Thoroughbred (series): Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Thoroughbred_01_cover.jpg|thumb|leftright|''A Horse Called Wonder'', the first book in ''Thoroughbred'' series, was published in 1991]]

{{Mergefrom|Thoroughbred Series|date=August 2006}}

'''''Thoroughbred''''' is an ongoing series of young-adult novels that revolves around [[Kentucky]] [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|racing]] and [[equestrianism]]. The series was started in 1991 by [[Joanna Campbell]], and currently numbers 72 books, in addition to several "super editions" and a spin-off series, ''Ashleigh''. The series focuses on a group of core characters, primarily Ashleigh Griffen, her husband Mike Reese, and her daughter Christina, as well as Christina's friends. The series originally followed the adventures of Ashleigh as she was growing up; when Ashleigh reached adulthood, the focus of the books then shifted to a teenaged Christina and her cousin Melanie.

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''Thoroughbred'' is published by [[HarperEntertainment]], an imprint of [[HarperCollins]]. A total of twelve different authors have contributed to the series over the fifteen years of its existence. There are currently over two million ''Thoroughbred'' books in print {{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

== Structure of the Books ==

''The Thoroughbred Series'' is written in the third-person style and typically from one person's viewpoint. For the first twenty-three books, the series is told from the viewpoints of Ashleigh Griffen, Samantha McLean, and Cindy McLean. Each girl had a stretch of books told from their perspective before the next girl entered the series. After book twenty-three, the series started what was called the "New Generation" and skipped ten years to a new group of characters: Christina Reese, Melanie Graham, Parker Townsend, and a small group of minor characters. These books were still written in the third-person, but the viewpoints of characters would alternate between books.

==Series overview==

=== The Early Books ===

[[Image:Thoroughbred_01_cover.jpg|thumb|left|''A Horse Called Wonder'', the first book in ''Thoroughbred'' series, was published in 1991]]

The early Thoroughbred Series consists of all books written by Joanna Campbell. From ''A Horse Called Wonder'' to ''Cindy's Glory'', Joanna Campbell controlled the storyline. This period consists of fourteen books written between 1991 and 1995. Within this time period, the series begins at Townsend Acres, a large Thoroughbred racing and breeding operation in Lexington, Kentucky. Ashleigh Griffen moves to Townsend Acres after her family's farm, Edgardale, goes through an epidemic and is sold. This leaves Ashleigh traumatized, and she swears to never again love horses like she did at Edgardale. That is before she meets a sickly foal whom she falls in love with and proceeds to nurse to health. This foal is Ashleigh's Wonder, whom becomes the main horse of the series. Wonder goes on to become a significant racehorse, and the series follows the majority of her foals. Other books follow Samantha McLean, whom helps train Wonder's first foal, Wonder's Pride, to [[Kentucky Derby]], [[Preakness Stakes]], and [[Breeders' Cup Classic]] wins. The last books written by Joanna Campbell introduce Cindy Blake, whom quickly becomes Cindy McLean, whom finds and trains March to Glory. These books end after March to Glory is purchased by Whitebrook Farm.

===The early years===

For the first five books, starting with ''A Horse Named Wonder'', ''Thoroughbred'' centers on a young Ashleigh Griffen and her life at Townsend Acres, a large Thoroughbred farm where her father and mother worked as a breeding managers. With the help of her friend Jilly and trainer Charlie Burke, Ashleigh raised a sickly foal named Wonder into a successful racehorse. The early books established the deep rivalry between Ashleigh and the Townsend family, portrayed as aristocratic snobs, which lasts well into the series.

=== The middlePost-Joanna Campbell Books years===

Joanna Campbell passed the Thoroughbred Series on to Karen Bentley, long-time [[editing|editor]] of the series, whom authored nine books from ''Glory's Triumph'' to ''Cindy's Honor''. These books consisted solely of Cindy McLean's life as she helped train March To Glory, Storm's Ransom, Wonder's Champion and Honor Bright.

Books six through twelve focus on Samantha McLean, Ashleigh's [[mentoring|protégé]], and her work with both Wonder's Pride, the son of Wonder, and Sierra, a promising steeplechaser. At this point, Ashleigh has married Mike Reese, and Whitebrook Farm is first introduced as the Reese's own breeding and training facility.

=== The New Generation ===

In books twelve through twenty-three, the focus shifts to Cindy Blake, Samantha's adopted sister.

