July 2, 2001 For more information: Frank Scatoni 619-807-1887 frank@ventureliterary.com "No Kill Date" Venture Literary sells North American rights for The Perfect Ride to Kensington Frank Scatoni and Greg Dinkin, representing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and co-writer Mervyn Kaufman, sold the North American rights to The Perfect Ride: A Life in Racing to The Citadel Press imprint of Kensington Publishing. In The Perfect Ride, jockey Gary Stevens chronicles his incredible riding career—a career that has taken him all over the world on the backs of some of the greatest horses ever, including Point Given, this year’s winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. With the recent success of horse-racing related books like The New York Times best-sellers Seabiscuit and The Man Who Listens to Horses, the timing is right for a jockey’s entertaining and analytical look at this incredible sport—from the perils of riding a thousand-pound animal to the glory of winning the Kentucky Derby, from the struggles of trying to make weight to the thrill of finding the next Secretariat. No one can tell this side of the sport quite like Stevens. But what makes Stevens' story even more interesting is his physical, spiritual, and psychological relationship with the horses—how he intuitively knows a horse, and how he can bring out the pure speed and the powerful grace of these animals. Stevens' whole life has revolved around horses—riding, training, and caring for them. His relationship is what makes this such a charming book. In open, honest, and poignant fashion, Stevens tells his life story—one filled with struggles and hardships—while at the same time, he examines the animals, trainers, jockeys, and gamblers that inhabit his unique world. Bruce Bender, who acquired the North American rights for Kensington, understood the need for Stevens to write about his life in the sport, and it was Bender’s vision, foresight, and aggressive marketing plan that won over Stevens and Venture Literary. For more information about Venture Literary, please go to www.ventureliterary.com. For more information about Kensington, please go to http://www.kensingtonbooks.com.