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Good Luck and Good Punting: Memoirs of a Racing Tragic by Ken CallanderInterestingly for someone reviewing a book about a ‘racing tragic’, I know almost nothing about racing, and generally choose my horse in the Melbourne Cup by picking the best looking jockey, or the prettiest silks. However, I found Good Luck and Good Punting a reasonably entertaining read.Published 22 November, 2007 
(Ken Callander, Macmillan, $32.95 pb, ISBN 9781405038386, November) *** Interestingly for someone reviewing a book about a ‘racing tragic’, I know almost nothing about racing, and generally choose my horse in the Melbourne Cup by picking the best looking jockey, or the prettiest silks. However, I found Good Luck and Good Punting a reasonably entertaining read. There are plenty of names dropped and as I wasn’t expecting to recognise any of them, I found myself pleasantly surprised occasionally. It particularly refers to the Sydney racing scene and it seemed that the vast majority of people mentioned were based in Sydney, so it may have limited appeal outside of New South Wales. As Callander has been in the racing industry since he worked as a cadet on the turf pages, he has seen a lot of changes and is willing to talk about them all. The racing stories are interwoven with his life story and it seems as though Callander can remember every race he ever saw. The detail is amazing. A great book for similar ‘racing tragic’ dads who would enjoy the characters, the detail, the gambling and the joie de vivre present on every page. Jessica Broadbent is a former bookseller This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2007, Thorpe-Bowker More from Sports Book Reviews
Good Luck and Good Punting: Memoirs of a Racing Tragic by Ken Callander
Interestingly for someone reviewing a book about a ‘racing tragic’, I know almost nothing about racing, and generally choose my horse in the Melbourne Cup by picking the best looking jockey, or the prettiest silks. However, I found Good Luck and Good Punting a reasonably entertaining read.22 November, 2007
The World’s Weirdest Sports by Paul Connolly
Ever wanted to go Bog Snorkelling? How’s about a match of Dwile Flonking? Care for a vigorous game of Uppies and Doonies? These are the names of just some of the sports listed in this fascinating and informative compendium of the strange things people do in the dark corners of the sporting world (quite often, it must be said, fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol).22 November, 2007
Andrew Johns autobiography to be released by HarperCollins
HarperCollins Publishers is delighted to announce that Rugby League great Andrew Johns has signed up to do his end-of-career autobiography.1 March, 2007 
Given that I have a) never been to Perth and b) can count the number of days I have spent sailing in small craft on the knuckles of one finger, I found this tale of journeying the Swan and Canning rivers in a tiny, handmade boat oddly fascinating.2 February, 2007
The Champions: Conversations with Great Players and Coaches of Australian Football by Ben Collins
This new football book from GSP interviews 24 AFL/VFL players about their Australian Rules football experiences. From Ron Barassi and Bob Davis to current footy stars such as James Hird and Robert Harvey, this book gleans information from the players about their football careers and where their lives have led to after football. This book will appeal to readers who are 40 or older—younger readers may find the format a little dry and regimented.28 May, 2006
A Fair Field and No Favour by Gideon Haigh
If the prospect of reading numerous newspaper reports about the Australian cricket team’s recent downfall in the Ashes series fills you with dread, fear not. Gideon Haigh not only has a commanding knowledge of cricket and its intricacies, but also possesses the rare ability to convey hours of cricket coverage and make it sound like something spectacular.19 December, 2005
Waves: Great Stories from the Surf, edited by Tim Baker
I’d love to find this book in my Christmas stocking! Here’s the perfect gift for your favourite Gidget or Moondoggy. From the full-on surf journalism of Nick Carroll, Matt Griggs and Sean Doherty to the lyrical writing of Tim Winton and Fiona Capp, Waves is a terrific collection of surf stories, recollections, profiles and articles that will be sure to please all surfers, from the weekend warrior to the committed ‘I’ll surf in winter hail if the waves are there’ grommet.11 December, 2005
Streeeeeeeeeeeeetch
After a day of tapping away at a keyboard and going cross-eyed looking at a computer monitor, this writer feels more like a mildly achy, slightly crumpled gnome than a poised, elegant and graceful dancer, so the arrival of Bodywise (ABC Books) was initially a little disheartening.13 May, 2005
Shirtfront by Paula Hunt
As we launch into another season of football, it’s a good time to reflect on where the game has come from, and just how much it is interwoven with the fabric of the Australian cultural identity. Self-confessed Carlton supporter Paula Hunt has done a remarkable job of presenting a potted history of this uniquely Australian pastime in Shirtfront.11 April, 2005
Kicking goals
The allure of football (by which this southern writer means Aussie Rules of course!) may be entirely mysterious to many of us, but it seems that football publishing = sales. With this in mind (and the fact that these books have lots of appeal for reluctant, often boy, readers) Geoff Slattery Publishing and Penguin each have a new book for the footy fanatic.20 March, 2005 |
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1 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
Hi Ken,
Ex-ragons buddy of mine, Davey Walker, lent me your book when I was Down Under-- visitng sister and aging friends (Waka Lawson, Tony Stevens, John Webb, to name a few -- for 3 weeks last month. It was an unexpected,pleasant surprise that you still vividly remember the really good old days, and even bothered to give this old guy a mention. The biz ain't what it used to be, but you definitely have made the best of it. best regards, kp
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