Rating: 
Summary: Citation A True Stayer! Written by one who saw Cy Race!
Review: Even if you've never visted a racetrack, stood by the rail near the wire and experienced those beautiful Thoroughbreds thunder down the homestretch, feeling the wind in your hair as they flash past you...you'll feel as if you have, once you read Phil Georgeff's "Citation, In A Class by Himself!"Not only an avid reader & fan of great racers, I exercise race horses and working toward my trainer's license. If you want to feel pure freedom and excitement, hop on a thoroughbred and race with the wind. Or just go for a ride on a riding (pleasure) horse one day! You'll find a joy that can't be compared to anything! Except maybe, to reading this wonderful book! As for reading about horses, this book tops the list. It's great! While exercising horses with dreams of becoming a jockey, 17 year old Phil Georgeff saw the "Mighty Cy", a great thoroughbred "live & in person" at Washington Park & other various times."...1947 the day I first laid eyes on Citation. He was a fine upright two year old...Instinctively I sensed thoroughbred greatness in the making. Happily I was right." "From 1941, until 1953 as race track publicity employee...until I called my first race May 18, 1959, until retirement in 1992 with a world record 96,131 "calls" under my belt, I devoted countless hours discussing, recalling, reviewing and reliving Citation's grand career with everybody I met and knew. And I mean everybody...Calument farm's Warren and Lucille Wright, trainers Ben and Jimmy Jones, ....Eddie Arcaro, ...contact with sports writers Arch Ward,...Joe Palmer, Red Smith, Joe Agrella and Elmer Polzin... there was only one Citation!" I loved this book! It's full of witty, engaging, exciting and nearly poetic word portraits about the great Triple Crown Winner and first millionaire in horse racing (winnings of 1,085,760!) --who raced with his gritty, never-say-die heart into history! Citation won 16 races in a row, into his sixth year on nearly only three legs and scorning man-made pressures! A champion racer from coast to coast despite constant racing and crippling man-made adversities. He remains a champ even after becoming immortal on August 8, 1970. This book'll pique your interest and imagination painlessly. It's full of life. Not one page is dry, boring nor filled with meaningless details and/or filler drivel! It's a captivating account of a magnficent race horse. Phil Georgeff has written the definitive book on Citation! Above all, it gives the stalwart, dark bay stallion long overdue credit for his incredible career and will to win. The author's human touch reaches out and captivates you with Citation's own exhilerating and sensational dynamic will "to beat any horse he could see!" I'm a sucker for horse stories that enthrall me and Phil Georgeff's "Citation" has accomplished this! It's full of life, is an enduring classic and heartwarming horse story that's worthy of an Eclipse Award! This book has Citation come alive and has an inspiring and bona fide Hollywood finish! Written with love and honesty, verve and passion from a man who not only experienced but lived those golden days of racing then and now... and who is still thriving and writing more today! Walk beside Mighty Cy as he competes, conquers and becomes a Sovereign in the Sport of Kings! Then, now and always!
"Citation...27 wins, two seconds in 29 starts...a great achievement for a six year old cripple who never knew the meaning of the word 'quit'!" Like Cy, this book's a true stayer! A rousing, amicable heartening book! Enjoy reading this uplifiting,exciting book now -- before it becomes a widescreen, classic blockbuster film! Because it's a natural for a horse racing epic movie waiting to be made! Hop on! Take a thrilling ride, you'll never forget!
Rating:
Summary: Citation: In a Class by Himself
Review: I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves horses and horse racing. It's a great read!!
