John Meeks

Bogey's Final Gift John Meeks First edition

Bogey Dawson is down on his luck. A horse trainer with big dreams and limited funds, he is passionate about Final Gift, a young filly with the potential to tear up the track, pull him out of his financial straits, and rebuild his reputation. Set in 1994 and the Charles Town racetrack, Bogey?s Final Gift, written by thoroughbred racehorse breeder and owner John Meeks, leads readers into the exciting, highly competitive, and often dangerous world of horseracing. In this richly created novel, we meet Becky Friedman, an exercise girl who has won Bogey?s heart, and the villain Edmond Huddleston, whose only goal is to get his hands on Final Gift, no matter who gets hurt?or killed. As the story unfolds, the classic Will the underdog win? question hangs over each page. This is more than a story about a horse, or a trainer who falls in love and is desperate to win the girl and the big race; it is about commitment and devotion, heroism and tenacity. Readers who love a good adventure, an action-packed story, and a drama built around the exciting and unpredictable world of horseracing will revel in this discovery: Meeks has delivered a gritty, edge-of-your-seat novel that pulls us into the action and keeps us holding on until the final page. "a must read for racing fans" , "Meeks uses his experiences on the "backside" of thoroughbred racing and his history in dealing with human emotion and how people think to put together an irresistible tale of a struggling underdog. The conflict between man and woman, father and son, brother and brother and hero and villian are intertwined with splendid descriptions of the characters and scenes that are found only in horse racing." Robert Turbeville, sports editor Pine Bluff Commercial, March 25, 2011