What do you get when you mix a black cat, a fan-favorite racetrack, and a big dream? You get the adorable children’s book, Roadrunner the Cat, Racing for Her Dreams, which introduces readers to Michael Greenblatt’s feline running companion and her pursuit of speedy glory.

Set against the backdrop of famed Hialeah Park, Roadrunner the Cat is a unique take on the underdog, er, undercat, motif, as our main character meets an interesting cast of characters who help her find the form she needs to realize her goal.

A lifelong runner and celebrity fitness trainer, New Jersey native Michael Greenblatt met a black kitten with big gold eyes when he went for a run around his neighborhood in 2008. Rather than scurry away when he approached as other cats did, this ebony feline stayed put, watching Greenblatt run day after day.

He noticed a neighbor feeding the kitten and asked her about this daily sight; she informed him that that black kitten and her gray companion were both strays that she had started caring for since she found them in her driveway. One day, as he was stretching in preparation for his run, he felt something wrap around his ankles: it was that black kitten, making herself right at home with him.

Greenblatt inquired about adopting his new friend and the woman caring for the two strays said he should adopt her. Soon the black kitten shifted from watching Greenblatt run to running right alongside him. Hence, the obvious name: Roadrunner.

The story of the fitness trainer and his feline training partner attracted attention wherever they went, especially since no one had heard of a cat running with her human; in fact, veterinarians that Greenblatt inquired with said that they knew of dogs joining their owners on runs, but cats were not known for such behavior. When a television producer came calling to suggest a segment on the two, the New Jersey native could not turn down the opportunity. That appearance went viral in 2010, and from there, Roadrunner’s legend has grown. She has done commercials, had a 2012 race at Monmouth Park named for her, and in 2024, became a literary star.

The book Roadrunner the Cat, Racing for Her Dreams was published in September 2024 thanks to the efforts of Greenblatt and his connections in racing. Growing up in Oceanport, New Jersey, his home was “very close to Monmouth Park. When my friends were over at my house playing football or basketball, you could hear the races from where we lived if the wind was blowing correctly,” he recalled.

That proximity led to a chance to work as a hot walker for Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Croll through Greenblatt’s high school and college years, a job that built a lifelong connection with horses and racing.

He also got to know Steve Brunetti during those early years on the Jersey Shore. Brunetti, whose father John bought Hialeah Park in 1977, encouraged Greenblatt to heed the many calls to write a book based on his adventures with Roadrunner, and became the book’s sponsor, underwriting the costs associated with self-publishing this adventure.

Through his former boss Tom Werblin, whose father Sonny owned racehorses and, at one time, the New York Jets, he met Diana Oswald, author and literary agent, who offered to read an early edition of Roadrunner’s story. She offered to write another version of the black cat’s adventures and the two started collaborating on the final version. Then, Greenblatt sought out an illustrator and found Lauren Curtis, a New Jersey-based artist, whose whimsical images dot this feline heroine’s story.

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In Roadrunner, the titular cat lives with her young owner, Michael, his sister Faith (named for his real-life sibling), and their parents in southern Florida. Roadrunner hears the sounds from nearby Hialeah Park racetrack, the cheering crowds and the sounds of hooves hitting the racetrack pique her interest. The family dog Harvey tells her about Hialeah and suggests that she check it out.

Roadrunner sneaks out one night after the family is asleep and finds her way to the racetrack, meeting a cast of characters, including Hialeah’s signature flamingos and at least one world famous horse, Citation, along the way. Roadrunner, who is particularly proud of how fast she can run, decides she wants to challenge the horses to a race. The flamingos help train Roadrunner for the big day, helping her maximize her speed so she can truly run with her equine competition. When her chance comes, Michael and the whole family are there to watch the magic happen.

The book capitalizes on the real Roadrunner’s magnetic personality, the black cat who knows how to put on a show when cameras are around. She is a veteran of commercials, her appearance in an Optimum commercial showing off her comfort on camera and the charisma that makes Roadrunner an ideal subject for a children’s book. Her fame was such that when Greenblatt asked Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone, who had ridden several of his horses over the years, to write the foreword for the book, she needed no introduction to the titular feline. She already knew all about Roadrunner, Greenblatt said.

A decade in the making, Greenblatt’s goal for the book was for Roadrunner’s story “to be an inspiration. Never give up on your dreams. No goal is too big to achieve.” As a children’s book set at a racetrack, this appeals to more than young readers; the appearance by Citation at the racetrack where a statue of the Triple Crown winner resides hearkens back to the sport’s golden age, bringing racing fans of all ages, and the plucky kitty’s goal of beating Thoroughbreds at their own game is a universal message that appeals to adults everywhere.

Along with inspiring readers to pursue their dreams, Roadrunner also has a charitable side; proceeds from the sale of the book go toward animal rescues, with Greenblatt donating money to multiple organizations. The story’s reception has been a positive one, with multiple five-star ratings on Amazon and fans approaching Greenblatt to get his and Roadrunner’s autograph.

“I’ve had horse trainers and people involved with Thoroughbred racing that have had me sign the book,” he shared. “I have a Roadrunner footprint stamp that I put in the book too.”

The feline fitness phenom, who was a young kitten when Greenblatt adopted her, still lives with him, and still works on her fitness with her human, who continues to work with clients including jockeys, trainers, celebrities, and more. The titular black cat remains part of Greenblatt’s own fitness routine. Rather than following him around, “she leads the way,” he shared. “I love it. She’s in front. That’s what makes her so different.”

With her story now in print, Greenblatt says that Roadrunner is open to a sequel, as author Diana Oswald had the book end with the possibility of another adventure. Already, two rescues, The Pennsville Animal Shelter in Pennsville, New Jersey and the Burlington County Animal Shelter in Westampton Township, New Jersey, have benefitted from sales, helping more people find their own Roadrunners.

This literary star also has shown up on the racetrack in the form of a chestnut filly that Greenblatt, in partnership, purchased as a weanling. By World of Trouble out of the Student Council mare Sheisinittowinit, the equine Roadrunner the Cat started out in the barn of Greenblatt’s friend Gregg Sacco and is currently training for her 2025 debut with leading trainer Brittany Russell.

Roadrunner the Cat is available on Amazon.