Rating: 
Summary: don't be fooled, this book is abominably poor
Review: i've read many books on thoroughbreds, and only horse of a different color by squires is worse. three strides before the wire has to be equally as bad, but in a totally different way. it's painfully obvious from the start that this is a book written 50 years after the events depicted took place. no real insight is given into the horse, as almost everyone associated with citation are dead and the only person that really comments in the book is arcaro. this is especially disappointing because i was hoping for a book a la secretariat: making of a champion by nack which talks to everyone associated with the horse (but then again, nack was present as the story was unfolding, unlike this book written 50+ years after the fact). the book is also very short, yet like a high school freshman-like paper it is packed with so much filler to get the requisite number of pages needed for printing. the author may have been a good horse racing announcer, but unfortunately that doesn't work in print as the book somehow plays out like a long-winded race call which is quite the nightmare in print. the author loves citation, and tries to brainwash the reader by building up the horse once or twice a page, EVERY PAGE, with filler prose with all the normal 'greatest ever' hype ('best horse to ever look through a bridle', 'greatest thoroughbred ever', 'better than man o'war' etc. trust me it gets old when you're on page 15 and you've already been told 50,000 times that even though he was two he was already the greatest ever, blah blah blah). probably best to stick with charlie hatton's opinion, former editor of the DRF and who has seen more horses than you and i combined, in his belief that citation was not the best thoroughbred of all time (secretariat, man o'war, native dancer were better in hatton's opinion). also, the author continually refers to citation's owners as 'the jones boys', which works in indiana jones movies but not in a book about a horse. avoid like the plague, unless you enjoy throwing your money away.
Rating:
Summary: Citation A True Stayer! Written by one who saw Cy Race!
Review: If you scan my Amazon reviews, you'll see I read a lot of horse racing books. But one thing about that, there haven't been many books about racing. But with the success of Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit", many more horse-racing books are finding their way on the shelves. One of those is former track announcer Phil Georgeff's biography of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation. The casual style in which he tells the story of "Big Cy" lets you know in no uncertain terms that Georgeff loves Citation. He does this through periodic digs at other great horses, like Secretariat and Cigar, but it is hard to argue with the man. Citation had a terrific career as a 2 and 3 year old including the easiest trip through the Triple Crown of any horse. Georgeff chronicles Citation's career, including the story of his greedy owner who wanted to race Citation until he became horse racing's first millionaire, causing him to run until he was six years old, long after a horse of his caliber should have been retired and sent to stud duty. He also describes the story of Citation's jockey who disappeared on a fishing trip not long before the Kentucky Derby and was replaced by the great Eddie Arcaro. All-in-all, it is a well told story and worthy to be included in horse racing fan's collection. Georgeff also includes a "dream horse race" with 20 of the all time greats. Want to guess who wins?
Rating: 
Summary: Well Told Story From A Passionate Author
Review: If you scan my Amazon reviews, you'll see I read a lot of horse racing books. But one thing about that, there haven't been many books about racing. But with the success of Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit", many more horse-racing books are finding their way on the shelves. One of those is former track announcer Phil Georgeff's biography of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation. The casual style in which he tells the story of "Big Cy" lets you know in no uncertain terms that Georgeff loves Citation. He does this through periodic digs at other great horses, like Secretariat and Cigar, but it is hard to argue with the man. Citation had a terrific career as a 2 and 3 year old including the easiest trip through the Triple Crown of any horse. Georgeff chronicles Citation's career, including the story of his greedy owner who wanted to race Citation until he became horse racing's first millionaire, causing him to run until he was six years old, long after a horse of his caliber should have been retired and sent to stud duty. He also describes the story of Citation's jockey who disappeared on a fishing trip not long before the Kentucky Derby and was replaced by the great Eddie Arcaro. All-in-all, it is a well told story and worthy to be included in horse racing fan's collection. Georgeff also includes a "dream horse race" with 20 of the all time greats. Want to guess who wins?
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the horse?
Review: It ain't bad, but it do go on and on and on about the same old things. Good picture of the racing world of the time and of Calumet in its heyday.
BUT where's the horse? We know how he looks-what he does on the track-the fact that he's intelligent,etc. Where are the anecdotes that endear or amaze that a reader finds in Native Dancer, The Making of Secretariat, and other books of the same type? Maybe the info is no longer available. A pity. Sidenote: My grandfather worked for Southern Saddlery, and I saw Citation and Coaltown when they were colts at Calumet.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the horse?
Review: It ain't bad, but it do go on and on and on about the same old things. Good picture of the racing world of the time and of Calumet in its heyday.
BUT where's the horse? We know how he looks-what he does on the track-the fact that he's intelligent,etc. Where are the anecdotes that endear or amaze that a reader finds in Native Dancer, The Making of Secretariat, and other books of the same type? Maybe the info is no longer available. A pity. Sidenote: My grandfather worked for Southern Saddlery, and I saw Citation and Coaltown when they were colts at Calumet.
