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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An insightful new look at the racing world., 28 Nov 2004
This book is a collection of interviews with eighteen women working in different aspects of the Thoroughbred racing industry - trainers Linda Rice, Jenine Sahadi, and Christine Janks; jockeys Patti Browne, Donna Barton Brothers, and Zoe Cadman; reporter Charlsie Cantey; breeder Alice Chandler; groom Francesca Rabadan; photographer Barbara Livingston; track veterinarian Mary Scollay; publicist Jane Goldstein; racing officials Christine Salvino and Donna Porter; chart caller Sheryl Stefanowicz, journalist Maryjean Wall; jockey's wife Dot Sibille; and pari-mutuel clerk / horse tattooer Charlene Burkhardt. The range of perspectives is very nice.Each woman brings a unique view of the industry, but there are also a lot of similarities running between them. Many, though not all, had families with backgrounds in horses. Almost all noted the fact that they had to work much harder than men in the same fields. Some were very conscious of sexism in their workplaces, and others found that the best way to deal with it was to ignore it entirely. Most of the women interviewed commented on the growth of the industry which has led to a more cutthroat atmosphere in recent years and the loss of great racing personalities. Every single one arrived at their place in life through an intense love of horses. In terms of good writing, the book is not the best. The interviews are transcribed very directly, and the simple fact is that people do not speak in the same way that they write. There are times when the reading is awkward due to grammatical errors or patterns of speech that are not used in written language. The book would have flowed more nicely if the authors had either done their own write-ups on the women (the brief introductions before each interview read very well, for example) with extensive quoting, or had at least done a little more editting to the interviews themselves. Words such as "like," which are found randomly placed in sentences, could have been removed. On the whole, however, the book is a fairly easy read (I was able to finish it in one day), and is very worthwhile. The women's stories are inspiring and often heartwarming. The chapter on Jenine Sahadi really made me smile. She's a tough and determined woman who's good at what she does, and I have gained a whole new respect for her. Francesca Rabadan's story brought tears to my eyes - she's been through so much and has come through with her gentle soul intact, and that is truly amazing. I also particularly enjoyed the interviews with Charlsie Cantey, Zoe Cadman, and Dot Sibille. I would love to see a sequel to this book someday that would introduce us to more of the outstanding women involved with Thoroughbred racehorses.
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