The Bottom Line
- William Murray lives up to his billing as America's Dick Francis
- Very accurate account of life on a typical backstretch
- Interesting stereotypical characters add comic relief
- Sadly, Murray died earlier this year and this was his final book
Description
- Mystery jockey Jill Aspen brings to Santa Anita loads of talent but other baggage as well.
- Trainer Jack Fontana hires her as a stablehand.
- His top horses go off and win at longer odds when the mystery rider is named.
- She never hires Righetti as her agent, but they quickly become good friends
- Aspen's past comes back to haunt her, as Righetti tries to save her.
Guide Review - Review - Dead Heat
A mysterious female jockey from Northern California visits trainer Jack Fontana and jockey agent "Bones" Righetti, looking for a chance to work with his horses as a stablehand and possibly earn her way to riding for him. Fontana has his doubts but gives Jill Aspen a chance, and she proves her horsemanship in the barn and on the track is top notch. However, she also came to Santa Anita to escape a past she prefers to not discuss. Eventually, her tormentors come back to haunt her, and frequent disappearances make Fontana question her trustworthiness, having skipped important mounts on stakes-bound horses.
Righetti had a shady past of his own, as a mob enforcer from New Jersey whose job was to collect overdue debts by use of physical threats. He too is bothered by Aspen's disappearances, and decides that he should do some "enforcing" of his own, to save his friend's career if not her life. The story develops at an excellent pace towards its surprise conclusion.
