Horseplayers: Life at the Track

Ted McClelland

May 2007 · Chicago Review Press

About this ebook

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.

About the author

Ted McClelland has contributed to Mother Jones, Salon.com, and the Chicago Reader, where he wrote a popular column called "At the Track" featuring stories from the racetrack. He is currently the senior editor for Lake and writes the "Cheap Bachelor" feature for the Chicago Tribune.