THE HORSE IN VIRGINIA by Julie A. Campbell, 2010.

Excellently put together coffee table style book about the history of the horse in Virginia. The first horses came on ship to Jamestown in 1609 and ended up being eaten along with dogs, rats, and practically anything else that could be found, during the "Starving Time," that horrendous winter of 1609-10. After the colony was more established, more horses arrived and flourished. Campbell divides her book into time periods, with plenty of wonderful illustrations. Lots of good material here on Civil War horses, and more modern horses like Secretariat, as well as horse racing history in the Commonwealth. It's a good browsing book, not as in-depth perhaps as some would like. I found it pleasant to dip into, enjoyed my favorite parts of it, and skimmed the others. If you are interested in a brief history with beautifully done photos and historical illustrations, then this will serve you well. Campbell gives a good bibliography of sources, too, for further reading.

Finished reading 1/29/09:

VIRGINIA HORSE RACING: TRIUMPHS OF THE TURF by Virginia C. Johnson, 2008.

Brief history of the sport of horse racing in Virginia from the founding of Jamestown to the present. Provides details of the foundation sires, noted racehorses, studs, and well known men (like John Randolph of Roanoke) who were huge in the sport. A good, short intro to the subject.