Horseplayers
Author | : Ted McClelland |
Publisher | : Chicago Review Press |
Total Pages | : 283 |
Release | : 2007-05 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781556526756 |
ISBN-13 | : 155652675X |
Rating | : 4/5 (56 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: This fun and witty exposé of horse racing in America goes behind the scenes at the track, providing a serious gambler's-eye view of the action. Ted McClelland spent a year at tracks and off-track betting facilities in Chicago and across the country, profiling the people who make a career of gambling on horses. This account follows his personal journey of what it means to be a horseplayer as he gambles with his book advance using various betting and handicapping strategies along the way. A colourful cast of characters is introduced, including the intensely disciplined Scott McMannis, "The Professor," a one-time college instructor who now teaches a course in handicapping, and Mary Schoenfeldt, a former nun and gifted handicapper who donates all of her winnings to charity. This moving account of wins, losses, and personal turmoil provides a realistic look at gamblers, gambling, and life at the track.