How long did you work for “Daily Racing Form,” the so-called “bible” of thoroughbred horse racing?
For 33 years. I joined the paper after three years of teaching college English. I was a copy editor, reporter, then editor of the Midwest edition based in Chicago, and finally a national correspondent until I accepted a buyout in 1997. Q: Why did you become a racing journalist? A: I was intrigued by the world of horse racing, which I found (and find) to be a fascinating microcosm of life, rich with interesting people from all economic, social, ethnic, and ethical strata. Also, I love watching horses race. Q: Do you bet on horse races? A: I surely do. Q: When did you begin writing books? A: Late in 1997. I was contributing articles to various horse magazines when Eclipse Press appraoched me with an offer to write “Great Horse Racing Mysteries,” which wound up winning a Benjamin Franklin Award in 2000. I enjoyed the experience and subsequently authored three more non-fiction books for them. Q: When did you turn to fiction? A: I had written a short story about racing that was published in
