🏇⛳Horseracing, golf, and the never-ending quest for more

Two new sports books reviewed

Horse racing and golf. Two sports very popular with the rich and which inspire deep devotion among enthusiasts. This edition I look at two new books which reflect on how money and the never-ending quest for more impact the sport the author loves.

🏇 Death of a Racehorse: An American Story by Katie Bo Lillis (coming May 6th)

There has been growing attention on the sheer number of thoroughbred horses that drop dead each year. In particular, deaths occurring in clusters in specific areas, tracks or stables has led to general bafflement as to the cause and suspicion cast widely.

Death of a Racehorse is Lillis’ in-depth look at this phenomenon and the suspicions cast on high-profile trainer Bob Baffert in particular. Lillis is forensic in her analysis, looking at all of the various factors - drugs, breeding, schedules, training etc. She eschews the simplistic answer, that evil trainers are over doping horses, showing how the problem is much broader. She paints a compelling picture of how prioritization of money and profit plays over the safety and wellbeing of the horses. Lillis is not a campaigner, not on a crusade, but rather a horse lover (and talented investigative journalist) deeply concerned and eager to find a more balanced dynamic between human and animal.

There is plenty of depth to the book. Beyond the central question it also paints a picture of industry rocked by class tension and the battle between the old money and the new guard. I know very little about horse racing and found the book incredible accessible - taking a newbie into the inner world while adding plenty of insight that makes the book a must read for insiders and outsiders alike. Ultimately, Lillis tries to present a hopeful vision for what could be, and what should be, a reformed industry with the welfare of horses given proper place at the very center.

A fantastic, readable, informative, enjoyable book.

⛳ Playing Dirty: Rediscovering Golf’s Soul in Scotland in an Age of Sportswashing and Civil War by Joel Beall (out now)

Playing Dirty is essentially two books in one - the story of golf's civil war set against a golfing tour of Scotland and the meaning of the game there. Beall has done a fantastic job of telling two contrasting stories to explore the tensions between the game of golf and the state of professional golf.

Well reported, interesting analysis, heartfelt and extremely good writing. I cannot praise this book enough. It sucked me in and kept me interested. The PGA vs LIV stuff is interesting because it goes beyond just telling the story and offers Beall's own insight and pulls no punches.

The Scottish stuff is a real love letter to the game and a great character study of the various people for whom golf is meaningful. I expected to get bored of this narrative. What could easily have been a rundown of man plays golf and likes it while talking to other men who play golf and likes it becomes something much profound in Beall’s hands. He keeps the reader engaged through his sheer passion and some simply beautiful writing.

The contrast of the two stories is a very real reminder that sport is much more than the elite level and elite sport is at its best when it remembers that.