The Kentucky Derby is this weekend! For 137 years, people have come from around the world to gather at Churchill Downs and watch this classic American horse race. When I think of this annual event, wide-brimmed hats, potent mint juleps, and of course, horses come to mind. That said, here’s a roundup of books about the stars of the main event: horses! What are your favorite books about horses? Share them here.

Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand
Seabiscuit was one of the most popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. The film is wonderful, too!

War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo
This heartbreaking story is set in 1914 and centered on the life of Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal. He’s take from his owner and thrown into the midst of the war on the Western Front. Thankfully, the story ends well. The play, which is currently on Broadway, is visually stunning with life-size mechanical horses.

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
I love this book about a horse with an unbreakable spirit.

Secretariat by Raymond G. Woolfe
Based on interviews, race histories, and Woolfe’s writings, Secretariat is a behind the scenes look at the stunning 1977 Triple Crown winner.

For Kids:

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
The Caldecott Medal-winning tale of a Native American girl who feels such kinship with wild horses that she eventually becomes one of them.

Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World’s Smartest Horse by Emily Arnold McCully