New Book Tells of Dark Side of Racing

A new book by T.D. Thornton tells the tale of horse racing and how dark and seedy it can seem. The book, “Not by a Long Shot,” is actually the story of Thoroughbred racing, and in particular, Suffolk Downs. The year is 2000, and when you are finished reading it, you will see the ugly side of racing that enthusiasts don’t usually get a taste of.

Thornton shows how pretty a race can be, such as the Kentucky Derby, and then juxtaposes it with Suffolk Downs and the “underbelly” of racing. The horse racing of old is not what it is today. It was the sport to see and be seen at. Ladies in hats, men in suits, celebrity jockeys – the race track was the place for them all. It wasn’t until well after World War II that things started to change.

The problem is that horse racing was the sport to watch for everyone. Now, not only is the sport competing with other sports, it is also competing with other gambling venues. Between the slot machine parlors and casinos that seemingly abound, as well as the racing tracks that have already embraced slot machines themselves, racing is being backed into this tiny little corner from where it cannot break free.

Suffolk Downs could be hugely successful in another time, but it is competing with so many other venues that it is racing to keep up – to no avail. The track cannot keep up with purses that other states can offer because they have slot machines and Suffolk Downs does not.

“Not by a Long Shot” might show the underside of the sport, but it also shows the beauty of what it was and what it could possibly be the again. Thornton says that racing is about the little guy – the guy who does all the work for little of the money and none of the glory. This book is for him.

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