Rating:
Summary: don't be confused, bad reviewers
Review: It appears that this book and those on other great horses was inspired by the interest in the book and movie on Seabiscuit. However, Seabiscuit was not in Citation's class. As a long-time follower of the "sport of kings," I consider Citation as the greatest thoroughbred ever. Had Citation been retired at the end of his three-year-old season, as were Man o'War and Secretariat, he would have had a record of 27 wins in 29 races, the two second-places losses easily explained. That record is more impressive than those of Man o' War and Secretariat, the two horses usually rated higher than Mighty Cy in polls of racing experts. Unfortunately, Mighty Cy's owner wanted to make him the first million dollar winner and brought him back as a five-year-old, after more than a year's layoff. Clearly, the horse lost something in that long layoff and was the not the competitor he was as a two- and three-year-old, winning only five of his next 16 races before finally going over the million dollar mark. When comparing Cy with Man o' War and Secretariat, it seems only reasonable to consider only his two- and three-year-old seasons. Who knows what those two horses might have done as five- and six-year-olds? Author Georgeff captures the greatness of Citation, appropriately referring to him as "the greatest thoroughbred in modern history" and "in a class by himself." I couldn't put the book down once I started on it.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Horse Ever
Review: It appears that this book and those on other great horses was inspired by the interest in the book and movie on Seabiscuit. However, Seabiscuit was not in Citation's class. As a long-time follower of the "sport of kings," I consider Citation as the greatest thoroughbred ever. Had Citation been retired at the end of his three-year-old season, as were Man o'War and Secretariat, he would have had a record of 27 wins in 29 races, the two second-places losses easily explained. That record is more impressive than those of Man o' War and Secretariat, the two horses usually rated higher than Mighty Cy in polls of racing experts. Unfortunately, Mighty Cy's owner wanted to make him the first million dollar winner and brought him back as a five-year-old, after more than a year's layoff. Clearly, the horse lost something in that long layoff and was the not the competitor he was as a two- and three-year-old, winning only five of his next 16 races before finally going over the million dollar mark. When comparing Cy with Man o' War and Secretariat, it seems only reasonable to consider only his two- and three-year-old seasons. Who knows what those two horses might have done as five- and six-year-olds? Author Georgeff captures the greatness of Citation, appropriately referring to him as "the greatest thoroughbred in modern history" and "in a class by himself." I couldn't put the book down once I started on it.
Rating:
Summary: Phil Georgeff's "Citation, In A Class By Himself" truly is!
Review: Phil's composed an exemplary, exciting, compelling witty book. An affectionate dedication about Citation-(nicknamed,"Cy".) Phil put all his unique, colorful, conversational ability into a factual bio about his favorite horse of all time. Cy deftly won the Triple Crown and even raced as a 5-year-old, when so many man-made odds were against him! After the last satisfying page you'll concur, Citation WAS in a class by himself. Phil immediately puts you into Citation's world; from the moment little Cy was born 4/11/45, and every magical enthralling moment thereafter. Gaze out over smoky blue-kelly green hued KY blue grass. Its range beyond any horizon. Eternal & enduring as Cy's spirit & story. Phil's "Citation" must become a movie! Flows like a screenplay. Plus! It's true w/an undeniable Hollywood ending! Let Phil's quotes from his book "Citation" give info for this review. (All quotes used with Phil Georgeff's personal permission.) "This Story Is True...As I Lived It." "I was a 16 yr old jockey wannabe in 1947 the day I first laid eyes on Citation... Instinctively, I sensed Thoroughbred greatness in the making. Happily, I was right." "Rather, with humble but implicit conviction, we dedicate this opus to WHY & HOW Citation achieved, and genuinely deserves the lofty accolade as "The Greatest Thoroughbred Who Ever Lived!" "Not until you saw him on race day, dressed for equine warfare--neck proudly arched and head regally bowed in that personal trademark canter of his own creation, then exploding full tilt from the gate with a magisterial will-to-win dynamism, borne of innate nobility--only then did Citation begin to suggest what he truly was: The Greatest Thoroughbred Who Ever Lived!" "Actually, his face was downright handsome. If he were a matinee idol, he'd be Harrison Ford as opposed to Clark Gable. Bruce Lee not Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Phil quotes Cy's trainer, 'Plain' Ben Jones, "If it wasn't that he was so downright intelligent, you'd probably never give him a second look"; said during the summer of 1948 when Citation ruled the world." Son, Jimmy Jones praised Cy, "He had the smarts. No doubt about it, and you couldn't help but see it in his face--it was intelligence that helped make him one in a million!"
