Josephine ~ A Tale of Hope and Happy Endings

Inspirational Children’s book
featuring Seabiscuit’s descendant just released!

~ Endorsed by best-selling author Laura Hillenbrand ~

The event, in celebration of fine art and the champion racehorse Seabiscuit, is by reservation only. For ticket information please, contact www.howardfoundation.org or call (707)459-2777. All proceeds from the sale of the children’s book go toward two charitable causes: the new Frank R. Howard Foundation Medical Campus, and T.R.A.I.L., a therapeutic riding program located at Ridgewood Ranch, home of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit in Willits, California.

"One of the wondrous surprises in life is discovering that after loss, joy, comfort and abundant love can be found, sometimes in unlikely places.  This beautiful little story explores the resilience of the heart and the love that lies all around us, and demonstrates that even in grief, happy new beginnings await us.  I will not soon forget this book." said Hillenbrand, author of the best-seller  Seabiscuit- An American Legend.

In summary, at just four days of age, Josephine, a great-granddaughter of the famous racehorse, Seabiscuit, loses her mother Lacy.  Josephine’s struggle for survival hinges on her caretakers finding a surrogate mother to nurture her. The touching story, told from the little filly’s perspective, portrays the doubts and uncertainties a young orphan feels as she faces the prospect of going on without the most important individual in her young life, her mother.

Josephine, a registered Paint filly (reg. Champs Lil’Biscuit) is the first descendant of Seabiscuit born at the historic Howard mare barn in over 50 years. She descends from Seabiscuit through her dam, First Class Lacegold, affectionately known as Lacy. “I want to be sure to thank the authors Bunny McLeod and Roni McFadden who have so generously donated their time to put Jospehine’s story in book form, as well as Laura Hillenbrand for endorsing it.” said horse owner Jacqueline Cooper and Executive Director of the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation.

Bunny McLeod has written all her life, began her official career as a writer in 2005 at the age of 65, right after graduating with an honors degree in Sociology from New England College in Henniker, NH. She is the co-author of the international best-selling children’s book "Who Says Kids Can’t Fight Global Warming", written with Patrick Harrison, "Christmas in Distress", written with A. L. Niflhaim, and a science fiction book, "Probed by Aliens" written with Van Strickland.  She has also written over seventy books for a Korean publishing company, GlenndomanKorea and is one of the most popular children’s authors in Korea.

Roni McFadden is a mother of four and grandmother of 13 who lives in Willits, California on property that was once part of the Ridgewood Ranch, home of  Seabiscuit, where  Josephine now resides.  She has worked for the equine vets that care for the horses at the ranch for 20 years.  She has been around horses all of her life and will soon publish her story "Sierra Lady" about her teenage years at a pack station in the High Sierras.  She is excited to be a part of this philanthropic project and eager to see the results.

The inspirational children’s book is beautifully illustrated by Sierra Gaston, 19, currently living in Northern California and is a student at Mendocino College.  She loves horses, books, and art and is pursuing a B.A. in illustration/visual media in the near future.  She feels honored to contribute to the legacy of the legendary racehorse, Seabiscuit.

A special thanks to Mendocino County Farm Supply for underwriting the project.

For book orders visit www.seabiscuitheritage.org or ORDER NOW.  For questions please call 707.459.5992.