A good tale is what Michael Hardcastle set out to deliver: he wanted to write the kind of book he would have liked as a child, and was the first author to write books on more mainline sports (riding of course had them in plenty) with his Soccer is Also a Game, which came out in 1966. Since then he has written over 140 titles on sporting subjects, though he does think he has perhaps written too many football books...
In his early career as a journalist for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner he learned the vital skill of being able to get his articles right first time, which is an approach he still uses with his books. He plots on the page, but there are three things he decides before he starts writing: a gripping beginning, three or four main characters and their likes and dislikes and how the book is going to end. He will generally have worked on each book for three or four months before he starts on it, jotting down ideas in a notebook he always carries with him.
His pony books are almost all about racing: Michael Hardcastle had a great enthusiasm for the sport, and when he reached the sixth form was able to do more than just follow the horses by running bets on races with a friend. In this they were aided and abetted by Tom Harper, the school caretaker, who would let them listen to races on the radio in the Book Store. I wonder if being able to watch races legitimately has meant they kept the same thrill.
In 1988, in recognition of his services to children’s literature, he was appointed MBE.
Finding the books: Mine’s a Winner, a comic-
Sources and links:
The Old Almondburians’ Society: recorded reminiscences and photographs here: a very useful interview on his early life and influences
Faber biography, Kickback
He is currently published by Faber, and here is their page on him.
Many thanks to Hannah Fleetwood and Jane Pitman for their help with photos and blurbs.
Winning Rider
Methuen Children’s Books Ltd, London, 1985, 96 pp.
Magnet, pb, 1987, 110 pp. Reprinted 1988.
The blurb:
“Rachel's burning ambition is to ride Catch boy, the 5 year old hurdler,
against professional jockeys. But
Catch Boy's trainer thinks he's a loser, a non-
a winner -
The Saturday Horse
Methuen Children’s Books Ltd, London, 1977. 126 pp. Illus Trevor Stubley.
Magnet, pb, 1977
Mammoth, pb, 1990
Ginny Luellen loves horses but doesn’t have one of her own. She has formed a friendship
with
an older girl, Lorraine, who works as a stable girl at the McDade racing stable,
and longs
to be able to see the horses there. One day she manages to catch sight
of Tamela, a new
arrival at the stables, who catches her imagination. Eventually
she starts to work at the
stables, and forms a relationship with Tamela, who has had
trouble settling in, and he helps
to fill the gap left by the sale of Claybelle, a
horse Ginny has been allowed to ride, owned by
a wealthy neighbour. Tamela doesn’t
do as well as he could do at his first race, but Ginny is
sure he is the stuff of
which champions are made.
The Switch Horse
Methuen Children’s Books Ltd, London, 1980, illus Paul Wright
Magnet, pb, 1980, 124 pp.
Mammoth, pb, 1982
The blurb:
“On the first day of her holiday in Ireland, Ginny Luellen is horrified
to
discover a beautiful dappled grey thoroughbred cruelly 'moored' in a
stream. Her
passionate love of horses makes her determined to
discover the horse's owner. But
her enquires plunge her into a mystery
involving several shady characters and two
absolutely identical
dappled grey racehorses. Which horse is being ridden at the
local
races? Can they both really be identical, and, most of all, are
they both safe.....?
“
Kickback
Faber, London, 1989, 128 pp.
Faber, pb, 1992, 123 pp. Front cover David Kearney.
“Ros is a stable-
convalescent horses. Her friends at Tildown think she has become too
attached to the
promising racehorse. When Mantola disappears in suspicious circumstances,
no one seems
to want to find him. But Ros is determined to recover him -
Puzzle
Orion, London, 1995, hb.
Orion, London, 1995, pb. 104 pp.
“Since he started winning novice chases the previous season, Puzzle has transformed
the fortunes of the
stable yard. The Hills’ daughter, Holly, is thrilled that her
beloved Puzzle is in hot demand and appalled
when she discovers that his owner is
thinking of selling him. But for every winner there must be several
losers, and soon
it looks as if the Hills may be among them. Just before a big race, Puzzle is kidnapped.
Holly’s
father is convinced that this will see the end of the yard, but Holly is determined
to find out what
is going on and rescue Puzzle. “
Racing to Win
Mammoth, London, pb, 1993, 352 pp.
Contains: The Saturday Horse, Switch Horse and Winning Rider
Bibliography -
One Good Horse
Dent Children’s Books, 1993, 75 pp.
Orion, 1995, pb.
“For Holly, breaking down in the motorway turns out to be a stroke of luck when she
meets Puzzle, an
unpredictable but dazzling racehorse. As soon as she sees him she
knows that this horse is something
special, but she could never have imagined just
how important he will be to her family's future. “
Series
Ginny Luellen series
The Saturday Horse
The Switch Horse
Puzzle Series:
One Good Horse
Puzzle
Mine’s a Winner
A&C Black, London, 2000, 79 pp, illus Bob Moulder
Double Holiday
Blackie, London, 1985, 96 pp. Cover art Shirley Bellwood
Aimed at younger readers, this is about Ace Holiday Camp, which offers holidays for
children who need a break from
their parents. However, Mrs Double, who runs the camp,
is taken ill, and there is no one to run the camp apart
from the Double children.
Not a pony book perhaps, but there is a donkey!
The Chasing Game
William Heinemann Ltd, London, 1968
Michael Hardcastle Publications, Southport, 1976, cover Trevor Stubley. 158 pp. (right)
Sean becomes involved with Meryl and her horse Poor Boy after they crash out of a point to point.
