He's Racing To Win Back His Country, His Fortune And His One True Love
April 2010
On Sale: April 1, 2010
Featuring: Charlotte Wallace; Captain Philip Drake; Robert Devington
560 pages ISBN: 1402236425 EAN: 9781402236426 Paperback Add to Wish List
What I love about historical fiction is the license to recreate a period in the
past while weaving into it assorted threads of fact and fiction. A perfect
example of this is the opening scene of THE HIGHEST STAKES.
I had selected the early years of Thoroughbred horse racing in Georgian England
as my setting, an era of great political upheaval leading up to a series of wars
between England and France, which would dominate the next half of the 18th
century. As my research began, I was thrilled to uncover a myriad of fascinating
historical facts that worked themselves quite seamlessly into the plot. One of
these was a single blurb in a history book about an emissary from France who met
with Jacobite intriguers at the Lichfield races. Now add that the emissary was
an unnamed Equerry (officer responsible for royal horses) of Louis XV, and that
the Godolphin Barb (one of the three stallions the founders of the modern
Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock) was cast off from the stables of
Versailles before coming to England.
The Lichfield races, held annually in September, transformed the Whittington
Heath, a three-hundred-acre sheep pasture, into the premiere event for all of
Staffordshire. Lords and gentlemen had arrived from the North of England, Wales,
and even the Scottish highlands, but as unusual as this was, never had this
innocuous little village ever attracted a foreign dignitary.
By far, the most distinguished patron of the races this year was the elegant and
illustrious Grand Ecuyer de France. Rumored to have travelled all the way from
Versailles to procure a number of English running-bloods for the Royal stud,
Monsieur Le Grand’s visit to Baron John Leveson-Gower had propitiously coincided
with the Lichfield races.
With the final preparations for the race in progress, Lord Gower and his eminent
guest promenaded the grounds, surveying the field and assessing prospective
stock to complement the Royal stud of France.
“I have heard for a number of years, Lord Gower, that the finest racing flesh
resides across the Channel in England. I was of course loath to believe such a
thing, but most curiously, after seeing so many specimens of excellence, I must
confess that this might be so.” He paused in his perambulations to admire a
particularly sleek black stallion in one of the myriad paddocks.
“Do you know, what is the breeding of this horse, Lord Gower?”
“Hastings’s Hawke? He is indeed a fine specimen! I believe he is by Francis Lord
Godolphin’s Barb stallion, but I shall inquire further, if you so desire.”
“The Godolphin again! He shall forever plague me, this horse! It is said that
one of the finest producers of racing champions in England was first cast-off by
Versailles. A very foolish move by the Grand Ecuyer, was it not?”
“Am I to assume that you refer to Lord Godolphin’s stallion?”
“Indeed! One and the same, but the name was not so. In France, the stallion was
called by El Sham. You do not know the history of this horse, Lord Gower?
“Only these past years while he stands in Cambridgeshire, Monsieur Le
Grand.”
“Then I shall recount to you this story, bien sur?”
“Indeed, I am most intrigued.”
“The stallion, El Sham, was presented to His Majesty as one of eight
horses—chevales pur sang arabes—from the Sultan Muley Abdulah of Moroc.
The grand riding master at Versailles, Monsieur de La Gueriniere, the man whom I
appoint, finds this stallion wanting, you see. As he is small in stature and not
of the form preferred for the dressage, he is cast out from the stud Royale.
This same horse was then procured by your Englishman, Monsieur Coke, who brings
him to England, where he soon becomes the sire of champions! So you see that I,
en effet, am responsible indirectly for this horse leaving France, and now I
come to England to find such a one to take back! C’est l’ironie magnifique,
n’est ce pas?” He recounted his tale with surprising good humor.
“Indeed, a most amazing irony! But in all truth, this stallion’s value was
little realized at the first. When he left our poor departed Coke’s hands for
Lord Godolphin’s stud, he was intended as a teasing stallion, to prepare the
mares for the services of his lordship’s Hobgoblin. Apparently, he fought
Hobgoblin for Roxana’s honors, and the unintended byproduct, Lath, was a most
formidable opponent on the turf. The fleetest since Flying Childers, some say,
and now this former teasing stallion is making a greater name as a sire than
Hobgoblin.
“Indeed, it may be of further interest that a son of his, called by Cade, is to
run today. He is full brother to Lath and already proving as remarkable a
runner. His first year at Newmarket, he won both heats of the King’s Plate. His
next year, he ran second only to Sedbury, a great-grandson of Colonel Byerley’s
Turk, another long-proven champion sire. I daresay we might yet see a match race
betwixt the pair, but I should be in a veritable quandary where to lay my money
on that one!”
“How I should like to see such a race!” remarked Monsieur Le Grand.
“If one offers a large enough purse, most anything might be arranged for the
entertainment of Le Grand Ecuyer de France.”
These little-known historical tidbits were almost too good to be true, and
allowed me to meld the Jacobite plot with the true history of the Godolphin
stallion and his progeny, while adding only a slight fictional twist. I hope
you’ll take some time to see what else I was able to discover, and how these
interesting facts found their way into my book!
All thoroughbred horses in the world to this very day can trace their blood back
to three specific Arabian stallions imported to England in the early part of the
18th century. Against this backdrop comes a painstakingly researched novel with
breathtaking scenes of real races, real horses, glimpses of the men who cared
for them, and the tensions of those who owned and controlled them.
