Author Madelyn Cain says she learned that “Great athletes possess a drive the rest of us do not have. Laffit had a wife commit suicide, an allegation of cheating leveled against him, another wife who did cheat, and finally a broken neck and still he continued to love the sport. He is an anatomy of a winner.”

If you want to fall in love with horses, and the men who get the very best performance out of them in one of the world’s greatest sports, you simply must read the remarkably easy reading plus fascinating story line of “Laffit: Anatomy of a Winner.” Cain has captured the life story of world renowned jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. which is filled with as much drama, poignancy and excitement as any Hollywood epic. Born into poverty in Panama City in 1946, he came to the U.S. at age 17 and for the next 40 years went on winning every major horse race, including three Belmont Stakes, and then (considered the greatest of all annual races), the Kentucky Derby.

The handsome and charming Laffit hobnobbed with major celebrities, endured terrifying bouts with bulimia and anorexia, suffered through the suicide of his first wife, a painful divorce from his second wife, won more than $190 million in purses, but lost his personal portion of those millions by an accountant’s mismanagement. Personal injuries were almost incalculable: he suffered three fractured ankles, two broken wrists, three broken thumbs, 13 broken collar bones, cracked most of his ribs, had two spinal fractures, two punctured lungs, compressed numerous vertebra and finally broke his neck while riding in a race at age 56.

It takes little research to find that through the days of his glory and the days of his hell, Jokey Laffit remains one of the most beloved of all jockeys: revered by owners, managers, competitor jockeys, agents, trainers and his enormous fan pool for his gentle ways and his unprecedented self-discipline. During all of these physical mishaps, Laffit is the only rider to win the famed Eclipse Award for Best Rider five times. He was named leading jockey seven times. In the State of California, alone, he became Hollywood Park’s winningest rider in 1992, Santa Anita’s winningest rider also in 1992 and San Diego’s Del Mar Track in 1998. This 117-pound, Panamanian jockey is a Guinness holder for the best ever in horse racing.

Another astounding fact is that Laffit did almost all of his racing while subsisting on 850 down to 400 calories per day.

While most jockeys race for a maximum of 20 years, Laffit rode a spectacular 40 years.

On December 10, 1999, Laffit Pincay broke Willie Shoemaker's world record career win of 8,833 times to become the World's winningest jockey and probably the greatest jockey in history.

Laffit Pincay Jr. began racing in Panama before coming to the United States in 1965. He started racing here in 1966. Known as a strong finisher, Pincay was one of the top, money-winning jockeys and was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame at the age of 28, becoming the youngest rider to be so honored. He did go on to hit the 9,000 career mark of wins at the California Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.

When Laffit retired in 2003, a day of mourning touched the hearts of all horse racing enthusiast.

In 1970, Laffit Pincay, Jr. was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing. Today, Laffit has won more Eclipse Awards than any other rider, as well as the United States' leading jockey seven times.

The second greatest racer is the legendary Willie Shoemaker, winner of three Kentucky Derby races; and he had a few words to add. To sum up extraordinary respect that Laffit unknowingly commanded, Shoemaker said, “It is very easy for me to categorize Laffit Pincay. He is the greatest rider I’ve ever seen. He is the greatest person I’ve ever met.”

It is easy to see why the world of Laffit and horse racing captured through the visionary eyes of Madelyn Cain — this has become a romance to survive. Amazon.com delivers hardback copies for $27.95. Previously read books go for $19.83, with no shipping costs.