Leon-Saxeville Library hosts author Amber Sawyer and Derek the racehorse

  • Amber Sawyer and Derek the racehorse
    Amber Sawyer and Derek the racehorse
  • Wild Rose’s Nora Sandberg, 7, couldn’t wait to visit with Derek.
    Wild Rose’s Nora Sandberg, 7, couldn’t wait to visit with Derek.
  • Tim Sattler, with his daughter Sophia, 4, and friend Carson Weisensel, 6, were busy decorating their horse shaped cookies.
    Tim Sattler, with his daughter Sophia, 4, and friend Carson Weisensel, 6, were busy decorating their horse shaped cookies.
  • Derek was the hit of the evening as the children waited excitedly in line to pet him outside the library.
    Derek was the hit of the evening as the children waited excitedly in line to pet him outside the library.
  • Jackson Rothe, 7, Wild Rose, Titus Tieman, 4, Poy Sippi, and McCoy Schenkenberger, 3, Saxeville, enjoyed a game of horse shoes.
    Jackson Rothe, 7, Wild Rose, Titus Tieman, 4, Poy Sippi, and McCoy Schenkenberger, 3, Saxeville, enjoyed a game of horse shoes.
Amber Sawyer, author of “Love to Race”, a children’s book about her harness racehorse Derek, visited the Leon-Saxeville Library of Pine River on Oct. 4. She is also a freelance writer for the magazine Hoof Beats and other Horseman’s publications. Amber also brought Derek the horse for community members to meet. Derek is currently 23, and was retired from racing at 15 years old Derek was the oldest winning harness racehorse in the United States. He had raced almost 300 races, beginning his career in New Zealand. At four years old, he was shipped to California to begin his racing career in the U.S. Amber has owned him for the past ten years.