The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First Thoroughbred - Hardcover

James, Jeremy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1873674767 ISBN 13: 9781873674765

Publisher: Merlin Unwin Books, 2022

Synopsis

"This is the true story of the most remarkable horse in history. In 1678, a beautiful mahogany bay Karaman colt is foaled in a stable on a feudal landholding in the Balkans. Yet this is no ordinary colt: this is a colt with a destiny.

He is destined to become the magnificent Byerley Turk, the first Foundation Sire of the thoroughbred line. From his early days the young horse is hard-schooled in the disciplines of war. In 1683, in diamond and ruby-studded harness in the ranks of the glittering Ottoman sipahi, he fights as a charger at the Siege of Vienna.

Seized as an exotic prize from the Siege of Buda three years later, he is ridden across Europe to the Royal Barracks of King James II in Hounslow, England, where he is acquired in 1687 by Captain Robert Byerley. In 1690, as a charger in the ranks of King William's army, he faces sabre and cannon at the Battle of the Boyne, but not before romping past the winning post at Downroyal and snatching the King's Plate.

After two years of bitter campaigning in Ireland he is shipped back to England, where his owner, now Colonel of his regiment, retires him to Goldsborough Hall in Yorkshire.

Here the horse is put to Stud and begins a long well-earned retirement. He died at the age of 25 in 1703.

No stone marks his grave. Until now his story has never been told. But on racecourses throughout the world today, his blood thunders on."

About this title

About the Author:

"Born in Kenya in 1949, educated at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and University of Wales, Jeremy James spent most of his early life working with horses and cattle in Africa and the Middle East. In 1987, he wrote his first book, Saddletramp which described his journey on horseback from Turkey to Wales. In 1990 he rode on horseback through the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and wrote Vagabond. In the early 1990s he was Turkish correspondent for several broadsheets and magazines, and in 1992 was commissioned by the International League for the Protection of Horses to write their story Debt of Honour. This work initially involved his dealing with Lipizzaner horses in the Balkan conflict and his subsequent management of Hergela Vucijak - the Bosnian State Stud. During the late 1990s he worked as Senior Consultant for the ILPH on the campaign opposed to the long distance transport of live horses for slaughter, which brought him into contact with many of the disappearing horse breeds of Eurasia. Jeremy lives in Shropshire where he now writes full-time for a living."

About this edition

• Publisher: Merlin Unwin Books
• Publication date: 2022
• ISBN 10: 1873674767
• ISBN 13: 9781873674765
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 424