Well done with a lot of firsts - no doubt who the bad guy is from the beginning, this was more about what the scam actually was and how to get revenge, Also the first time the protagonist was an owner. Plus it was the first time I remember where his protagonist actually questioned his own decision to take the law into his own hands. I realize this was written 40 years ago, but I'm still amazed at the blasé approach to receiving an intentional injury from someone else.

I would argue that this is one of the best books in the Dick Francis catalog. The protagonist, Steven Scott, is somewhat unusual for a Dick Francis novel in that he is a relatively wealthy man who made a fortune designing a very popular line of children's toys. As a sideline, he has bought a number of race horses, even though he knows next to nothing about horses.

Scott entrusts the horses to the care of a trainer named Jody Leeds, and the horses enjoy some success at the races. But after some time has passed, Scott realizes that Leeds has been defrauding him in a fairly significant way. The fraud is clever enought that Scott can't actually prove the offense but he confronts Leeds and informs him that he is removing his horses from Leeds and taking them to another trainer. Leeds has expanded his operation at some expense to accommodate Scott's horses and explodes at the thought that Scott is going to leave him high and dry. In fairly short order, violence and other chicanery will ensue.

While the law will be no help in this case, Scott is determined to protect his interests as best he can. He thus concocts a scheme that will have to move as flawlessly as the gears in the toys he has invented in the hope of righting the wrongs that have been done against him. It's a very clever plot with a lot of the usual Francis touches, and it's a lot of fun watching it unfold. Again, one of the best of the novels from Dick Francis.

Dick Francis wrote some of the earliest audiobooks I ever listened to -- on cassette! #TeamOld

So when I had a chance to listen here through the Audible Plus program, I was happy to do so again.

This is a nice, enjoyable story, something you can listen to in an afternoon while you're knitting. It has an engaging protagonist, a tiny bit of romance, and a slightly twisty plot.

I enjoyed it a lot. Nice, tight storytelling.

High Stakes for All

Dick Francis always demonstrates his mastery of not only horse racing but of mystery writing. Steven Scott, owner of a few hurdlers, is forced into close quarters with his horse, Energise. He manages to save his horse from destruction but also to thrawt the nefarious deeds of his trainer, Mr. Leeds. In the process of being vindicated of a thieving trainer, he finds true love. While not his best, it is certainly a noteworthy read.Dick Francis always demonstrates his mastery of not only horse racing but of mystery writing. Steven Scott, owner of a few hurdlers, is forced into close quarters with his horse, Energise. He manages to save his horse from destruction but also to thrawt the nefarious deeds of his trainer, Mr. Leeds. In the process of being vindicated of a thieving trainer, he finds true love. While not his best, it is certainly a noteworthy read.

Steven Scott enjoys being a successful race horse owner.
That is until he learns his trainer is taking him for every scam he can think of.
He fires his trainer and quickly becomes one of the least liked people in the horse circuit.
The trainer takes his prize horse from the racetrack after being told not to.
He devises a scheme to get his horse back that ends up with him being disgraced with a drunk driving charge.
As he pushes his plan into action it win or lose everything up to including his own life.

A departure from my usual authors but a fun foray into an older era & sensibilities

One of my favorite early books by Francis, very much entwined with his own racing history and his love of the sport. A self made rich man (toy designer) gets interested in racing and is taken as a mug by his trainer and bookie. But he doesn’t take the knowledge quietly and undertakes to level the field.

A wonderful storyteller.

No surprises here: a solid thriller set in the world of horseracing. Read it in one sitting, on a beautiful summer morning, lazing in the sun of my backyard.
The two sides of the conflict are clear right from the start line. On one side is Steven Scott, young and wealthy, an enthusiastic newcomer to the racetrack, with money to burn but with little practical knowledge about buying, training and racing the horses he owns. On the other side an ambitious trainer and a shady bookmaker that are apparently taking advantage of his good nature and friendly demeanour.
As a long time reader of Dick Francis novels, I know it doesn't pay to underestimate his tall, quiet, competent but self effacing protagonists. They hide a mulish perseverence and an unshakeable sense of justice. Steven may have been fooled once, but he's not going to take it laying down.

What I liked better in High Stakes than in other Francis books is the way he sets up Steven as a team player, rather than the usual Lone Ranger hero. He quickly gathers around him a few loyal friends and sets up a really smart heist to outwit the bad guys. I won't go into details, other than to say this book is a bit above average in Francis portofolio when it comes to actual plot. I also enjoyed the romantic angle in Steven life, one that is integral to the story rather than a cookie cutter sideline.

The conclusion is a bit too predictable and too much  the signature attempt by the bad guy to solve his problems by dealing in physical violence against the hero .

Dick Francis is not really such a quotable author, but I picked one of my favorite passages in this book, highlighting his passion for horses and racing that permeates every one of his novels:
We watched him from the balcony of the private box with hearts thumping like jungle drums. It was for this that we had gone to so much trouble, this few minutes ahead. For the incredible pleasure of seeing a superb creature do what he was bred,trained, endowed, and eager for. For speed, for fun, for exhilaration, for love.

This is another Francis book with a somewhat atypical Francis hero. This one, Steven Scott, is successful and mostly happy with no previous tragedies to cloud his life. He does, however, lead a mostly solitary life -- and, at the beginning of the book, his trainer's dishonesty deals a serious blow to Steven's trust in his fellow man. This book follows Steven as he makes sure that the bad guys get what's coming to them, but also shows him developing his own circle of friends and coming out of his isolation.

The schemes in this one -- both the plotting of the bad guys and the retribution of the good guys -- are complicated and fun. I wish there had been a second Steven Scott book, because I'd like to know what he and his buddies got up to next!

This is the first time I've listened to a Dick Francis book. I liked it but I think I like reading them better. There's just something about hearing the voices of the characters in my mind that works better with some books.

Another well done novel by Francis, whom I adore. This audiobook was narrated very well by Geoffrey Howard.