Encyclopedia of British Horseracing »

The Encyclopedia of British Horseracing offers an innovative approach to one of Britain's oldest sports. While it considers the traditional themes of gambling and breeding, and contains biographies of human personalities and equine stars, it devotes significant space to neglected areas and covers controversial issues including the finances of the industry, the escalating pressures of the fixture list and the dominance of overseas owners, together with an eclectic mix of entries on such diverse themes as alcohol and racing inns, the church, weather and superstition. Coverage of the international dimension of the sport includes essays on the British influence on world horse racing, horse racing in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.