Horse People: Thoroughbred Culture in Lexington and Newmarket
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...
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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.
Preface viiHistories 1The Right to Be Well Born 20The Horseman Makes the Horse 37The Centers of the World 54Stud Farm 77Auction 99Training 120Racing Today 147Epilogue 167Notes 175Essay on Sources 191Index 201
\ ChoiceCombining 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.\ \ \ \ \ \ Register of the Kentucky Historical SocietyCassidy has created an engaging study that would appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in horse racing.\ — Jeff Meyer\ \ \ \ Journal of the Royal Anthropological Inst.[A] comprehensive and entertaining book.\ — Margaret Taylor\ \ \ \ \ \ ChoiceCombining 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.\ \ \ \ \ Register of the Kentucky Historical SocietyCassidy has created an engaging study that would appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in horse racing.\ — Jeff Meyer\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of the Royal Anthropological Inst.[A] comprehensive and entertaining book.\ — Margaret Taylor\ \ \
