The Horses are on the Track: Poems and essays from the Rail Side and the Barn Side

These poems and essays are based on my experiences with the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. In a very real sense, it has been a "family" affair. My father and three of my uncles have been jockeys, trainers, or owners. The collection is an interwoven presentation of poetry, essay and photographs tracing my experiences in the world of horse racing. I write about the life of the stable hands, the horses, and my work as a young barn hand and later adult fan of horse racing.

The work examines the multi-faceted life of the track. I focus in part on the barn side, an authentic behind the scenes glimpse of the world of professional racing. Then I give perspective to the view of the track from the grandstand: the pageantry of post parade, the crowd cheering a winner and the gamblers applauding their wins, cursing their losses. The aim of the book is to provide insight into the vivid life of the track, its humor, its sadness, and its charm. These poems and prose reflect my personal history, the history of my times and the changing nature of horse racing as it faces the challenges of modernization.