The Master: A Personal Portrait of Bart Cummings

Read an article on Les Carlyon and his book 'The Master' here.

In the world of horse racing, Bart Cummings is the master. His astonishing tally of twelve Melbourne Cup wins arguably makes him the greatest trainer in Australia's history and, by statistical measures, as freakish as Bradman. His laconic wit and indifference to the trappings of wealth and fame have seen him recognised as a national treasure in his own lifetime. He is one of Australia's great characters. As Les Carlyon writes, he simply isn't like anyone else. Cummings doesn't come into it: to everyone he's just Bart.

For close to forty years Carlyon has known Bart and chronicled his remarkable career. Now, in The Master, Carlyon gives us a portrait of the man, his horses and his world away from the glamour of the big race days. It shows us a Bart few have seen before. Intimate, personal, informed and captivating The Master is loaded with stories and characters that reveal much of the character and modus operandi of Bart. Illustrated with more than 100 photographs and paintings, The Master is a sparkling piece of storytelling by one of Australia's most successful and acclaimed writers.

Here is Bart Cummings reflecting on the AJC Derby in the lead up to the 150th anniversary at Royal Randwick Racecourse in April 2011.