CD audiobook
Funny Cide [sound recording] : [how a horse, a trainer, a jockey, and a bunch of high school buddies took on the sheiks and bluebloods-- and won] / the Funny Cide Team with Sally Jenkins.
Record details
- ISBN: 0142800732
- Physical Description: 5 sound discs (ca. 6 hr.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
- Publisher: New York, NY : Penguin Audio, p2004.
Content descriptions
- General Note:
- Abridged.Compact discs.Subtitle from container.
- Participant or Performer Note:
- Read by Jamey Sheridan.
Search for related items by subject
- AudioFile Reviews : AudioFile Reviews 2004 August/September
Sally Jenkins introduces an unlikely cast of characters whose paths crossed at just the right moment, and through a strange series of events, to unleash the "people's horse" on the racing world--propelling an unlikely gelding on to win the Kentucky Derby. Jamey Sheridan's homey, low-key voice is a perfect choice to narrate the story. He offers the perspectives of the horse's working-class owners, trainers, and jockey, all with a believable humility. He easily conveys the roller-coaster ride of owning a racehorse that performs beyond the dreams of everyone involved. Sheridan's own enthusiasm for this unbelievable story makes the book read as a novel, rather than the racing history that it is. Even those who know nothing about horse racing will enjoy the folksy combination of the Funny Cide team, Jenkins's informal but thorough writing, and Sheridan's skilled reading. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine - Library Journal Reviews : LJ Reviews 2004 February #2
The making of a surprise equine winner. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. - Library Journal Reviews : LJ Reviews 2004 September #1
Born of undistinguished horse racing stock, Funny Cide was purchased for a very modest sum by a group of friends in a small New York town wanting to give their lives a little excitement. The plan worked far beyond their expectations when the unassuming gelding won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and threatened to be the first horse in a generation to win the Triple Crown. Narrator Dan Cashman's delight in this story is evident; his timing is superb and his characterizations are honest and convincing. Although not getting top billing as author, Jenkins has done a wonderful job of combining many stories into one classic tale. This is a welcome addition to the literature on horse racing. Very strongly recommended to all libraries; Funny Cide is a winner! Ray Vignovich, West Des Moines P.L. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2004 June #1
Although the story of Funny Cide's against-the-odds gallop into first place in the Kentucky Derby and then again in the Triple Crown's second leg is familiar to most people, this audiobook provides an inside look at an endeavor that started out as merely "kicks for hicks." The hicks in this case-a group of middle-aged, high school cronies-were tired of being "habitually careful," so they took a chance on a horse with an undistinguished pedigree. With the help of a down-on-his-luck trainer and a jockey who'd seen better days, Funny Cide left all the predictable favorites in the dust. This is a grand story full of endearing, oddball characters. Reader Sheridan, who's best known for his performance on Law and Order: Criminal Intent, sounds more like the Marlboro Man than a police captain here. His voice is gruff, almost bashful, as he emphasizes not only the workaday victory of the story, but the emotion that lies close to the surface. Although Sheridan has a tough time taking on some of the team members' accents, this doesn't detract much from the overall quality of the production. Simultaneous release with the Putnam hardcover (Forecasts, Mar. 22). (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.