Book Review: Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch

Sometimes you happen upon a nonfiction book that is written so well, with so many facts, and good storytelling, about a time long past, you become mesmerized. That's how I feel about this book by Charles Leerhsen.

The name Dan Patch was in my memory of historical horses but I had no idea the impact the little bay horse from Oxford,Indiana, had on the country in the early 1900's. Leerhsen scoured tons and tons of material to put together this historical account of one little crippled horse who had the country cheering at race tracks where he ran. Dan Patch became on of the country's first superstar athletes. People couldn't get enough of Dan as he won race after race,some rigged, most not. Leerhsen doesn't sugar coat the racing world in the early 1900's but you get a sense of innocence from the people who were fans of Dan Patch.

While I'm not a big fan of horse racing, in general, I do admire the great horse athletes and enjoy reading about the lives they led, the people who handled them and got them to the winner's circle. Not always the most pleasant part of the story, but without those people, there'd be no story. Sometimes a good part of the story, sometimes not so good, but all in all, Dan had a good life even during the years he was being used as a symbol for numerous commercial products.

Leerhsen emerged himself in the life and times, going as far as to try to find Dan's last resting spot somewhere in field near Savage, Minnesota, alongside a river. It had to be kept secret when the Great Dan Patch died, he was so famous, the owners feared fans would try to dig him up. Sounds like fans today. Who would have thought in 1916? An autopsy showed Dan's heart weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. which is four pounds heavier than an average horse's heart. It's believed that the oversized heart, which was an asset for Dan in his racing days, had hurt him in his post racing years. It was stated that Dan Patch had the heart of an athlete and that's probably what brought him to his end.

If you're interested in the history of the early 1900's, horse athletes and the people around them, you'll enjoy reading Leerhsen's work about a scraggly, not very pretty pacer who became America's most famous race horse.

What is it you say? It's 2011?

Feel l like I've been on a self imposed hiatus since about Thanksgiving, from just about everything. It has always been amazing to me, the older one gets, the faster time seems to fly by and then, well, it's a new year already! Hubby has been on holiday break plus he took vacation time so we've been pretty lazy together!

December here in Southern Ohio was snowy and cold. Very unusual for us. Our ground was snow covered from the first week of December until the last week of the month. We actually had a white Christmas for the first time in....well, I can't remember when. It was nice for a change, but honestly, I've decided a white Christmas is overrated. I don't think I'll dream of a white Christmas anymore.


Probably the best news of December for our family, #2 son proposed to his girlfriend. He called me the day after he asked her. Their proposal story is sweet and simple, one they can treasure and tell their kids one day.

He'd planned their day but didn't want her to know he was doing something special. They live in Maysville, KY, which is a beautiful area. It was snowing. They walked around in the snow for while through a local historical site that was having a Christmas weekend. He fixed dinner for her. Then, he got his banjo out. He is a super banjo player. Self taught. Doesn't give himself enough credit there. But anyway, played her a few songs because she'd said he hadn't been playing and singing for her for a while. The last song was one he had written for her and at the end came the proposal. He said she was so happy, so stunned, all she could do was shake her head up and down and smile the biggest smile he'd ever seen. He had the ring hidden in his banjo case. 

As he was telling me the story, I was so moved I couldn't help crying over the phone! So happy for them both! They had been friends their last two years of high school, but had gone separate ways after graduation. He had gone to Athens, Ohio, to attend Ohio Universtiy, she stayed in the hometown and attended the local university. In early 2009 they caught up with each other through the magic (as I see it) of Facebook. Started dating in the summer of 2009. In January of 2009 he got a job as an assistant librarian at a community college library in Maysville, KY. She remained in her hometown. And as sometimes happens, fate intervenes, she also landed a job in Maysville around June of 2009. Now, in my mind, things like that are meant to be and are signs that one is moving in the right direction. 

They are a good match and seem to really enjoy each other and compliment each other in many ways. We're all extremely happy for them! The wedding plans are up in the air right now. They want to get married in June 2012 because that was the month of their first official date. They want something small, very small, but her parents, well, I think they want something else for their daughter. Time will tell who wins out.


On a more somber note,our poor little asthmatic cat Buddy. He manages to be himself for about 2-3 weeks after the steroid injection then is congested again. Just like human asthma, some days are better than others. The last vet visit they did x-rays and ran some blood tests. The only thing the vet could see was a small area in one of the lungs which he still believes is an asthma condition. Everything else checked out OK. Looks like Buddy will have to see the vet about once a month for his injection. 


The horses are in winter mode. We were able to get in a truck load of hay bales before the winter gets bad again. At least I won't be fretting about running out of hay toward the end of January. Since December was cold and snowy, that sort of messed with my hay calculations. I add alfalfa-timothy hay cubes to their rations to extend the hay. 

The ground out there in the corral area is a pain because where we had a thaw last week, the mud has now frozen into what I call "lava rocks". So, it's tiptoeing around for the horses as the move from their shelter out to the field. I always grumble about the lava rocks. I thought I was going to avoid the situation when the first snows came in early December, but no, of course not, Southern Ohio thaw took care of that!

The dogs have adjusted to the early winter. Their coats are thicker. Stocked their dog houses up with straw which they huddle down into during the long, cold nights. In the mornings when they come out, their bodies feel to me like they've been sleeping in a warm, heated bed.


So, resolutions for 2011? No. I'm not doing that. I am beginning work on myself. Working to get muscle strength back and more limber. I figured out that one of the reasons I haven't been riding much is because I don't feel confidence in my own body. Naturally, I need to lose weight, which is something I'm working on as well. That will be tougher, but I am taking it slowly. I've been having the dogs take me walks back in our valley most days  but when the weather gets Arctic cold, I need to find other activities inside. My plan is a rotation of yoga, stationary bike, and working with a kettle bell workout DVD. I'm going to keep track of what I do, or don't do, each day because I tend to do better when I keep a record and can see what I've done. Not a resolution, a plan!


Also, work on more writing. I need to get that stuff down, just write as someone has suggested, instead of simply twirling the stories and characters around in my head! I did send a short story out a few months ago, to get myself in gear, realizing, one short story does not a writer make, but you gotta start somewhere. I'm not so good at multi-tasking.


When 2010 rolled into 2011 my first thought was that '11 seems like it'll be an odd year and I don't just mean the number itself. Then I remembered I would be 50 this year. Maybe kind of odd after all because turning 50 feels kind of like twilight zone to me. Well, doesn't matter, I have to turn it anyway. But, I'm going to start out with positive thoughts and see where 2011 leads me. Happy New Year to all of us!