{"product_id":"the-eighty-dollar-champion-snowman-the-horse-that-inspired-a-nation","title":"The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, The Horse That Inspired a Nation","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The Eighty-Dollar Champion tells the dramatic odyssey of a horse called Snowman, saved from the slaughterhouse by a young Dutch farmer named Harry. Together, Harry and Snowman went on to become America's show-jumping champions, winning first prize in Madison Square Garden. Set in the mid- to late-1950s, this book captures the can-do spirit of a Cold War immigrant who believed--and triumphed\"--Provided by publisher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarc Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncludes bibliographical references and index.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"[A] classic American dream story, with a down-on-its-luck horse galloping in for good measure.\"--\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"This is a wonderful book--joyous, heartfelt, and an eloquent reminder that hope can be found in the unlikeliest of places. Most of all, it's a moving testament to the incredible things that can grow from the bond between animals and humans.\"--Gwen Cooper, author of \n\u003ci\u003eHomer's Odyssey\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"[Elizabeth Letts] details the intricacies of the show world beautifully, [but it's] the relationship between the people in [Harry's] life and this remarkable, humble horse that will captivate the reader.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003eThe Star-Ledger\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"The story is thrilling. . . . Letts's taut, detailed writing vividly recounts the excitement of the shows; the heights these underdogs climbed; the world of the Eisenhower fifties; and what Snowman and Harry meant to the everyday people they inspired.\"--Shelf Awareness \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"If the true stories of horses Secretariat or Seabiscuit kept you spellbound, then consider leaving the racetrack setting to learn about the equestrian world's shock in 1958 when an eighty-dollar plow horse arrived to compete in its top show.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003eFayetteville Observer\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Written in evocative, skilled prose that rings true to the tenor of postwar America . . . Letts deftly calibrates the emotion and suspense that are an indelible part of this tale.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003eBookPage\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eElizabeth Letts\u003c\/b\u003e is the #1 \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe Eighty-Dollar Champion\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eThe Perfect Horse\u003c\/i\u003e, which won the PEN Award for Research Nonfiction, and \n\u003ci\u003e The Ride of Her Life\u003c\/i\u003e. She is also the author of the novels \n\u003ci\u003eFinding Dorothy\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eQuality of Care, \u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eFamily Planning\u003c\/i\u003e. She lives in Wyoming Maryland and Northern Michigan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e#1 \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER - The \"classic American dream story\" (\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e) about a man and his horse, an unlikely duo whose legendary rise to stardom in show jumping captivated the nation, from the award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eThe Perfect Horse \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Ride of Her Life\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"If you loved the story of Seabiscuit, the surprise champion racehorse . . . check out the true story of Snowman.\"--\u003ci\u003eSan Jose Mercury News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHarry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a truck bound for the slaughterhouse. He recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up nag and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry's modest farm on Long Island, the even-tempered horse thrived. But the recent Dutch immigrant and his growing family needed money, so Harry reluctantly sold Snowman to a farm a few miles down the road. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut Snowman had other ideas about what Harry needed. When he turned up back at Harry's barn, dragging an old tire and a broken fence board, Harry knew he had misjudged the horse and set about teaching the shaggy, easygoing gelding to fly. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds, the pair soared past the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, reaching the very top of the sport of show jumping. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe story of this dynamic duo captured the heart of Cold War-era America--a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and a chance to have it all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Letts, Elizabeth\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Ballantine Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2012-05-29\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Sports \u0026amp; Recreation \/ History|History \/ United States \/ 20th Century|Sports \u0026amp; Recreation \/ Animal Sports \/ Equestrian\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Snowman (Horse)|Show horses|Show jumpers (Horses)|United States|PETS \/ Horses \/ Riding|HISTORY \/ United States \/ 20th Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.61 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780345521095\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9780345521095\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ballantine Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52371675250969,"sku":"SP-9780345521095","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9780345521095_spiral.png?v=1778434462","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/the-eighty-dollar-champion-snowman-the-horse-that-inspired-a-nation","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}