Phil quoted the late jockey Eddie Arcaro, "But Citation was a flesh and blood animal, a Thoroughbred horse, who when I knew and rode him as a 3 yr old, could beat any horse I've ever seen or ridden--and beat 'em silly--but never with maximum or all out effort. None of us knew how truly great he was...I was one slow learner..still would take me another race or two to appreciate what a standout he was." Phil quotes Ben Jones, "Eddie, you can sleep well tonight because, and you can take this as gospel: any horse Citation can see--he can catch! And he's got perfect eyesight!"
Phil writes, "Eddie Arcaro discovered Citation could sprint like Equipoise, close like Whirlaway, dominate like Man O'War, shift gears like Count Fleet-'wait' like Seabiscuit and could explode like Phar Lap-& do it all over again. And again!" Phil describes Cy's Belmont win, "He led every step of the way, cruising along by two or three lengths at every call, repulsing bid after bid, demoralizing Escadru in upper stretch, crushing Better Self in midstretch striding clear past the sixteenth pole winning 'eased up' by eight lengths, equaling Count Fleet's track record of 2:28 1-5."
Eddie Arcaro spoke, "Eight lengths? Why it could have been 80 if I had asked." Ben Jones said, "Some horses like Citation have a real savvy, understanding, know-how, more than others..doesn't mean intelligent ones automatically run faster. Good old common horse sense is important, especially if the bugger can also run a bit."
Phil quotes Arcaro, "When asked to compare Arcaro's TWO Triple Crown winners, Citation & Whirlaway, Eddie replied with gusto & customary frankness: 'Hell, Citation can carry the both of us and still beat Whirlaway!'" "A lowly groom uttered perhaps the finest compliment of all. The oldster sighed, 'Boss that hoss--he ain't human!'"
Citation retired as racing's FIRST millionaire w/ earnings of $1,085,760. "The undaunted, dark bay stallion's hard achieved Million status lost luster as inflation ballooned and purses swelled..Winning streaks and career race longevity-Citation scoring 16 straight wins..." "Proved Citation in a class by himself...all the others were valiant." "From now on, he'd be making giant hoofprints so grand, so unprecedented, no Thoroughbred race horse--past, present or future--would ever truly duplicate." "By Belmont time, Eddie Arcaro was so sure of Citation's power, he jokingly predicted the only way the colt could lose is 'if I fell off at the start.'" " Citation hated, actually refused to lose." "Elmer Polzin to this day marvels at 3 yr old Citation's "two weeks in another town"..New York...'In a period of ... 18 days, Citation scaled down from the 1 1/4 miles of Chicago's American Derby to the mile of the Sysonby, then ...the demanding two miles in the Jockey Club before coming back to 1 5-8 miles of the Empire City..Against older horses and he did it like Superman!"
Phil writes, "He was no longer being compared w/ Man O'War. Cy by now was uncomparable. He'd become the absolute against whom future stars would be judged. His greatness was incontestable." Phil quotes Clem, "Citation's invincible!" announcer Clem McCarthy shared with his radio listeners. "No longer can he be compared with any other horse. He's in a class by himself!" Phil says, "That said it all." Phil quotes "Ed Schuyler Jr of Associated Press, in a TV appearance on an ESPN-TV Special saluting Citation's legendary greatness as the New Millennium dawned, put it in proper perspective: 'When someone says Citation might have been the greatest horse that ever lived, they have a legitimate argument--he (just) might have been the 'greatest horse who ever lived!'" Phil says, "Amen to that". With this review I, too, say, "Amen" Buy & read Phil's "Citation". You'll agree!
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