This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro for Readers' Favorite
Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray is a true crime story. Prosecutors have tried for years to indict someone for Alydar’s death. Alydar was a champion thoroughbred who finished runner-up to his rival Affirmed in the Triple Crown Trifecta in 1978. The horse had made a fair amount of profit for his breeder, Calumet Farm. Calumet Farm had been on the skids in the years before Alydar’s run for immortality. By 1990, the farm was facing new and daunting financial struggles. This was kept out of the public eye. On November 13, 1990, a tragic accident befell Alydar which resulted in his euthanization. An investigation was conducted, finding Alydar had suffered an injury due to kicking his stall harder than usual. The financial dire straits of the farm and its spectacular collapse a year later would have many questioning Alydar’s death.
Fred M. Kray had his work cut out for him in his investigatory deep dive into a long-dormant cold case. Broken brings the reader into the courtroom as Kray presents his investigative findings for all to see and ponder. Kray conducted a balanced inquiry that spanned a few years as he attempted to interview as many witnesses and interested parties as possible. Kray doesn’t deny feeling a connection to the fallen horse, as he had viewed Alydar in his early days on the racing circuit. Kray is methodical in his approach, tackling the saga of Alydar from the fateful night of his suspicious injury to the investigations. The compelling emotional element in the story is the bond formed between Alydar and various personalities: his riders, groom, and trainer. Broken delivers a true crime masterpiece that resonates with racing fans and true crime lovers.
