred born on the King Ranch in Texas. The book focuses on their appeal to the public as representing the common folk in a sport that tended to only be available to the wealthy and connected

Overall I enjoyed the book and think anyone who loves reading about animals and horse racing will find this an interesting read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Books for providing an advance copy so that I could offer an honest review.

American at its finest. During a time of depression, hope was needed. Sports became a great vehicle for that with baseball fever running hot. But in this book we get the story of a trainer and his horse - story that needs to be repeated today to bring hope for many who forget that "everyman' is important

I had the best time reading this book. Readers, you will experience the thrill of the racetrack, the delight of colorful characters and plenty of inspiration. This book may remind you of The Eighty-Dollar Champion or Seabiscuit, but Stymie and his trainer, Hirsch Jacobs, have their own amazing story to tell.

America is also an important part of the book. From 1900-1945, the United States experienced two world wars, and the depression. Yet its citizens, whether rich, poor, new to the country, in small towns, or shining on the big stage of New York, all shared the same hope and drive to be winners and the best they could be.

Hirsch Jacobs, from an immigrant family, was blessed with a calm and welcoming personality. His first real passion in life was racing homing pigeons, which was so interesting to learn about. Hirsch was then introduced to Thoroughbred horse racing and this became his world.

He spent years claiming the bottom horses from the cheapest claiming races. He had good success because he really cared about each horse in his barn. He worked hard to learn everything about “The Sport of Kings” including racing pedigrees and breeding. But Hirsch dreamed of having a great horse. His wish came true with a total loser, a $1,500 claimer named Stymie.

America loved sports, but what they loved even more was an against all the odds “Cinderella Story.” And both Hirsch and his quirky horse personified the American Dream.

How Stymie became “The People’s” horse is a wonderful story. Set against the background of an energetic America and the fascinating world of horse racing, this book is also a winner. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books for an ARC.

Tons of history on the trainer (Jacobs) and his partner (Bieber), some on the King Ranch. Stymie doesn't come into the story until about half way through, however. I did like that the book didn't do too much jumping around time-wise. I would have been interested in knowing what happened to the the Jacobs' kids.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a really good book, entertaining and educational at the same time! Lovers of history, racing and horses will all love reading this book!!!