The Racing Tribe: Watching the Horsewatchers

Kate Fox studied the arcane world of horseracing—the whole racing tribe, from race-goers to jockeys, trainers, bookies, and stewards. An unexpected world is revealed from an anthropological perspective. Instead of an amorphous racing crowd, Kate sees enthusiasts, horseys, addicts, anoraks, socials, pair-bonders, suits, and be-seens. Among the racing professionals, she identifies shamans and warriors, scribes and elders, connections and sin-eaters. The author spends time with each of these groups, finding out how to identify them from their dress, body-language and behavioural quirks; learning about their position in the social structure of the tribe, their attitudes and beliefs, their territories and habitats. Every kind of racegoer will be intrigued and entertained by this book.