the inside story of California Chrome

Perry Martin wrote a book about his horse California Chrome. He wrote it after his wife died suddenly last June. Steve Dennis is a fan of the horse. Steve is also a trainer. California Chomps is the embodiment of American Dream. The book is about the journey of a horse and his owner. It is written to set the record straight about him and detail what it was like to own a champion racehorse.

Martin and his partner Steve Coburn bought a mare and sent her to a young, inexpensive stallion. The mares was bred by Lucky Pulpit and Love The Chase. California Chrome won 16 races, including two of the world’s most prestigious contests, earn $14.7 million in prize-money and be taken to the hearts of racing public like few others have been. Martin would match Chrome against anybody. Chrome's victory in the 2016 Pacific Classic is his favourite. He won six races straight twice during his career. He would have won the Triple Crown if he hadn't been stepped on at the start of Belmont Stakes.

Chrome was twice voted Horse of the Year by the professionals and the only two-time winner of Secretariat 'Vox Populi' award voted on by fans. His vast and adoring army of fans became known as the Chromies. The inside story of California Chrome.

Martin is an outsider in an insider's sport. He worked for the US Air Force’s testing laboratory in California before taking it over when the base closed. Martin prefers to watch the races from the track apron with Denise. He uses the analytical mind that underpinned his life”s work to focus sharply on racing.

US racing needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up. Middlemen are stripping out sponsorship money and putting it toward corporate profits rather than purses. The average owner in the US can expect a return on his investment of 42%. For every $100 put in you get $42 back. California Chrome's owner wants to reorganise the sport along the lines of other professional sports.

Martin has owned a successful horse, California Chrome. He is reducing his involvement in the US and expanding it in Japan. Martin's daughter Passion Tango will be in training at Rae Guest’s yard in Newmarket this summer. Perry Martin has written checks to the IRS exceeding $1m. Chrome is the only horse he has called his Derby horse. The book about his career is available here. It is a monument to California and to Martin. There will never be another Chrome, as he is not in existence anymore. His brother Faversham was not considered for the Derby. However, Perry hopes to have another Derby-winning horse one day.