Marylander Patrick Smithwick has been working with horses all of his life, getting life lessons at a very young age from his father, the legendary steeplechase jockey A.P. Smithwick, who became a trainer after retiring from riding. The younger Smithwick worked his way through school and college by exercising Thoroughbreds at major East Coast racetracks and riding steeplechase races at such venues as Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, and hunt meets such as the Maryland Hunt Club and the Grand National.
Smithwick has since developed another passion, writing, and writes about what he knows, growing up with a racing legend in “Racing My Father” to a memoir about a year with his family in “Flying Change”, his first two published works. His most recent book, “War’s Over, Come Home” is another chapter in the life of his family.
Smithwick will give a talk about his books and his life at the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center on Monday, November 6 at 4 p.m.
Attendance is free. For more information and upcoming events, visit MarylandHorse.com/Library.