Broken - by Fred M Kray

About the Book

An investigation into horse racing's most shocking scandal blends vivid history with a true-crime courtroom drama.

Book Synopsis

One fateful winter night, a famous racehorse mysteriously broke his leg while alone in his stall. An investigation ensued, but the real story has never been told...until now.

It was a cool, quiet evening at Calumet Farm, where the most valuable racehorses-including the prolific stallion Alydar-had settled into their stalls for the evening. Alton Stone, filling in for the regular night watchman, completed his rounds at the barn. Although nothing seemed out of the ordinary, an inexplicable hunch led Stone to check on Alydar. What he found-a grievously injured horse with no discernible cause-jump-started one of the biggest mysteries to ever hit the horse racing world.

One part true-crime investigation, one part evocative history of the adrenaline-filled days of horse racing's golden age, Broken follows Alydar's rise to fame and then dives into the sordid details of the crime and trial that came to define his legacy. Told with the taut pacing of a legal thriller, Broken investigates Alydar's death, the $41.5 million insurance payout, and the stain it left on the sport of horse racing.

Throughout, animal rights attorney and author Fred M. Kray weaves together shocking testimony and key evidence from the trials, featuring dramatic photos taken the night of the incident. Drawing on interviews conducted with more than twenty-five key witnesses, Kray reveals insider-only details and, in order to discover the truth about the death of this magnificent horse, embarks on a major investigation-one that leads to an unexpected and startling conclusion.

Review Quotes

"A poignant and thorough look at a real-life horse racing mystery. . . . It's a heartbreaking but compelling story, meticulously researched and skillfully written. Kray's love of horse racing shines in his recaps of races and equine descriptions, and his pacing and storytelling skills make this true-crime work feel like a gripping thriller."

-Kirkus Reviews

"Broken is a true-crime masterpiece that resonates with racing fans and true-crime lovers."

-Philip Zozzarro, Readers' Favorite (five-star review)

"The last time I spoke with horse trainer John Veitch, which was not long before his death, he told me he had received Kray's work, and he said, 'It is one of the best manuscripts I have ever read.' Kray's work provides a compelling collation of events and possible interpretations of them. The tapestry thus created reflects herculean research and a graceful appreciation for the sport of racing. John Veitch's deep affection for and pride in Alydar show through Kray's book to provide poignance to the story of a great Thoroughbred."

-Edward L. Bowen, author of At the Wire: Horse Racing's Greatest Moments, Legacies of the Turf, and The Lucky Thirteen: The Winners of America's Triple Crown of Horse Racing, and Eclipse Award winner for outstanding magazine writing

"What a wonderful book. Reading about Alydar brought back beautiful memories of the time I spent with Alydar during his racing career, and Kray got everything right. I thought I knew everything about Alydar's death until I read the exhaustive investigation contained in this book. It was thorough, comprehensive, and like nothing I had ever read before. Kray uncovered facts that nobody else did. Thank you, Fred M. Kray, for a book that represents Alydar's legacy and answers the question of what happened to Alydar on the night of November 13, 1990."

-John Veitch, Alydar's trainer, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2007

"Broken is a fascinating read. Endlessly researched and easily flowing, the book grabs you from the start and never lets go. By interviewing so many people associated with Alydar, Kray allows the reader to review their dissimilar statements and make his or her own conclusion. This book is a must-read for any fans of Alydar or Thoroughbred racing."

-Bill Heller, Eclipse Award-winning author of twenty-seven books, including The Will To Win: Ron Turcotte's Ride to Glory and Graveyard of Champions: Saratoga's Fallen Favorites

"Fred M. Kray's crackling story of Alydar's tragic demise is history at its best, painstakingly researched and deeply felt. While not drawing any definitive conclusions concerning guilt, Kray honors the horse himself, and that's clearly a superior form of justice."

-Michael Blowen, founder of the Old Friends farms, retirement homes for Thoroughbreds