Free Love won four races for her North South Syndicate and has become the subject of three compelling books, lovingly penned by the retired school master, Tony Linnett.
The final part of the trilogy, ‘Farewell To Free Love’, has been entered for a coveted William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and is raising vital funds for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust – a charity close to Tony’s heart following his own cancer diagnosis which he touches on in the book.
“It was always my intention to write a third and final instalment following the publication of my first two books about our incredible journey,” explains Tony. “It’s a story about the highs and lows of shared ownership on a budget during some troubled times.
“It’s merely an unhappy coincidence that the backdrop to events was the Covid-19 catastrophe and an equally catastrophic health diagnosis for myself. As I tackled the final proof stage I was struck by the surreal nature of what I’d written.”
In his foreword to Tony’s book, available on Amazon, racing legend Bob Champion says: ‘Farewell To Free Love’ is an honest, informative and thoroughly enjoyable account of a journey in shared racehorse ownership during some of the most challenging times our sport has faced in living memory.
“He describes in vivid and entertaining detail how the racing show managed to keep itself on the road during a global pandemic. This enthralling book captures the essence of racing and the value of true friendship in a sport where there are plenty of lows along with the exhilarating highs.”
Tony will be at Sandown races on Sunday 20th August to sign copies of his latest work, which he hopes will inspire other racing enthusiasts to get involved in shared ownership.
“The message I hope my three books gets over is ‘Just do it’,” he adds. “Pick an ownership model you can afford and get involved, whether it’s a £50 micro share or a more substantial involvement. It’s almost impossible to describe the intensity of the racehorse ownership experience but it’s what I’ve tried to do in some modest way.”
Tony’s first book, ‘A Year Of Free Love’, describes how his syndicate was born back in 2017 when the pretty bay daughter of Equiano was purchased at Newmarket Sales for just 10,000 gns and sent into training with Tom Clover.
The follow-up, ‘Another Year Of Free Love’, was just as well received, charting the excitement she brought her syndicate in winning four times for trainer Mick Appleby, firstly at Catterick, twice at Nottingham and then finally at Windsor.
“It was our dream to gain some coveted black type with her but the closest we came was a sixth at Ayr,” adds Tony. “She’s now enjoying a new career as a broodmare with a filly foal at foot and another on the way. Owning a racehorse was something I never thought I’d be able to do but she made so many dreams come true.”
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