Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World's Greatest Jockeys

The story of Isaac Murphy is inspirational for all children but especially for children of African American heritage. This young man was a former slave who became a great jockey. His name continues to be in the record books even today! Children love the action involved with horse racing and are mesmerized by the lovely artwork. This is a must read historically and for pure enjoyment!

Derby Day seems like the perfect day to share this book. Isaac Murphy was a three time Kentucky Derby winner and is the only jockey buried on the grounds of the famous Kentucky Horse Park. Author, Patsi Trollinger makes the point that Isaac Burns Murphy's timing was perfect in life as well as on the track. The son of a slave, he lived at a time when black jockeys could enjoy a successful career in racing, before they were forced out of the sport early in the 20th century. Trollinger describes his career beginning with his early training in Lexington where he learned the importance of pace and concentration. Murphy went on to become one of the most sought after jockeys of his time. The exciting match race between Salvatore and Tenny is told in such detail that the reader feels like they are standing at the rail watching the race. Jerome Lagarrigue's soft focus paintings convey the speed and power of the horses. The colors are dark and muddied which imparts the yesteryear feel of the story. The reader eyes do need to linger on the pictures to fully appreciate and discern the images. Isaac Burns Murphy had a reputation for honesty and fair play. "He had rules for himself that were firm: no cheating, no fighting, no swearing. And he rode every race, large of small, as if it was the most important one of his life." This is a lovely tribute to a man of character and who might otherwise be unknown to this generation.

Patsi B. Trollinger, Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World's Greatest Jockeys (Viking, 2006) Isaac Murphy. Even now, over a century after his death, the very mention of his name inspires reverence among most racing fans. Patsi Trollinger gives a good intro to Murphy's life and career in Perfect Timing, a book aimed at, roughly, the preschool set. Her clear prose is well-complemented by Jerome LaGarrigue's impressionist illustrations. A worthy addition to the bookshelf of any horse racing fan, or any horse racing fan's child. ****

In PERFECT TIMING, Patsi Trollinger has succeeded in encapsulating the fascinating life of Isaac Murphy, the grandson of slaves--and one of the all-time winningest jockeys in the world. From his first ride on Volcano, which earned Isaac his place in jockey school, through his wins at racetracks around the United States, his marriage, an all-important match between Isaac (and a horse named Salvator) and a horse named Tenny, his struggles in his later years, and his death at the young age of thirty-five in 1896, PERFECT TIMING delivers. Paintings by Jerome Lagarrigue compliment the lively story--an all-around beautiful book! I recommend this picture book biography wholeheartedly!