Ballads of the turf and other doggerels
Subtitle: . . . . .  the colorful tales of the backstretch
By: by William Galvin, with short stories by Jim Coleman.
Contributors: Coleman, Jim
Edition: THIRD
Publisher: W.J. Galvin
Published: 2006
Place of publication: [Mississauga, Ont.]
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 81
Copyright date: AUGUST 26,2006
Subjects: Horse racing -- Poetry.; Horsemen and horsewomen -- Poetry.
Genres: Poetry.
First sentence: "This is the tale that was told to me by a gyp with snow-white hair"
Description: If ever there was a racing book that totally reflects life on the backstretches of the nation's race tracks, it is  Ballads of the Turf and Other Doggerels by Canadian author William Galvin.
Ballads of the Turf captures in verse and ballad form the real life stories of Damon Runyonesque-type racetrack characters like Bill the Reverend, Chatahoochee Smith and Sheepherder Bill, in a loving look back at their lives, their dreams, and most importantly, their partnership with their horses.
Widely acclaimed by academics, racing historians, horsemen, racing fans, industry leaders, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, these memories that horsemen treasure are vividly captured by the author, who lived among the characters he immortalized in verse.
Notes: "Wonderfully illustrated"  says  Kentucky Monthly.

Illustrations by Dianne Horton Barnsley, Elaine MacPherson, Kit Mo, and John Verdura.
Table of contents: title: The Ballad of Chatahoochee Smith,  The Ballad of  Bill the Reverend,  The Ballad of Hank the Gyp,  The Giant Killer,Only a Dud,  George the Goose  . . a Eulogy, El Perfecto, The Call of the Shedrow, The  Revenge of Puss n Boots, What Might Have Been, Memory Lane,  A Horseman"s Prayer, I Go Me Once to Race Track Place, Times to Remember,   This Jock's First Ride, The One Hundredth Running of the Queen's Plate , November Song,  Johnny Needle Nose, by Jim Coleman