There can be no better way of getting to know Ireland than by visiting its racecourses: from the glamour of Leopardstown and the class of The Curragh to the majestic mountains around Killarney; from the warm welcome at Gowran Park and Clonmel to the summer holidaymakers' meetings and 'industry' days in the winter months. At any one of these venues, you might catch a glimpse of a future Cheltenham Gold Cup champion or Derby winner in action. Horses for Courses guides readers through a typical year in Irish racing and highlights the individuality of each venue. All have their own special qualities and atmosphere but share two common traits: a warm welcome and good sport. And that is what the author believes Irish racing is all about. The country's courses enjoy a huge level of support from the local population. It might be raining and some of the races may be 'ordinary' but the stands will always be crowded. That is because racing is part of Irish culture and the nation's way of life: with 27 courses, it has proportionately far more venues than Great Britain. Meticulously researched and passionately written, Horses for Courses is the definitive guide to Ireland's racecourses and is essential reading for horse-racing enthusiasts everywhere.

Horseracing, thoroughbred breeding and gambling on racing are global industries worth several hundred billion dollars. They are also industries facing serious challenges, from the rise of alternative forms of leisure gambling to concerns about the ethical treatment of animals in all equestrian sports. This book offers a broad-ranging examination of the contemporary horseracing industry, from geographical, economic, social, ethical and environmental perspectives. The book draws on in-depth, mixed-method research into the racing and breeding industries in the US, Australia, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, and includes comparative material on other key racing centres, such as Ireland, Singapore and Hong Kong. It explores the economic structure of the global racing business, including comparisons with other major international sport businesses and other equestrian sports. It examines the social and cultural roots of the sport through its association with, and impact on, rural places, communities and environments from Kentucky to Newmarket – highlighting racing’s particular blend of tradition and scientific and technological innovation. The book also explores the ethical issues at the heart of horseracing, from reproduction to the use of the whip, and the inescapable tension between the horse as an instrumentally valuable commodity and the horse as an intrinsically valuable animal with needs and interests. The Global Horseracing Industryconcludes by considering alternative futures for this major international sports business. The book is illuminating reading for anybody with an interest in sport, business, cultural geography, animal studies, or environmental studies.

The very first novel by the phenomenal #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts,Irish Thoroughbred is the story of a young immigrant, a racehorse breeder, and a romance that could only happen in America--now in a beautiful new hardcover edition. There’s nothing left for Adelia Cunnane in Ireland. The aunt she cared for has passed, and the family farm has been sold for taxes. But her uncle Paddy has written her: Come to America... The Maryland horse farm where Paddy lives and works is more than Dee dared to dream about. She has always had a magical touch with animals, and her she finds employment in the stables—and a chance to fly, on the muscular back of Travis Grant’s chestnut Thoroughbred. It’s easy to put aside a passing pang of homesickness when she can spend her first paycheck—which feels like a veritable fortune—on the feminine frivolities that were never a part of her life in the old country. But the most unfamiliar territory of all is her relationship with her boss, the man who has made all this possible. Spirited but innocent, Dee is disconcerted by the way he treats her—and the way she responds. America may be the land of opportunity, a place where even those from the humblest background can pursue what they want—and, perhaps, even find themselves one day attending the Kentucky Derby. But some divides may be too wide to cross, and Dee fears that demanding more could cost her all that she’s already gained...