Reading this for the 24 Festive Tasks Melbourne Cup Day square: A set of 13 short stories set in the world of horse racing.  One of them (Blind Chance) I recently read, under a different title (Twenty-one Good Men and True), as part of the Verdict of Thirteen anthology for the Halloween Bingo "13" square and won't be rereading it.  The others are new to me, though, and so far very enjoyable.

The Other Side of Horse Racing by Philip Nork
Enjoy learning about horses and have yet to ride one but want to learn more about them.
Enjoy the Derby and other races in May but more about finding out about the people who train them and ride them.
Gambling is an escape and ends up being an addiction.  Bobby Tucker grew up with no father, those he loved had died. It's best to just go on by himself he thinks.
Love that it explains all the terms about betting and place the horse comes up at the end of the race.
Strikes up friendships with some ladies and pops. Different track where the horses run got him unnerved and things just aren't right...
Loved hearing all the stats, percentage wise about the different tracks and horses.  Wind and drafting totally makes sense!
Word gets around among the teens and they use him for his winning bets.
Time goes on and things go horribly wrong on all counts. After graduation he goes with his father to live in FL. He hopes to remake himself and be more outgoing.
He gets a job and once again you wonder if he's done with gambling.
Tough love sets in and you hope he will wake up from his nightmare....Love the opportunity that is offered.
Lots of twists throughout this book, left you guessing what could happen next.
Received this copy from the author and this is my honest review.

The adage that writers should stick to what they know has been assiduously followed by former National Hunt Champion Jockey, John Francome. Mining the rich seam that accompanies the elite world of horse racing, the author assembles the well-worn ingredients of wealth, corruption, murder, sex and conflict against the genteel backdrop of Lambourn and the horsey set. In some respects, the book has the feel of a formula, the cast of characters, including police investigators, stereotypes equally recognizable in other contexts. Only the presence and mystique of thoroughbred horses and the sub-plots of their racing careers mark out this book among the shelves of 'thrillers'. Still, as with the best of the genre, I did burn through the pages quickly and the fast-moving action did 'gallop' along. As I'm on holiday, it also felt like a light foray into a new hedonistic field for me. I think I shall have to pick up a Dick Francis novel to see if Francome, the padawan, is yet neck and neck with the acclaimed master of this particular turf.

The lives of Sir Bartlett Crosby and Hannah Chandler have been marked by fierce competition between their elite families...the perfect breeding ground for a mutual attraction neither can deny.

Bart hopes to conquer "the turf" through victory in a much-touted match. Should his heavily-favored colt win, the Crosby reputation and fortunes would be revived. Bart's plan seems poised for success until the lovely Hannah Chandler, daughter of a noted rival trainer, turns up claiming ownership of the colt. When Hannah insists on claiming her purchase, the prize colt disappears from Bart's stable. Theft or treachery? As Hannah and Bart rush to solve the mystery before race time, they uncover a scandalous truth about their families' pasts-a truth that has the potential to either destroy both their futures, or to guide them to a love they never imagined.

Review

Oh, I wanted to like this book much better than did. It has witty banter. It is not about ballrooms. The heroine has agency.

I found myself pushing myself to finish it. I never invested in the characters or the romance.

Something was just off. Romain is a great writer but this just didn't make me believe in the love between the couple.

I was given this book for an honest review. So, there you have it.

Body count:  Jockeys: 1

                      Horses: 0

                     Attempted murders: 3 

                      Suspicious rich people: at least 2