Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon

This book tells the story of horse racing in the early 1970s that has no glamour.  At the rock-bottom end of the sport sits the ruthless and often violent world of cheap horse racing, where trainers and jockeys, grooms and hot walkers, loan sharks all struggle to grub by, or prove their luck, or just survive.  The story follows five characters-scarred and lonely dreamers- through a year and four races at Indian Mound Downs, downriver from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Tom Hansel has a scheme to rescue his stable by taking four unknown but ready horses to the track, run them in cheap claiming races at long odds and get out before anyone notices.  The problem is everyone notices.  Tommy’s girlfriend Maggie Koderer has enough heart and love for the horses to involve Medicine Ed, an illiterate groom, Duecey, a sad sack of a trainer and Kidstuff the blacksmith in her hopes for a win with a little luck.  Unfortunately,

Maggie not prepared for the evil people she’ll meet at the race track and Tommy’s plan begins to fall apart.  Horse racing is costly for everyone.

This is a terrific book that leads to an exciting showdown and deserved to win the 2010 National  Book Award for Fiction.