Michael Church Racing Books

 

PART 1 – MICHAEL’S OWN BOOKS FOR SALE

 

PART 2 – MORE RACING BOOKS  – some rare

 

PART 3  – MICHAEL’S LIMITED EDITION PEDIGREE CHARTS FOR SALE

 

Enquiries to [email protected]

or telephone 07787 326 948       All books & charts sold + P&P.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 PART ONE

 MICHAEL’s BOOKS: Please note: reviews of his own books below can be seen on His Books on Racing & Breeding.

 

Three Centuries of Leading Sires 1721-1987.

“This book presents a tremendous amount of information, especially concerning the cloudy first two centuries of the Thoroughbred’s development. Since many early sources are error-prone and conflicting in documentary evidence, this represents much meticulous and scholarly research on the part of Michael Church.”    Camilla Power – Pacemaker
This limited edition of 500, sold out in six weeks to 29 countries. A special Presentation copy signed and in the care of the author since publication, 108 pages, all edges gilt and now very rare. £125 + P&P.

 

Eclipse – The Horse – The Race – The Awards

“Anyone who has ever thrilled to the sight of one racehorse pitched against another, legs pounding, neck outstretched, nostrils flaring has buried somewhere in their subconscious the expression, ‘Eclipse first, the rest nowhere’ and at last, for me, an elegant new book from the painstaking racing historian Michael Church has put the quotation in context.”                 Robin Oakley – The Spectator

Published as a Limited Edition of 1250 the book covers the history of the Eclipse Stakes 1886-2000, the life and times of Eclipse 1764-1789 (ancestor of 97% of the world’s Thoroughbreds), and the Eclipse Awards 1971-1999.  The book comprises 416 pages, 250 pictures, a deluxe binding and all edges gilt.

Sold out at the RRP of £87, and continually sought after. Now for sale, number 326 in excellent condition and dedicated to Orme, twice winner of the Eclipse Stakes and Champion Sire in 1899.  Price £80 + P&P

 

Champion Sires 1722-2003

The Classic Pedigree 1776-1989

Sold only as a signed limited edition of 1101 – each copy dedicated to a specific Classic winner, signed and numbered by the author. Includes the four-generation pedigrees and race record of every Classic winner, together with the winners of the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Also contains histories of the races, detailed pedigree analysis, 14 three-coloured charts showing the male descent of every winner, together with illustrated essays on all 15 Triple Crown winners. Fully Indexed. De-luxe gold block binding, all edges gilt, 480 pages, size 10 x 7 ½ ”.

This copy, In excellent condition is number 656 of a sold out Limited Edition of 1101 and dedicated to Regalia – winner of the 1865 Oaks.  Priced at £65 + P&P.

 

The Derby Stakes 1780-1997

Sold as a Limited Edition of 1314, numbered and signed by the author. This copy number 1114 is dedicated to Santa Claus the winner in 1964.

Santa Claus also won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Irish Sweeps Derby.

The book contains a double-page spread on each year 1780-1997, with the classified result, a 500 word essay, the winner’s five-generation pedigree and, the race-records of the sire and dam and their notable progeny. In addition there are 290 pictures, a comprehensive records section and the indices to pedigrees, progeny and essays within 608 pages.

The gold titled cover and page edges in gold leaf are in very good condition.  For sale at £60 + P&P.

 

The Derby Stakes – 1780-2016 – The Blue Ribbon of the Turf

Michael’s latest book, bringing the history of the premier Classic up-to-date. Featuring 25 ‘Derby Winners of the Decade’, illustrations, race commentaries from 1918, analysis of Derby winning times, a comprehensive section on records, and an index of pedigrees and personalities. The book has a luxury binding, with all edges gilt, illustrated and indexed, 256 pages.   Signed copies priced at £45.

 

The Oaks Stakes – 1779-2015 – The History – The Winners – Their Breeding

This is the first and only history of the Oaks Classic to be published, featuring: the Origins and Foundation of the race, the Equine Founding Fathers, pen pictures of the winning connections, essays on the famous winners and a records section, illustrations and indecies. The book has a luxury binding, with all edges gilt, illustrated and indexed, 256 pages.

Signed copies priced at £45.

 

Timeform’s Flat Racehorses of…..

Sixty-four volumes from 1952 to 2016 (dust-covers from 1971), all in good to very good condition, £1,500 o.n.o

 

Phil Bull’s Best Horses of 1943 (479 pages) and 1944 (355 pages).

Hardbacked, illustrated, in good condition, with dustwrappers, these the forerunners of  Timeforms Flat Horses of…  £60 the pair.

 

 Meyrick Good & John Betts Winners of 1945 to 1951

Hardbacked, illustrated, in good condition, each with over 400 pages..7 volumes, £70 the lot.

 

 

MICHAEL’S FOUR SHORT STORY BOOKS

 

Ripping Gambling Yarns – Tales of a misspent youth Pub. 2001. 26 short stories, 160 p. Signed & illustrated…£10

 

Born to Bet – Further tales of a misspent youth. Pub. 2003. 22 short stories, 160 p. Signed & illustrated ..£12

 

 Black Horse – Red Dog – Gambling yarns from Michael’s family. Pub. 2008. 21 short stories, d/w, 174 p. Signed & illustrated..£8

 

The Gambling Adventures of Father Green – Michael’s fictional account of his Catholic Priest. Pub.2010. 18 short stories, d/w, 160 p. Signed & illustrated...£10

 

 

 — PART TWO —

 

  SOME RARE RACING BOOKS

 

Notable English & Irish Thoroughbreds – Mary Mountiers & Tony Morris

A very rare and valuable book which has to be seen to appreciate.

