The Big Horse (©2004 by Joe McGinnis, Simon & Schuster, 263 pages, $22.95) – The big horse, in racing vernacular, is the animal that brings fame and fortune to a stable. He’s the heavyweight champion, the All-American quarterback, the four-legged Michael Jordan of the barn. Seabiscuit was once Tom Smith’s big horse. A generation ago, Secretariat was Lucien Lauren’s. In 2003, Funny Cide was Barclay Tagg’s.

In sixty years as a trainer, PG Johnson had never had one – until Volponi. PG Johnson was a blue-collar wizard, a hardscrabble tough guy who had come east from Chicago, determined to make his mark on New York. And he did. He became leading trainer at all three New York tracks – Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct – as well as at Florida’s Tropical Park. And he did it without ever winning a Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup event, or having the big horse.

In October 2002, weakened by surgery and radiation treatment for cancer, P. G. watched Volponi – the longest shot in the field at 43 to 1 – bring home more than $2 million by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the richest race in America. The following summer at Saratoga, McGinniss – journalist, investigative reporter, and horse racing obsessive – began showing up to listen to the inside racing stories and lore PG had gathered.

This book is about what happened that day, about what came after, and about much of what had come before. It’s the most exciting, rewarding, and heartwarming story about the world of horse racing that you’ll ever read, by one of America’s finest writers, at the top of his form.

Saratoga: The Ultimate Racing Experience (©2004 by Frank R. Scatoni, Daily Racing Form Press, 156 pages, $19.95) – In a town that lives and breathes Thoroughbred racing, this title brings to life the total Saratoga racing experience. From the backside, frontside, cultural monuments, and after race-day social gatherings, racing aficionados will treasure this unique keepsake.

Horses: How to Choose and Care for a Horse (©2004 by Laura S. Jeffrey, Enslow Publishers, 48 pages, $23.93) – Provides information on owning a horse, including how to choose among different breeds and how to groom, house, feed, and keep a horse healthy.

First Riding Lessons (©2004 by Sandy Ransford and Bob Langrish, Houghton Mifflin, 64 pages) – Presents detailed information on beginning horseback riding lessons, including various types of ponies and horses, and kinds of equipment used. Young riders will learn how to approach and ride a horse or pony with this beautifully illustrated resource. This addition to the Kingfisher Riding Club is perfect for every child who dreams of having a pony of their own, or who wants to learn more about riding one.

A Passion for Horses: True Stories of Lives Lived Loving Horses (©2004 by Cindy Hale and Sharon P. Fibelkorn, BowTie Press, 160 pages, $24.95) – A collection of interviews and character studies gleaned from an assortment of unique and interesting equestrians and horse owners from various walks of life.

Hound Health Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy and Active (©2004 by Betsy Brevitz, Workman Publishing Company, 544 pages, $27.95) – Just as the title says, a guide to keeping your dog happy, healthy and active.

My Therapist’s Dog (©2004 by Diana Wells, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 208 pages, $16.95) – After her son and her sister die within weeks of each other, Wells (100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names) goes against her British “stiff upper lip” upbringing, which warns her therapy is only for the weak, and seeks out Beth, a psychologist. Wells cares for Beth’s Labrador retriever, Luggs, in exchange for sessions she could not otherwise afford, and thus begins an unconventional, intricate dance between patient and therapist.

Wells slowly opens up to Beth, comparing herself to a puppy, desperate for her therapist’s love. She interweaves recollections of her life and her sessions with historical information about dogs. After her son’s death, she quits going to Quaker meeting and comes to see walking dogs as an alternate form of spirituality her son would have liked; she uses this as an occasion to muse on the high regard many cultures have held for the dog as guardian of the afterlife.

The Doggy Bone Cookbook (©2004 by Michele Bledsoe, Kelly Schaefer and James Walton, Come & Get It Publishing, 15 pages, $9.95) – A fun way for the over 60 million dog owners to bake love and nutrition into their dog’s diet, The Doggy Bone Cookbook includes easy-to-bake and veterinarian-approved recipes ranging from Peamutt Butter, Bark-B-Q, and Cinnabone, to Dig n’ Cheese, Santa Paws, and Howl About a Mint. New to this addition are recipes for dogs with bad breath and for a dog’s birthday. Color illustrations appear on every page and quotes from canine connoisseurs testify to the quality of these stellar snacks.

The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs (©2004 by Shirley Raye Redmond and Simon Sullivan, 32 pages, $11.89) - For kids ages 6 to 8. There once was a little dog named Tray. He lived in England with his owner, Mary Ann Anning. Besides Mary Ann, Tray loved one other thing: He loved to dig for dinosaur bones. This relates the true story of a dog who helped his owner, 12-year-old Mary Ann Anning, to find dinosaur bones in Lyme Regis, England, including an ichthyosaurus, an plesiosaur, and the first pterodactyl.