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On July 6, 1975, a horse named Ruffian was loaded into the starting gate at Belmont Park for a feverishly anticipated match against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. In little more than a year, the filly--unbeaten in 10 starts--had raced her way into the hearts of a nation. One of those hearts belonged to Newsday turfwriter William Nack.

What the jacket cover doesn't say is that Nack's words are a beacon illuminating the rich history of the turf, the level of wordsmanship so skillfully lyrical as to elevate the sport back to the dizzying heights it once enjoyed among America's great sports.

So take a trip back in time, from the dawning of the Age of Aquarius to 1700, when a perfectly made Syrian stallion owned by a Bedouin warrior was imported to England by a British consul. And how the blood of all legendary thoroughbreds traces back in a direct tail-male line to Thomas Darley's prolific Arabian charger.

At its launch, HorseRaceInsider.com is proud to present in part, a serial of six-time Eclipse Award winning journalist Bill Nack's latest work, "Ruffian, A Racetrack Romance," the most anticipated thoroughbred tome since "Seabiscuit".

John Pricci, executive editor HorseRaceInsider.com

Ed. note: "Ruffian, A Racetrack Romance," a made for television movie starring Sam Sheppard and Frank Whaley, will air on the ABC Television Network the night of the Belmont Stakes, June 9.