Description:
Thornton narrates a long season at Boston's Suffolk Downs racetrack, a blue-collar gambling bastion struggling for survival in the casino age. Thornton—who has spent his life around racetracks as a gambler, groom, reporter, announcer and PR man—possesses a deep sympathy for and understanding of the dynamics and contradictions that sustain this threatened world. As our tour director, he introduces the reader to hard-luck horses and eccentric jockeys, gambling scandals and betting strategies, as well as the ice and rain that inevitably make the sport of kings in New England a muddy mess. Thornton's credentials are impeccable, he has unrivaled access, and he delivers keen observations in a style that alternates between workmanlike and poetic. The various story lines he traces include: a jockey paralyzed in a racing accident, an old gray famous for finishing second, a shady owner, and his father's small stable. Any horseracing fan who wants a peek at the inner workings of a track will want to pick this up.

Accuracy:   How would you rate the accuracy of the horse content in this book? painfully inaccurate   [login to vote]   detailed and exquisitely accurate 5.00 Rating, 1 Vote Quantity:   How extensive is the horse content in this book? minimal or background   [login to vote]   horsey 4.00 Rating, 1 Vote Quality:   Rate the overall quality of this book. waste of time   [login to vote]   worth a worldwide search 4.00 Rating, 1 Vote

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