Unnatural Ability: The History of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Thoroughbred Racing (Horses in History)
$30.31
Description
Book Synopsis: In a mere twelve months, between May 2020 and May 2021, horse racing's most recognizable face—Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert—had five horses that failed postrace drug tests. Among those was the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit. While the incident was a major scandal in the Thoroughbred racing world, it was only the latest in a series of drug-related infractions among elite athletes. Stories about systemic rule-breaking and “doping culture”—both human and equine—have put world-class athletes and their trainers under intense scrutiny. Each newly discovered instance of abuse forces fans to question the participants' integrity, and in the case of horse racing, their humanity. In Unnatural Ability: The History of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Thoroughbred Racing, Milton C. Toby addresses the historical and contemporary context of the Thoroughbred industry's most pressing issue. While early attempts at boosting racehorses' performance were admittedly crude, widespread legal access to narcotics and stimulants has changed the landscape of horse racing, along with athletic governing bodies' ability to regulate it. With the sport at a critical turning point in terms of doping restrictions and sports betting, Toby delivers a comprehensive account of the practice of using performance-enhancing drugs to influence the outcome of Thoroughbred races since the late nineteenth century. Paying special attention to Thoroughbred racing's purse structure and its reliance on wagering to supplement a horse's winnings, Toby discusses how horse doping poses a unique challenge for gambling sports and what the industry and its players must do to survive the pressure to get ahead.
Details
Unnatural Ability: The History of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Thoroughbred Racing is not just another book about scandals in the racing industry. It is an eye-opening account that delves into the murky world of doping and its impact on the sport. As the recent case of Bob Baffert's horses failing drug tests has demonstrated, this issue is far from being resolved. With insightful and meticulously researched content, Milton C. Toby takes readers on a journey through time, exploring the historical context of performance-enhancing drugs in Thoroughbred racing.
From the crude attempts at boosting racehorses' performance in the past to the current widespread availability of narcotics and stimulants, the landscape of horse racing has changed. Unnatural Ability provides an in-depth examination of how these drugs have influenced the outcome of races since the late nineteenth century. Toby's expertise in the field shines through as he uncovers the long-standing doping culture that has plagued this prestigious sport.
One of the key aspects explored in Unnatural Ability is the connection between doping in horse racing and the industry's reliance on sports betting. With a purse structure heavily dependent on wagering, ensuring fair competition and maintaining the integrity of the sport becomes paramount. Toby examines the unique challenges that horse doping poses for gambling sports, shedding light on what the industry and its stakeholders must do to survive in this era of increased scrutiny and pressure to get ahead.
If you are a racing enthusiast, industry professional, or simply curious about the murky underbelly of Thoroughbred racing, Unnatural Ability: The History of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Thoroughbred Racing is a must-read. Click here to get your copy today and uncover the shocking truth behind the scandals that have rocked the racing world.
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