I learned a great deal about the racist history of horse culture but overall this book was a painful read. The relentless racism, disgusting animal cruelty, and vicious greed were too much for me. These days I read for enjoyment and I cannot say this book gave me much in the way of enjoyment. It’s well written so if you like this kind of story I’d recommend it. But if (spoiler alert) reading about whipping a beautiful young thoroughbred horse to a bloody pulp, causing its death, to get it to run faster, isn’t your cup of tea then stay away.