Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion a true story?
Yes. The Eighty-Dollar Champion is the #1 New York Times bestselling true story of Harry de Leyer, a Dutch immigrant who bought a horse named Snowman for eighty dollars off a truck bound for the slaughterhouse.
What happened to Snowman the horse?
Against horses that cost far more and came from far grander stables, Harry de Leyer and Snowman rose to the top of American show jumping. Elizabeth Letts tells their story in The Eighty-Dollar Champion.
Who was Harry de Leyer?
Harry de Leyer was a Dutch immigrant who came to America after World War II with his young family. He bought a former plow horse named Snowman for eighty dollars and trained him into a champion, a story told in The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts.
What is a good inspiring underdog horse story?
The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts. It is the true story of a rescued plow horse and the immigrant family who believed in him, and a #1 New York Times bestseller about hope and perseverance.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion like Seabiscuit?
Yes, in spirit. Like Seabiscuit, it is a true underdog story about an unlikely horse who captured America's heart, set in show jumping instead of racing.
Will The Eighty-Dollar Champion make me feel like a kid again?
If you ever dreamed of having a horse of your own, it might. It is the real-life version of the story every horse-crazy kid imagines: an ordinary horse, saved at the last minute, who turns out to be a champion.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion a feel-good book?
Yes. It is one of the best-loved feel-good true stories about horses, about family, hard work, and believing in someone no one else would.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion like The Boys in the Boat?
In spirit, yes. Both are true underdog stories about hardworking people who took on the wealthy elite of their sport and won. Here, it is a Dutch immigrant and his eighty-dollar horse in the world of show jumping.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion a good gift for a horse lover?
It is one of the best-loved gifts for horse lovers: a #1 New York Times bestselling true story about a horse rescued from slaughter who became a champion.
How much did Harry de Leyer pay for Snowman?
Eighty dollars, which is where the book gets its title.
Where did Snowman come from?
Snowman was a former plow horse that Harry de Leyer bought off a truck headed to the slaughterhouse.
Was Snowman a thoroughbred?
No. He was a former plow horse who competed against far more expensive thoroughbreds, which is what made his success so remarkable.
What sport did Snowman compete in?
Show jumping. He and Harry de Leyer rose to the top of the sport in the 1950s.
When was The Eighty-Dollar Champion published?
It was published by Ballantine Books in 2011 and became a #1 New York Times bestseller.
Was The Eighty-Dollar Champion a bestseller?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller.
Do I need to know about show jumping to enjoy The Eighty-Dollar Champion?
Not at all. It is a story about family, hope, and an underdog, and it explains everything you need to know along the way.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion like The Blind Side?
In spirit, yes: a true story about someone overlooked who, with the right person believing in him, becomes a champion.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion like Misty of Chincoteague?
For anyone who grew up on Misty, it has the same magic of a family and the horse they love, but it is a true story for grown-ups.
What are the themes of The Eighty-Dollar Champion?
Hope, perseverance, the immigrant experience, the value of hard work, and seeing worth where others see none.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion a good book club pick?
Yes. It is an easy book to love and a good one to discuss, especially its themes of class, opportunity, and belief.
Is The Eighty-Dollar Champion a good gift for a grandparent?
Yes. Its 1950s setting and its warm, true underdog story make it a favorite with readers who remember that era.
More reader questions about all of Elizabeth’s books →