Wickens wins Book Award
Kim Wickens has been named winner of the 2023 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for excellence in thoroughbred racing literature with her meticulously researched and beautifully written biography of the great 19th century stallion, Lexington. The book, Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America’s Legendary Racehorse, creates a vivid time capsule back to the pre- and -post Civil War era in which he lived. This was the second straight year a book about the peerless sire was honored, following Geraldine Brooks’ 2022 win for her novel, Horse. Lexington is the first book authored by Wickens, a former criminal defense lawyer who currently resides in Kentucky.
“One of the biggest challenges of nonfiction writing about early Thoroughbred racing is making the facts found in 1800s racing publications, newspapers and other records come alive on the modern page,” lead judge Kay Coyte observed. “Wickens tells the factual story of Lexington and the characters surrounding him with warmth, intelligence, sometimes humor, and always elegance. She clearly loved her subject and she breathed her enthusiasm into every chapter.” Other finalists included Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey, by Katherine C. Mooney, and The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty, by Curtis Stock. The three top books were selected from 22 entries, all published during the 2023 calendar year.
“The nominees for this year’s Book Award were an extraordinary group,” noted Coyte. “We had entries from three former winners and several finalists, yet some of the strongest titles were by first-time authors.”
A panel of three literary and racing industry judges, headed by Coyte, a former editor at the Washington Post, worked together in determining this year’s results. Coyte was joined by award-winning television broadcast journalist Caton Bredar, and former Boston Globe columnist Diane White of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement.
The finalists were recognized at a cocktail reception on November 20, held in the loft above the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family’s Castleton Lyons, near Lexington, Kentucky. As always, a $10,000 first prize was awarded, with $1,000 going to each of the runners-up. All three received Tipperary crystal trophies in the form of Castleton Lyons’ iconic stone tower.
Now in its 18th year, the Award was founded in 2006 by noted philanthropist and global businessman Dr. Tony Ryan. Its goal was to showcase the best book- length writing with a horse racing backdrop. Since his 2007 passing the competition has been continued by Dr. Ryan’s son and current president of Castleton Lyons, Shane Ryan. Past honorees have included a Pulitzer Prize winner, a recipient of the National Book Award, and several Eclipse Award- winners for writing.
