Subtitled The Passionate World of Thoroughbreds and the Track, this is part memoir, part journey into the compelling world of thoroughbred horse racing. Mooney's grandmother, May-May, an adventurer, racing connoisseur and woman of courage and compassion fostered in Nan a love of thoroughbreds and the track, ushering her into a rare corner of the world where risk-taking is daily currency. The book offers readers an intimate look at the wild culture and fabulous creatures that rise up around the racetrack. Mooney probes every aspect of the sport: the horses, jockeys, and trainers, the gambling and corruption, its ages-old history, and forever offbeat society. She takes readers from the backstretch of a small-town track to the stands at Churchill Downs, from the mind of an intrepid gambler to the soul of a Thoroughbred. If you like horses, you'll enjoy this unique and exquisite memoir that captures the lure, the glory, and the heartbeat of the track. 305 pages, paperbound, 2004.