Chasing A Dream: The Les Carlyon Collection 1987-1988
Australian History Horse Racing Equestrian Sports Short Stories Memoir & Biography Sports Journalism Collectible Sports Writing
Chasing A Dream: The Les Carlyon Collection 1987-1988 is the vintage horse-racing keepsake Australian readers and collectors have been hunting for. First published in 1988, this rare hardcover gathers Carlyon’s best newspaper and magazine pieces from a golden two-year slice of turf history—stories that went on to shape the way the nation talks about thoroughbreds. Bound in its original dust jacket and printed in English, the book is now very scarce in trade; this copy is clean inside with no writing, no dog-eared pages and only light shelf wear to the jacket, making it an ideal addition for both readers who will actually open it and investors who want it to stay pristine.
Inside you’ll find the celebrated journalist’s trademark blend of meticulous research and vivid storytelling: champion horses, legendary jockeys, eccentric trainers and the punters who lived every heartbeat of the race. Carlyon’s eye for anecdote turns what could be dry form guides into cinematic true stories—perfect for young adults discovering racing literature or older fans nostalgic for the turf’s golden era. Because the pieces were written for newspapers, each chapter is a satisfying standalone read, yet together they chart the seasons, scandals and dreams that defined Australian racing in the late ’80s.
As a collectible, the 1988 Raceplay first printing is already 35+ years old; copies surface only occasionally, especially in this tidy condition with an intact dust jacket. Whether your shelf focuses on equestrian sports, Australian social history or iconic journalism, Chasing A Dream delivers both narrative pleasure and long-term value—an affordable entry point into Les Carlyon first editions that can be read tonight and admired for decades.
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