The Ride of Their Lives: The Untold Story of the Legendary Timely Writer and the Martin Family

The untold story of the legendary Timely Writer and his blue-collar owners from Boston chronicles the Martin brothers' rags-to-riches fairy tale story as they take on the horse racing establishment during the 1980s. Purchased by two brothers and butchers from Boston, Timely Writer rises from a horse nobody wanted to one everyone needed to call their own. Crowned the "people's champion," and with comparisons to the great Seabiscuit, the tale of Timely Writer brings the colt to the brink of immortality as the overwhelming favorite for the 1982 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races. Join along with the Martin family for an emotional roller coaster ride aboard Timely Writer as their story spreads from Boston throughout the country.

"Years ago, when I was writing about the movies for The Boston Globe, I thought a handful of films were perfectly cast from top to bottom. "Casablanca," "The Maltese Falcon," and "Chinatown" come immediately to mind. And so it is with "The Ride of Their Lives: The Untold Story of the Legendary Timely Writer and the Martin Family." It is a ride not merely aboard the courageous, brilliant Timely Writer but a journey through a twilight zone of time and place that seemed lost. Fueled by a family connection and a personal touch, the authors relive the days when a horse gave new life to a dying New England sport as they restore a brilliant racehorse to his proper place in the history of a sport that deserves more like him." - Michael Blowen, Founder and Past President of Old Friends Thoroughbred Aftercare.