In 18th century England and Colonial Virginia, when high-spirited stallions
filled the stables of the lords of the land and fortunes were won and lost on
the outcome of a race, a love story unfolds between a young woman for whom her
uncle's horses are her only friends and the young man who teaches her everything
about their care and racing. When she's forced into marriage, his only hope of
winning her back is to race his horse to reclaim all that was stolen from
him—his land, his dignity, and his love.
About the Author
Emery Lee is a life-long equestrienne, a history buff, and a born romantic.
Combine the three and you have the essence of her debut novel: a tale of love,
war, politics, and horseracing. A member of Romance Writers of America, she
lives with her husband, sons, and two horses in upstate South Carolina. For more
information, please visit http://authoremerylee.com/.
Your book sounds great. Thanks for visiting. (G S Moch 10:13am April 1, 2010)
One of the most thrilling experiences I ever had was getting to ride a horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby. I would be very happy to read your book. debp [email protected] (Debbie Penny 10:38am April 1, 2010)
I enjoy historical fiction. It enables me to better understand what was happening historically in a lighter way! (Karin Tillotson 10:54am April 1, 2010)
Grew up around horses, but not a good rider, but the experience was great. Love the way you research your books. (Pat Wilson 11:00am April 1, 2010)
Hello Emery, Please enter me in your fantastic contest to Win The Highest Stakes. Sounds like great reading and I love winning contests from FreshFiction.com Thank You, Cecilia [email protected] (Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:54am April 1, 2010)
I love historical fiction and this sounds like a sure winner. Horse & history & romance--Oh,my! (Lisa Richards 11:56am April 1, 2010)
i broke my ankle, send books!! (Debbi Shaw 11:58am April 1, 2010)
Hi Emery, Your book sounds wonderful. I love how yu mix the fact w/ fiction. From what I read it's a good mix. Hopefully I can win yur book but if I don't I'm still going to order it. thanks again.... (Heidi Shafer-Wilson 12:25pm April 1, 2010)
I think the sign of a good historical fiction is the ability of the author to weave fact and fiction so seamlessly that the reader can not tell the difference. Your book sounds like a wonderful read. (Robin McKay 12:59pm April 1, 2010)
I love horses and horse racing and would love to read this book. Thanks! (Shannon Scott 1:09pm April 1, 2010)
Sounds very interesting! And the mixing of fact with fiction - OH! (Kelli Jo Calvert 1:32pm April 1, 2010)
Congrats on your release! It sounds like a terrific read... love horses! (Colleen Conklin 1:33pm April 1, 2010)
Lately I've become more intrigued by the so-called Thoroughbreds and have wondered how it all came about. A fascinating TV show ended up featuring the Lippizan breed and I wondered if the producers had also delved into the past of the others: Arabians and the like. It seems certain that you have laid at least some of the groundwork for the Thoroughbreds. I'm looking forward to your book. (Sigrun Schulz 3:10pm April 1, 2010)
I love historical fiction -history is one of my fave reads. Happy Spring!!! (Audra Holtwick 3:50pm April 1, 2010)
I love the history of horse racing in the 18th century. Sounds like a great story. (Phyllis Lamken 4:13pm April 1, 2010)
A WINNING COMBINATION, I'M SURE-ROMANCE AND HORSE-RACING. (Eileen Blackmore 4:41pm April 1, 2010)
I love the mix of historical fact & fiction. I feel more involved in the story if the facts are correct & woven in. (Mary Preston 5:42pm April 1, 2010)
An unusual combination, but a very interesting one. I'd love to read this book. Thanks! (Cheryl Snyder 5:43pm April 1, 2010)
This book sounds so good. I would love to read it! (Deb H. 6:43pm April 1, 2010)
sounds like a great book to read! (Ann Unger 7:49pm April 1, 2010)
A very imaginative combination of fact and fiction. This sounds like a very intriguing twist to an established historical fact. (Rosemary Krejsa 9:08pm April 1, 2010)
Horses...love books with animals in them. And to learn about horse racing in that era, another bonus. (Kai Wong 9:16pm April 1, 2010)
Sounds like an awesome combination. Very creative. (Elisa Varey 9:19pm April 1, 2010)
I always love when an author puts actual facts into a novel. This article shows how well some novels are researched. Thank you for sharing. (Cindy Olp 9:54pm April 1, 2010)
Truth they say is stranger than fiction. So I love to have it added to the mix. (Jung Ja Ahn 11:11pm April 1, 2010)
Love to read historical fiction too. Looking forward to reading this book. (Teresa Ward 11:18pm April 1, 2010)
Having lived in South Carolina, I'm intrigued by this book. I love a novel that is well researched, and one based in an area I'm already familiar with is even better. (Donna Holmberg 11:38pm April 1, 2010)
Hope I am in the running for the Highest Stakes. Blessings, Marjorie (Marjorie Carmony 12:12pm April 2, 2010)
i love history stories like this (Melissa Roberge 3:32pm April 2, 2010)
Hello Emery, Please enter me in your fantastic contest and please let me know if I am a winner! I love winning contests on freshfiction.com God bless, Cecilia [email protected] (Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 9:40pm April 2, 2010)