Gargrave horse rider Steven Wright has secured a publishing deal for his first book, Run With Your Heart, telling the story of his remarkable partnership with a failed young racehorse.

Racing Post Books is bringing out the work as a fully illustrated paperback on September 26, with an eye-catching front cover photo by Craven Herald photographer Stephen Garnett.

Now fully titled Run With Your Heart: How Two Of Life’s Losers Found A Winning Partnership, the book was originally self-published on Amazon Kindle 18 months ago.

It has already sold 2,000 copies in e-book form and the sequel, Leap At The Moon, also out on Amazon Kindle, is doing well. Steve is now working on his third title, How High The Dream?

Steve, 55, is Crime Reporter on the Herald’s sister paper, the Bradford-based Telegraph & Argus.

He and his partner, Jenny Loweth, who also works at the T&A, wrote the popular Daniel’s Diary column in the Herald before deciding to write a book. Some of the family’s exploits from the Diary are included in Run With Your Heart, which is very much a local story.

Steve’s horse Adelphi Warrior, known as Alexander, is stabled at Wilkinson’s Farm livery yard, near Skipton, run by Tim and Sheila Pilling.

Steve’s book charts the ups, and many downs, of life with a tall and powerful ex-steeplechaser.

Alexander, a 16.3hh chestnut thoroughbred, is now ten years old and the apple of Steve’s eye. The two have formed an inseparable bond in the four years since Alexander’s sudden arrival into Steve’s life.

Billed “Mr Bean meets Red Rum” there is more than one ‘chapter of accidents’ in the book, to both horse and rider.

Their journey from uncertainly and near-disaster to the modest competing success they now enjoy includes much laughter and plenty of heartache.

“I am delighted that Racing Post Books have given me this chance to become a published author. It means a lot to me that Alexander, who failed on the racecourse, has become a winner in so many other ways," said Steve.

“Who knows - He may end up like legend Red Rum and be asked to open local supermarkets.

“The Craven Herald has always been a staunch supporter of our small triumphs and I am immensely grateful to Stephen Garnett, who gave up his time on a chilly January day to take the stunning photo that has been chosen for the new book cover.

“I feel that Run With Your Heart is a real local book. It features people and places from the immediate area.

“Many people still prefer ‘proper’ printed books - myself included - and now anyone interested can have the opportunity to read about Alexander.”

Run With Your Heart is available for pre-order on Amazon books.

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