Gabriel's Horses

By Alison Hart

Book #1 in the Racing to Freedom series

An enslaved boy must protect his beloved horses from a cruel trainer and Confederate raiders during the Civil War.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 342 ratings

160 pages· 37,328 words· Est. 5 hour read

$7.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1864 Kentucky, twelve-year-old Gabriel dreams of becoming a jockey while helping his father train racehorses. When his father joins a Colored Battalion, Gabriel faces a new threat: Mr. Newcastle, a harsh trainer with cruel methods. As war rages, Gabriel must protect the horses he loves from Newcastle and Confederate raiders. Can he safeguard his dreams and the horses amidst the chaos of war? This gripping tale explores the complex relationships and challenges of a divided nation, where race and freedom are at the forefront of a young boy's fight for justice.

From the publisher

In 1864 Kentucky, an enslaved boy dares to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey. Twelve-year-old Gabriel loves to help his father–one of the best horse trainers in Kentucky–care for the thoroughbred racehorses on Master Giles’s farm until the violence of war disrupts their familiar daily routine. When Gabriel’s father enlists in a Colored Battalion, Gabriel is both proud and worried. But his father’s departure brings the arrival of Mr. Newcastle, a white horse trainer with harsh, cruel methods for handling both horses and people. Now it is up to Gabriel to protect the horses he loves from Mr. Newcastle and keep them safely out of the clutches of Confederate raiders. In this first book in the Racing to Freedom trilogy, Alison Hart explores the complex relationships of the Civil War in a gripping work of historical fiction. The result is a gripping story that vividly brings to life the danger and drama of a time when war and issues of race and freedom divided the country. Background historical material and photos are included.

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