A hardback 16” x 12” with its own quality case. 337 (250 gm) pages: published 1983.

Contents: The development of the Thoroughbred in the British Isles; Fifty Notable English & Irish Thoroughbreds, with their race records and illustrated on art paper.

A section on 36 Notable Omissions – all Illustrated.

Fully indexed and at the reduced competitive price of £350 or near offer

 

I Gotta Horse – Prince Monolulu biography

An extremely rare book last sold with dust wrapper for £125.

This copy, library book without dust wrapper but in very good condition.

Illustrated with 184 pages….£50.

 

Biblography of the History and Organisation of Horse Racing and Thoroughbred breeding in Great Britain and Ireland by Eileen P. Loder

A description of all books, periodicals, betting and art published from 1565-1973.

Rare with a lovely red and gold hardback binding in very good condition… £20  

 

Favourite Racehorses -Timeform

The Origins Of Timeform. Analysis of the Greats – Tudor Minstrel, Abernant, Pinza , Sea Bird etc. The book is then subdivided into Sprinters, Milers and Stayers. With a section on Arkle, Desert Orchid and Red Rum

Hardback, 369 pages, 12″ x 10″, fully lliustrated, pub. 1997, very good condition…..£20

 

The Bye-lanes and Downs of England – with Turf scenes and characters – Sylvanus (Robert Colton)

This is a very good copy, of the third edition, published 1859. Rare and in excellent condition with leather spine and corners back and front. size 17 x 11 cm.

323 pages, frontis piece sketch of Lord George Bentinck.

A ‘you were there’ written book looking at racing in the 1840 – 1850’s….£55

 

Classic Winners 1980-2015

Photographs by John Crofts, words & pedigrees by Tony Morris

A comprehensive coverage of every Classic winner, beautifully produced and fully illustrated.

With dust wrapper in very good condition…£33

 

Henry Chaplin – A Memoir

Famous owner of Hermit (1867 Derby).

Great background to the Pocket Venus – Lady Florence Paget and her scandalous marriage to the Marquis of Hastings.

Hardback, 347 pages, illustrated, published 1926… Rare now at £25

 

British Rural Sports – First Edition – published 1855 –

by Stonehenge (alias John Henry Walsh 1810-1888)

An encyclopia book of 720 pages in excellent condition,  with large chapters on Horseracing and Coursing, showing many pedigrees of horses and greyhounds.

Includes numerous engravings, with sections on hunting, shooting,  fishing and yachting. size 6  1/2 x 4″

Beautifully rebound in green buckram…..£55.

 

Riding Recollections & Turf Stories – Henry Custance

Hardback, 304 pages, Illlustrated, Published 1894, Good condition for age.

Custance, rider of three Derby winners with inside tales of Hermit’s Derby – £30.

 

The Greyhound Stud Book – Volume 2 – 1883

Very good condition, includes history of Waterloo Cup and details of the greyhounds at stud.

Priced at £60.

 

A Collectors item – from the first National Lottery draw

on 19 NOV 1994 on sale for £20 incl. P&P.

Racing Post’s first edition – good condition, no markings,

held by former employee since publication …£25 plus P&P – sent in strong postal tube.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 PART THREE

 MICHAEL’S LIMITED EDITION PEDIGREE CHARTS – Suitable for framing

The Oaks Chart 1779-2017 – showing the Male Lineage of every Epsom Oaks winner

Limited Edition of 90 copies (only two copies remain signed by the author and on sale at £50 each

Printed in two colours, size  66 cm x 59.4 cm or 26″ x 23 1/2″.

The chart shows all the winners and dates won in green capitals. Champion Sires are shown with an asterisk either side of their name.

There are information boxes on the chart showing: Fastest Times, Longest and Shortest Winning Distances, Disqualifications, the size of Fields and First Prizes.

Illustrated with pictures of the Founding Fathers i.e. The Darley Arabian and Eclipse, The Byerley Turk, The Godolphin Arabian, also The Queen with Carrozza in 1959 and Enable (Frankie Dettori up) in 2017.

 

  

 The Champion Sires Chart  1722-2021

From the Darley Arabian to Frankel to celebrate the 300 years of Champion Sires of Great Britain and Ireland, Michael Church, the racing author and historian, has published a signed and illustrated, limited edition lineage chart, showing the male descent of the 125 Champion Sires to the founding fathers.

The chart is printed on a strong 250 gm white paper with a silk finish and comes with a brief history of each of the 14 illustrated Champion Sires.

Suitable for framing, the chart, is sized A2 i.e. 42 x 59 cm or 16.5 x 23.4” .

From a Limited Edition of 100, only 2 copies remain, available for £60 each

 

 

Also available Chart Number 1 of 80 of Brigadier Gerard with Joe Mercer aboard, signed & numbered. Size 44 cm x 34 cm or 17” x 13”.

 

 A unique collectors piece, priced at £90.

The series has a limited edition of 80 for each of the magnificent seven horses in the series, printed on Parchmarque paper, with a picture of the horse at the centre, the Sires pedigree, hand-written above and the Dam’s below.

 

 

 

Now, from the same series, signed presentation copies of Nijinsky, Shergar and Dancing Brave in

very good condition – for sale at £30 each.

 

 

The Greyhound Derby Chart 1927-2010

Showing the male lineage of every winner, with a pictorial surround of past winners.

Michael has the last three signed and numbered copies from an otherwise sold-out edition of 300.

Printed in Red & Black on quality parchmarque, size 71 x 55 cms, winners in red with sex, colour, date of birth and year won.

Priced at  £60 each.

 

To Order Telephone  07787 326948 or

Email – [email protected]