"These racing stories include serious political controversies, big-money real-estate deals, a quasi-criminal veterinarian smuggled to the track in the trunk of a car, lots of drugs, a fair amount of sex, and some very angry jockeys."—Max Watman, Wall Street Journal
"Although many have voiced their opinions on Spectacular Bid's loss, few have looked as closely at the explosive story, with its underlying threads of class and race, as Gilden, who turned to sources close to the subjects in order to get a clear picture."—Olive Fellows, Christian Science Monitor
"Gilden takes the reader inside the stables and development of a jockey and a race horse in a manner that shows both the beauty and the ugliness of this sport. This is a book anyone interested in horse racing, especially during that era, must add to their bookshelf."—Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books
"Not only is the ride a fast one, it’s a thrilling one."—Abby Loden, Itawamba County Times
"Every sports fan needs this book on their shelf to enjoy and to hear the results of this day in racing and how the future is altered for all involved."—Tom Knuppel, Knup Sports
“Jack Gilden’s superb reporting turns the story of a great American racehorse into a riveting lesson about the difference between perception and reality. Spectacular Bid and his wild cast of human connections positively pulsate with energy.”—John Eisenberg, author of The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire
“Both haunting and harrowing—Jack’s detailed account of Spectacular Bid’s unique history also serves as a fascinating snapshot of American society and its complicated obsession with the sport of kings.”—Amy Lawrence, CBS Sports Radio host
“Jack Gilden has written a fascinating, never-before-told, and occasionally lurid tale on the great racehorse Spectacular Bid. Meticulously reported and beautifully written, it’s as behind-the-scenes, the-barns-and-the-jockeys’-room as any racing fan could ever hope for, definitely a must-read for anyone who’s ever been off to the races, or not.”—Leonard Shapiro, retired longtime reporter, columnist, and sports editor at the Washington Post