Description
The world of Thoroughbred racing is glamorous, secretive, dangerous, and seductive-the sport of kings and the poor man's obsession. While the spectacle of racing stirs the imagination, it belies the ruthless business that lies beneath. This engaging original study demystifies this complex world by comparing centers of excellence in Britain and North America. Drawing from intensive field work in Suffolk's Newmarket and Kentucky's Lexington, Rebecca Cassidy gives us the inside track on all players in the industry-from the elite breeders and owners to the stable boys, racetrack workers, and veterinarians. She leads us through horse farms, breeding barns, and yearling sales; explains rigorous training regimens; and brings us trackside on race day. But the history of Thoroughbred racing culture is more than a collection of fascinating characters and exciting events. Cassidy's investigation reveals the factors-ethical, cultural, political, and economic-that have shaped the racing tradition.
About the Author
Rebecca Cassidy is a senior lecturer in the anthropology department at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is the coeditor of Where the Wild Things Are Now: Domestication Reconsidered.
Reviews
Combining thorough research with an excellent writing style, this volume goes beyond such personal accounts as Jane Smiley's A Year at the Races (2004) and Nan Mooney's My Racing Heart (2002). Not about the sport of horseracing per se, this is an entertaining and enjoyable anthropological study of the relationships between humans and animals. Choice 2008 Cassidy has created an engaging study that would appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in horse racing. -- Jeff Meyer Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 2007 [A] comprehensive and entertaining book. -- Margaret Taylor Journal of the Royal Anthropological Inst. 2009
Book Information
ISBN 9780801887031
Author Rebecca Louise Cassidy
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm
About the Author
Rebecca Cassidy is a senior lecturer in the anthropology department at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is the coeditor of Where the Wild Things Are Now: Domestication Reconsidered.
Reviews
Combining thorough research with an excellent writing style, this volume goes beyond such personal accounts as Jane Smiley's A Year at the Races (2004) and Nan Mooney's My Racing Heart (2002). Not about the sport of horseracing per se, this is an entertaining and enjoyable anthropological study of the relationships between humans and animals. Choice 2008 Cassidy has created an engaging study that would appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in horse racing. -- Jeff Meyer Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 2007 [A] comprehensive and entertaining book. -- Margaret Taylor Journal of the Royal Anthropological Inst. 2009
Book Information
ISBN 9780801887031
Author Rebecca Louise Cassidy
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 20mm
