By A Nose

Author Jim Gentile likes to gamble. Its in his genes, thanks to his father. As a teenager, an $88 Quinella at Arlington Park hooked him. Since then, he has had many a lucky day. He parlayed his passion for playing the horses into a thirty-year career working at seven Chicago-area tracks. This book provides a peek behind the gate of the horseracing industry. Its a humorous account of Jims experiences in the trenches as a teller, ticket room clerk, cashier, manager, and senior auditor, with plenty of opportunity to hone his skills as a bettor: On Wednesdays payday there were three lines at the in-town tracks: one line to get your check, another line to cash your check, and the third line was to pay back your gambling losses. If you only went to line one, you were way ahead of the game.

An odd cast of characters is woven throughout these memorable stories. Youll meet, among others:Gravelly-voiced Aunt Flo who blew her husbands entire savings at the racetrack while he was on a WWII Navy ship. Uncle Dick thought he was returning home to a comfortable nest egg, only to find out that Aunt Flo did not understand the nest egg concept she had gambled away every cent. To his credit, as the story was told to me, Uncle Dick went on a four-day bender and Aunt Flo lived to tell the tale.

Two overly eager co-workers whose wily wagers cost them their jobs: By the last race Howie was in the box for over $76,000! With only one race left, his only hope was to hit the Trifecta. Hey, whats another $24,000 when you are already stuck 76 large. Louies eyes were glued to the television, as the lead horse was ahead by 3 lengths on the backstretch. He quickly punched in $200 to win, the maximum bet the machine would allow, punched the number of the horse on the lead, and started hitting the repeat button. This feature allowed clerks to issue multiple tickets rapidly and Louie was working that machine like a construction worker holding a jackhammer.

Tommy and his plan to rule roulette: When the ball bounced around it landed on red, but only momentarily before it leaped into a black slot like a poisonous frog. Tommy had fallen prey to a common condition called Gamblers Fallacy. Simply stated, this is the incorrect belief that the likelihood of a random event can be affected or predicted from other independent events. The law of averages is one phrase that gamblers should strike from their vocabulary.

Avid gamblers as well as non-gamblers will be highly entertained by a myriad of sagas, which also include sports betting, dog racing, and poker. By the end of the book, like the author, readers will end up asking themselves, Is today going to be my lucky day? You betcha!

Book Reviews

The book was an easy, fast, and funny read.I totally enjoyed ever story and wished that Jim had worked another five years so we could read a few more chapters.

Three favorite chapters: Dare and Defy, Tommy the Scrubber, Sy, Lord of the Rings

Sam M.

"Gentiles first book out of the starting gate is no gamble...readers will be bridled instantly by the wit and honesty of his many self-deprecating gambling tales. While Gentile always seems to miss his bets "by a nose", his collection of racetrack characters and close calls is one for the "win column".

Three favorite chapters: Got any Hot Tips? Sy, Lord of the Rings,The Chicago White Sox and a Pound of Pot?

Marta A. Miller, maiden gambler

"Finally, a nonprofessionals guide to horse racing. Easy to understand and revealing without being overwhelming, the personal experiences of this racetrack insider make it fun to read too. A must read for anyone who bets on horse racing".

Three favorite chapters: Bob and Jims Wild Ride, Lights Out, Starnet and Internet G