The Wildest Horse Race in the World

Our rating: ****½

When Uncle Marco, the umbrella man, arrives in the small town of Monticello with stories of the Palio, the great race held in Siena, Giorgio, a young boy, dreams of one day riding in that race. Life is difficult for him, and he struggles to keep his wish in sight. One day, he is chosen to care for a half-arabian mare that has been injured and he believes that this is the horse with which he can fulfill his dream.

I wasn’t expecting much, but this has to be one of the best Marguerite Henry’s that I’ve read. The plot is very interesting and the characters are well developed. I really enjoyed it. As a note, this was originally published under the title of Gaudenzia, Pride of the Palio. After I finished reading Wildest Horse Race, I worked my way through Inter-Library Loans to find Gaudenzia. Imagine my surprise on opening it and experiencing a major déjá vu!

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