Post by Kelly on Nov 8, 2010 9:52:33 GMT -5
"Not By a Long Shot: A Season At a Hard Luck Horse Track" tells the story of a year in the life of Suffolk (aka "sufferin'") Downs.
From Publishers Weekly:
"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."
This book rings true for anyone who has ever spent any time at a claiming track - full of characters, shining moments of the best racing has to offer coupled with the worst. Sometimes a little depressing, but sometimes equally uplifting - for anyone wanting a glimpse into what small-time horse racing is really like, this is a must read.
From Publishers Weekly:
"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."
This book rings true for anyone who has ever spent any time at a claiming track - full of characters, shining moments of the best racing has to offer coupled with the worst. Sometimes a little depressing, but sometimes equally uplifting - for anyone wanting a glimpse into what small-time horse racing is really like, this is a must read.