After book 23, ''Cindy's Honor'', the series skipped forward ten years and began anew as an eventing-focused book series. This series involved Ashleigh Griffen's daughter, Christina, whom traded Wonder's then-last foal, Wonder's Legacy, for a subpar racehorse, named Sterling Dream, that she turned into an [[eventer]]. These books quickly transformed from eventing back to racing after fan involvement convinced editors to switch the focus back to racing. At the event of Ashleigh's Wonder's death, Christina became attached to Wonder's last foal, Wonder's Star. The series regenerated from this point into a predominantly Thoroughbred racing focus, leaving eventing to Parker Townsend, whom became part of the series regularly soon after Wonder's death. The series then became focused on Christina and Melanie and their horses Wonder's Star, Perfect Image, and Hi Jinx.

=== The laterLast Main Character years===

Allie Avery was introduced at the very end of the Thoroughbred Series as the daughter of Craig and Jilly Avery. Craig and Jilly were released from the Thoroughbred Series early on, and were brought back to provide the possibility of Allie, whom was the last main character for the Thoroughbred Series. Allie was both interested in eventing and racing, bringing together the two disciplines in the Thoroughbred Series, although she ultimately decided upon becoming a jockey. She is given Wonder's Legacy, the often forgotten son of Ashleigh's Wonder, as a gift when she is fourteen.

Starting around book twenty-four, ''The Horse of Her Dreams'', Christina Reese, Ashleigh's daughter, becomes the main protagonist. Christina and her cousin, Melanie, remain the two major characters for the rest of the series. Christina, originally set on a career in eventing and [[dressage]], follows Melanie's lead and becomes the jockey of Wonder's last foal, Wonder's Star. The later books also introduce the character of Parker Townsend, Christina's love interest, who bridges the gap between the Townsend and Reese families.

By the end of 2006, the series was officially ended. The last book of the series was ''Legacy's Gift'', a book centered on Allie and Wonder's Legacy, as well as the birth of Legacy's daughter, Allie's Wonder. The end of the series was much-protested despite the seeming decline in quality of plots and writing; the series had won many fans. Part of the reason was because the series, cut of at #72, left many open ends and, due to the fact the authors were not informed soon enough, introduced a new character, Allie Avery, whom nobody got to know due to the termination of the series.

The THOROUGHBRED series left behind a legacy of dreams, strong (for the most part) horse-loving characters, and memorable horses. It turned away from the well-worn plots of other series by not focusing on girls in the setting of a riding academy (except for an eventually terminated stint about eventing in the later books), but on the exciting and fast-paced world of the racetrack. Thousands of young girls fell in love with the likes of Ashleigh's Wonder, Wonder's Pride, and Perfect Image and cheered on the gallant jockeys, trainers, and grooms who dared to dream.

==List of major characters==

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The spin-off series, ''Ashleigh'', is set in a "time bubble" just prior to Ashleigh's moving to Townsend Acres after a virus destroys her family's stock of broodmares. The main setting for the series is the Griffen family farm, Edgardale. The books follow the adventures an eleven-year-old Ashleigh and her best friend, Mona Gardener.

This spin-off presents annoying inconsistencies. There are two notable ones. In #2 ''Wonder's Promise'' (canon series), Ashleigh states she's never attended a live horse race before; however, in the 'Ashleigh' series (and ''Ashleigh's Diary'', the Super Edition), she attends several races. This leads to the other error\inconsistency. In #7, ''Derby Day'', ('Ashleigh' series), it is said that Rhoda Kat is the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. However, in the canon series, Jilly Gordon clearly is.

==== Battlecry Forever! ====

Written by Joanna Campbell, ''Battlecry Forever!'' was published in 1992 by HarperEntertainment, and again in 1998. The story concerns Battlecry, an unruly black stallion, and Leslie D'Andrea, whom sets out to try and turn him into a champion. Battlecry is the sire of Fleet Goddess, a filly that Ashleigh Griffen purchases in the Thoroughbred Series. It is the only book written outside of the Thoroughbred Series that is considered canon.

==== Star of Shadowbrook Farm ====

By Joanna Campbell, ''Star of Shadowbrook Farm'' was published in 1992 by HarperEntertainment, and again in 1998. It is the story of two unlikely eventing champions, Susan Holmes and Evening Star. The characters and storyline do not connect with the Thoroughbred Series.

==== The Forgotten Filly ====

Written by Karle Dickerson, ''The Forgotten Filly'' was published in 1993 by HarperTorch, and again in 1998. The characters and storyline do not connect with the Thoroughbred Series.

=== Thoroughbred Series Super Editions ===

Four Super Editions were published during the Thoroughbred Series: ''Ashleigh's Christmas Miracle'', ''Ashleigh's Hope'', ''Ashleigh's Diary'', and ''Samantha's Journey''. The Super Editions follow the same style as the Thoroughbred Series, but were longer and typically involved three or four sections.

===Wonder's Legacy===