Michael Hardcastle

British author. Born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire on 6th February 1933. Pursued a career in the army before turning to more literary pursuits. A highly prolific author who was awarded the MBE for his services to children's books. He also worked as a journalist and literary editor. Possibly best known for his boy's football novels, but also well known for writing a number of pony books, mainly aimed at teenage girls, and many other children's stories, usually sports-orientated. His pony stories are mostly set in the world of horse-racing.

Also writes as David Clark.

Ginny Series:
Teen series set in the world of horse racing.

1) THE SATURDAY HORSE
(METHUEN 1977)
ILLUSTRATED BY TREVOR STUBLEY
Reprinted in paperback by Magnet and more recently by Mammoth.
Also published in an omnibus edition (see below)
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Magnet paperback, Mammoth paperback
SUMMARY: Ginny falls in love with Tamela, a racehorse at the local training yard. But Tamela is a disappointment. Only Ginny has faith in him and she sets out to prove he has talent.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) THE SWITCH HORSE
(METHUEN 1980)
Reprinted in paperback by Magnet, then Mammoth.
Also published in an omnibus edition (see below)
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Magnet paperback, Mammoth paperback.
SUMMARY: Continues the story of Ginny and her love of race-horses
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Other editions:

RACING TO WIN
(MAMMOTH PB 1993)
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: 3 in 1 omnibus which contains the two books in the Ginny series along with another book by the author, Winning Rider.

Collectors Info:
The two books in the short series were reprinted in an omnibus edition called Racing to Win along with another Michael Hardcastle title, Winning Rider (see Other Horse & Pony Books section). In the UK, the paperbacks are fairly easy to find and are not usually very expensive. First editions are rarer but also still reasonably priced. The 3 in 1 is much harder to find than the stand-alones and can be expensive. Outside of the UK, all the books can be hard to find and more pricey.

Puzzle Series:

1) ONE GOOD HORSE
(DENT 1993)
Reprinted in paperback by Orion in 1995.
EDITION PICTURED: Orion paperback.
SUMMARY: Holly helps her race horse trainer with his horses, but he is not exactly successful in the racing world. When she spots the horse Puzzle she knows there is something special about him. Will he be the 'one good horse' that will end her  father's run of bad luck?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

2) PUZZLE
(ORION 1995)
Reprinted in paperback by Orion in 1996.
EDITION PICTURED: Orion paperback.
SUMMARY: Puzzle starts to win races but just as their fortunes begin to look rosy, disaster strikes for Holly and her father.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
I think these are still in print. Easily found on UK internet bookshops, although not on auction sites for some reason. Also can be found in the USA but harder to track down and more expensive. Elusive elsewhere.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

THE CHASING GAME
(HEINEMANN 1968)
Revised and republished in 1976 by the author (Michael Hardcastle Publications) This edition hardback with pictorial boards.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, revised edition.
SUMMARY: (From blurb) As a steeplechase jockey Sean Massie is used to facing danger every day of his life. Then Sean discovers that one jockey is prepared to fall deliberately, to lose a race on the orders of gangsters. In his determination to stop the criminals, Sean finds himself plunging deeply into a desperate situation that could not only ruin his career but could cost him his life. His fate is now allied to the plight of his girl friend Meryl and the fortunes of a brilliant horse called Poor Boy.
Older teens/adult read.

DOUBLE HOLIDAY
(BLACKIE 1985)
ILLUSTRATED BY SHIRLEY BELLWOOD
As far as I am aware not reprinted.
EDITION PICTURED: 1st edition.
SUMMARY: Younger children's story with slight horse/donkey content. When their mother is in hospital two children try and run her holiday home for children. Unsurprisingly there are lots of mishaps, and in the end it is a donkey which saves the day!
PONYMAD VIEW: Aimed at younger readers than the author's other books. Perhaps not a true pony book, although does feature a horse and a donkey so have included it here. It's a gently amusing and well written story.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

WINNING RIDER
(METHUEN 1985)
ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN LOBBAN
Reprinted in paperback by Magnet and Mammoth.
EDITION PICTURED: Magnet paperback
Reprinted as part of a 3 in 1 omnibus edition along with the 2 books in the Ginny series. (See Ginny Series section for more information.)
SUMMARY: Rachel's ambition is to ride her favourite horse in a pro hurdle race, but her mother has plans for her to become a model. Can she pursue her dreams against all the opposition?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

KICKBACK
(FABER 1989)
Reprinted in paperback by Faber
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Young adult mystery/thriller set in the racing world. Ros works at a home for convalescent racehorses, looking after Mantola. When the horse disappears Ros is accused of negligence. In fear for both the horse and for losing her job, Ros sets out to investigate…
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

MINE'S A WINNER
(A & C BLACK 2000)
ILLUSTRATED BY BOB MOULDER
Reprinted in paperback in 2001 by original publisher.
Still in print.
EDITION PICTURED: Paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Graphic novel/comic strip style horse story with a boy hero. Tom is a natural with horses, but when he tries to impress a girl with his riding skill everything seems to go wrong!
The book is part of the Graffix series of teen graphic novels by various authors. As far as I can tell this is the only one with a horsy theme.

Collectors info:
Interestingly, the author self-published a re-issue of The Chasing Game and there are a few signed copies of this particular edition to be had. In the UK, Winning Rider and Kickback are fairly easy to find as these were reprinted a couple of times in paperback. The comic-style book Mine's a Winner is still in print and can be bought new. The other two are a little harder to get hold. Most of the books can also be found to a lesser extent in the USA, but they can be much more elusive anywhere other than UK or America.