Anne Holland – författare

Often called the sport of kings, horse racing dates back at least to the chariot races of the ancient Olympic Games.Arriving in Britain with the Romans in the first century BC, its popularity among the elite led to the breeding of thoroughbred racehorses and prompted the establishment of a formal racing calendar with flat races and steeple chases at a plethora of dedicated racecourses throughout the country. Now no longer restricted to the aristocracy, a day at the races has become a perennial highlight of the social calendar.Shedding new light on this increasingly popular equestrian sport, Anne Holland here explores the broad history of horse racing from the horses, jockeys and racecourses to the practice of bookmaking and those in the audience.

Every year the Grand National produces very different stories from jockeys and horses alike; uplifting scenes from a victor and heartbreak when a mere inch divides the loser from the winner at the end of nearly four-and-a-half miles and thirty challenging fences. In 1839 the first winner was aptly named Lottery. Back then, huge crowds rode to Aintree by horseback, in carriages, carts or on foot. Today the Grand National is probably the world's most famous horse race, with a global television audience of some 600 million in 140 countries.This richly informed book focuses on the race's various record-breakers, rather than being a purely chronological history of this greatest of all steeplechases. Many records have stood the test of time: in 2019, Tiger Roll's second consecutive victory was the first time that the feat had been achieved since Red Rum in 1973-74. Anne Holland's authoritative history celebrates one of the world's greatest sporting spectacles.'A well-organised and cheerily anecdotal volume' Spectator

There can be no better way of getting to know Ireland than by visiting its racecourses: from the glamour of Leopardstown and the class of The Curragh to the majestic mountains around Killarney; from the warm welcome at Gowran Park and Clonmel to the summer holidaymakers' meetings and 'industry' days in the winter months. At any one of these venues, you might catch a glimpse of a future Cheltenham Gold Cup champion or Derby winner in action.Horses for Courses guides readers through a typical year in Irish racing and highlights the individuality of each venue. All have their own special qualities and atmosphere but share two common traits: a warm welcome and good sport. And that is what the author believes Irish racing is all about.The country's courses enjoy a huge level of support from the local population. It might be raining and some of the races may be 'ordinary' but the stands will always be crowded. That is because racing is part of Irish culture and the nation's way of life: with 27 courses, it has proportionately far more venues than Great Britain.Meticulously researched and passionately written, Horses for Courses is the definitive guide to Ireland's racecourses and is essential reading for horse-racing enthusiasts everywhere.

Often called the sport of kings, horse racing dates back at least to the chariot races of the ancient Olympic Games. Arriving in Britain with the Romans in the first century BC, its popularity among the elite led to the breeding of thoroughbred racehorses and prompted the establishment of a formal racing calendar with flat races and steeple chases at a plethora of dedicated racecourses throughout the country. Now no longer restricted to the aristocracy, a day at the races has become a perennial highlight of the social calendar. Shedding new light on this increasingly popular equestrian sport, Anne Holland here explores the broad history of horse racing from the horses, jockeys and racecourses to the practice of bookmaking and those in the audience.

Often called the sport of kings, horse racing dates back at least to the chariot races of the ancient Olympic Games. Arriving in Britain with the Romans in the first century BC, its popularity among the elite led to the breeding of thoroughbred racehorses and prompted the establishment of a formal racing calendar with flat races and steeple chases at a plethora of dedicated racecourses throughout the country. Now no longer restricted to the aristocracy, a day at the races has become a perennial highlight of the social calendar. Shedding new light on this increasingly popular equestrian sport, Anne Holland here explores the broad history of horse racing from the horses, jockeys and racecourses to the practice of bookmaking and those in the audience.

Do you know what the oldest horse race in Britain is, where the term ‘gee-gee’ comes from, or who is credited with bringing racing to Ascot? Fact-packed but light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and quirky guide reveals little-known facts, details of classic races, famous riders, racing records, amusing anecdotes and criminal goings-on. A compendium of the fascinating, strange and entertaining, The Little Book of Horse Racing can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient sport.

“STAND BY TO GET MARRIED NEXT WEEK — AM COMING ON LEAVE FORTHWITH.”So read the telegram that changed everything.In 1941, Rex, a young British Commando officer, fell in love with Margaret, an American heiress serving as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse. Their whirlwind courtship led to a hasty wartime wedding — just days before Rex was posted overseas. What followed was four years of separation, their only contact through letters.From India and Burma, Rex wrote of jungle marches, commando training, illness, humour, and near brushes with death. From bomb-ravaged Kent, Margaret described rationing, evacuation, the birth of their son, and the quiet struggles of loneliness and resilience. Their correspondence veers from ardent devotion to fierce arguments, from high comedy to aching despair — yet always returns to love.Set against the backdrop of world events — bombings in England, monsoons in Burma, whispers of peace, and the final shock of Japan’s surrender on their fourth wedding anniversary — Stand By to Get Married is both an intimate portrait of two extraordinary individuals and a vivid social history of life on the home front and in the field.Anne Holland, their daughter, draws on a treasure trove of their letters, diaries, journals, and photographs to tell this poignant true story. Moving, graphic, and often surprisingly funny, it illuminates not only a marriage tested by war, but also the class divisions, social mores, and hopes and fears of a generation.At once a gripping love story and a mirror of wartime life, this book will captivate general readers and historians alike, in Britain, America, and beyond.