The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita Special Edition

by Rudolph Valier Alvarado

Book Overview

Dr. Rudolph Alvarado's compelling and in-depth biography captures the story of Joe Hernandez, a Mexican-American, who despite his ethnic background became thoroughbred horse racing's greatest race... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0982476612
• ISBN13: 9780982476611
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Caballo Press of Ann Arbor
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

An engaging bit of history

I read "The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez, the Voice of Santa Anita" because we were having a book signing at Santa Anita Park. I learned so much about the racing industry, the creation of the tote boards, photo finish, introduction of the Mutual Clerks, and how he set the standard for calling a horse race. Joe was mysterious and fascinating. His passion for the racing industry was incredible. He was calling races throughout the country, appeared in movies, taped races for delayed broadcast on radio and television, owned horses, bought horses for others, and was a jockey agent. He was involved in all aspects of Thoroughbred racing. The book taught me about an industry that I really didn't know too much about. Then--I met Rudy Alvarado and Father Frank at Santa Anita Park After reminiscing with them, it made the words jump off the page! Please read this book and, if you have chance to go to a book signing, tell them Cindy says HI!

From Joe's grandson's perspective

As a child, I always took my grandfather's love, generosity and celebrity for granted. When Father Frank said someone was interested in writing a book about his father, my grandfather, I truly was excited. Rudy Alvarado has done an outstanding job of research over these past five years. He brought to light things our family was not even aware of. This story shows a man who made his own luck with hard work and always being prepared for any opportunity. He overcame huge odds in his early life to become an icon in the Sport of Kings. Thank you, Rudy!

Amazingly detailed account

The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita is the biography of Joe Hernandez, a Mexican-American who because well-known as thoroughbred horse racing's greatest race caller, in an era when most Mexicans and Mexican-Americans were being repatriated to Mexico because of the Great Depression. Revealing the lengths to which Joe Hernandez went to fit in such a heavily Anglo-American environment, as well as the legacy of his impact on thoroughbred racing, The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez is a singularly fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse at a crucial turning point in an American sport's history. "Uncertain of the loyalty of Japanese and Japanese-Americans residing in the United States, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the evacuation from the West Coast of all persons of Japanese ancestry. To house Japanese living in California, the military established twelve assembly centers in the state where individuals were housed while awaiting relocation to camps in the interior of the country. Santa Anita became one of those camps." An accompanying audio CD of recordings of Joe Hernandez's famous racing calls, including a bonus track of Joe's last call, rounds out this amazingly detailed account of not only Hernandez's life, but of a pivotal period in thoroughbred racing history.

The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez the Voice of Santa Anita

Horse racing,with its colorful and rich history has found another hero, and that is Mr. Rudolph Alvarado. By patiently reassembling the biography of legendary race-caller Joe Hernandez, Alvarado has not only saved a long a legacy from fading, but he uncovered a source of inspiration not only for Mexican-Americans, but for ALL Americans as well. Alvarado paints an image of a hard working young man who's ambition carried and brought his dreams to reality, during a time when most doors were closed. Recognized as the 'voice of Santa Anita', Joe was also the voice of West Coast racing, he called them from Longacres in Washington State. To Agua Caliente in Tijuana Mexico. Joe called them, and to many, we can still hear Joe's famous..."aand there they go!" With this book, Alvarado has reopened the memory vaults of many a racing fan, but needs not to be from that set to enjoy this gem. Mr. Alvarado...thank you! David J. Beltran Thoroughbred breeder and author of 'The Agua Caliente Story'

A Must-Read For Every Racing Fan!

Long before Trevor Denman set foot in the announcer's booth at Santa Anita, another legendary "Voice of Santa Anita" had already broken barriers, blazed new trails, and established a legacy of memories at The Great Race Place. To call Joe Hernandez memorable --to those who knew him intimately-- simply does not do justice to the incredible talent and incredible impact he had on Southern California thoroughbred racing from the day he called the original "lidlifter" at Santa Anita to his untimely passing in 1972. Now author Rudy Alvarado gives us an incredible "up close and personal" look at a man who was successful beyond belief at a time when Latinos often struggled, yet --at the same time-- seemed troubled in his personal life and by his own past. If you enjoyed Seabiscuit, you'll LOVE The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice Of Santa Anita!