Community Calendar

Keeneland Library will host Lenny Shulman in discussion of "A.P. Indy: Champion Racehorse and Breed-Shaping Sire."

As a son of Seattle Slew and a grandson of Secretariat—both Triple Crown winners—A.P. Indy was destined for racing glory. But he still had to go out and earn it. Overcoming physical ailments that would have stopped lesser athletes, A.P. Indy won the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic to become 1992’s Horse of the Year. Although he retired from the track in 1993, his influence on the sport remains unmatched. While standing stud at his birthplace, Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, A.P. Indy sired a number of the best racehorses on the planet, and some of his progeny would follow suit.

A.P. Indy details this extraordinary Thoroughbred’s life and how he impacted the entire racing industry along the way. Author Lenny Shulman captures his personal connection to A.P. Indy and shares the stories of those who shaped the champion’s incredible ride—including his trainer, owners, breeders, groom, and jockey—giving readers an inside look at the never-before-seen dynamics of the stall, track, and paddock.

Lenny Shulman is the author of several books including "Head to Head: Conversations with a Generation of Horse Racing Legends," "Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory," and "Ride of Their Lives: The Triumphs and Turmoil of Racing’s Top Jockeys." For 20 years, he served as features editor of the Blood-Horse. His awards include an Emmy for television writing and the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing.

Keeneland Library will host Avalyn Hunter in discussion of "Holy Bull: An Unconventional Path to Racing Glory."

Holy Bull’s path to glory was anything but ordinary. Born outside the Bluegrass and destined for racing’s blue-collar ranks, this gray colt did not inspire Triple Crown dreams. Yet owner and trainer Warren “Jimmy” Croll saw his champion’s potential. Croll and jockey Mike Smith took Holy Bull all the way to the Kentucky Derby, but a lethargic performance ended in a twelfth-place finish. This could have ended their aspirations, but the team came back stronger. Just weeks after the Derby, Holy Bull returned to dominate the rest of the racing season with incredible speed and drive.

Holy Bull: An Unconventional Path to Racing Glory captures the spirit of 1994’s Horse of the Year, following Holy Bull’s career from humble beginnings to the Hall of Fame and highlighting the experiences of the people behind his success. The result is a gripping portrait of a remarkable horse. A compelling account of an underdog’s rise to greatness, Holy Bull contains the grit of the stables and the thrill of the racetrack.

Avalyn Hunter is a nationally recognized authority on Thoroughbred pedigrees and racing history whose work has appeared in the Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times, Owner-Breeder International, MarketWatch, New York Breeder, and Louisiana Horse. She is the author of many equine-related titles, including "The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies" and "Dream Derby: The Myth and Legend of Black Gold."