Day at the Races: The Education of a Racetracker

Barry Gifford

ISBN 10: 0871131951 / ISBN 13: 9780871131959

Published by Atlantic Monthly Press May 1988, 1988

About this Item

Jacket Condition: 'NF' Condition: 'NF' Notes: Behind-the-scenes look at thoroughbred racing.

Seller Inventory # 1063639

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Day at the Races: The Education of a Racetracker
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press May 1988
• Publication Date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0871131951
• ISBN 13: 9780871131959
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: NF
• Seller catalogs:
  • Sport/Martial Arts

About this title

Synopsis

A documentary-style, behind-the-scenes look at thoroughbred racing and the extraordinary characters who make their living through hard work, horse sense, and luck.

Reviews

These transcribed tapes of talks with various racetrack types are divided into three areas. There is the backside, which involves trainers, grooms, a horse-shoer, exercise riders, jockeys and their agents; the frontside, where the contributors are a groundskeeper, a general manager, clockers, veterinarian, a steward, a pricemaker, starters and a track announcer; and, the grandstand, with a pricemaker, a tout and a professional handicapper. All the interviewees are very caught up in their work, and almost all have been around tracks for much of their lives. Many stress their feeling that horseracing as a sport is somewhat boring and that gambling alone makes it absorbing for spectators. Taken together, these pieces by the author of Jack's Book and Saroyan give a sweeping picture of life in and around the sport of kings, but it is doubtful that the book will interest those not involved in the sport. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Here's a novelist, smitten by the racing bug as a kid, who sets out to discover the real world at the racetrack. In candid interviews, Gifford lets the track workers tell us about their lives. From eloquent to raunchy, the men and women talk about making a living on the backside, frontside, and grandstand. Everyone from jockeys to grooms, from clockers to clerks, from veterinarians to owners, discuss their feelings, pro and con, for the track. This is the gritty reality behind the glitzy facade and carnival-like lure of racing. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.Susan Hamburger, Florida State Univ. Lib., Tallahassee
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.