LEXINGTON, KY - Racing authority Edward L. Bowen's latest book, Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders (Vol. 1), has been selected as a finalist for ForeWord Magazine 's Book of the Year Award in the sports category. Legacies of the Turf, which tells the stories of the powerhouse dynasties that dominated horse racing in the early to mid-twentieth century, is published by Eclipse Press, a division of Blood-Horse Publications, a multimedia publishing company that traces its roots to 1916.

"Legacies of the Turf is more than a great addition to Thoroughbred racing literature," said Jacqueline Duke, editor at Eclipse Press. "It captures the personas of the upstarts, entrepreneurs, and aristocrats who helped shape the last century. Ed Bowen's keen profiles are to be savored with a good brandy in the comfort of a favorite armchair."

Bowen's book joins other ForeWord Book-of-the-Year-finalist titles from Eclipse Press including Racing to the Table by Margaret Guthrie, Old Friends by Barbara D. Livingston, and At the Wire also by Bowen.

Other books by Edward L. Bowen published by Eclipse Press include biographies of Man o' War and War Admiral as well as Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century and Dynasties: Great Thoroughbred Stallions. He is president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation, which raises money for equine research. Bowen lives in Versailles, Kentucky.

About Eclipse Press

Eclipse Press is the book publishing division of Blood-Horse Publications, which publishes The Blood-Horse, the company's flagship publication and the oldest continually published North American Thoroughbred Magazine . Blood-Horse Publications also publishes The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care, a monthly equine health care Magazine ; TBH MarketWatch, a newsletter for Thoroughbred investors; the official Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup souvenir Magazine s; Auction Edge; and Keeneland Magazine . In addition, Blood-Horse Publications operates a family of leading Web sites including bloodhorse.com, TheHorse.com, and Stallion Register.com.

About ForeWord Magazine 's Book of the Year Award

ForeWord Magazine 's Book of the Year Award was established to bring increased attention from librarians and booksellers to the literary achievements of independent publishers and their authors. A jury of librarians, booksellers, and reviewers are selected to judge the categories for entry. They select winners and finalists based on editorial excellence and professional production as well as the originality of the narrative and the value the book adds to its genre.

ForeWord Book of the Year winners for 2003 will be announced at BookExpo America on June 4 in Chicago, Ill.

Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders (Vol. 1)

by Edward L. Bowen

Published by Eclipse Press, November 2003

ISBN: 1-58150-102-1

Photos: 140 b&w

Pages: 304; Bound Size: 8.5" x 10.5"

Retail price: $29.95, Cloth

Available at your local bookstore or from Exclusively Equine

1-800-582-5604 (www.exclusivelyequine.com)

Distributed to bookstores by National Book Network

1-800-462-6420 (www.nbnbooks.com)

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