I just finished Murder at the Race Course, and I must say that the author, Berjis Desai, has done a remarkable job of peeling back the carefully curated illusion of horse racing to reveal its seedy underbelly—crooked characters, shadowy dealings, and all. While the author has politely labelled this a work of fiction, anyone remotely familiar with the sport will recognize some of the “fictional” faces lurking in these pages. Of course, a few creative liberties have been taken, but let`s not kid ourselves—reality often outdoes imagination when it comes to racing`s rogues` gallery.

Yes, the book paints a rather gory picture of the sport, but then again, racing has always been a cocktail of brilliance and decay, somehow managing to limp forward despite the rot within. The present-day narrative isn`t much better—betting syndicates pull the strings, horses are bought for absurd sums with no hope of recouping costs, and the sport has become little more than a high-stakes gambling racket. And what do the authorities do? Absolutely nothing. They stand idly by, watching the decline with the same enthusiasm as a bored punter watching an odds-on favourite get trounced.

The book, Murder At The Racecourse serves as a brutal but necessary reminder of what happens when those in charge choose compromise over integrity. The humour woven through the narrative is the perfect counterpoint—like a wink and a nudge amid the chaos, making this exposé not just sharp but thoroughly enjoyable. It`s been ages since I devoured a book from cover to cover, and this one kept me hooked till the last page.

Berjis Desai co-owned the record-breaking wonder filly Jacqueline, who etched her name in history by winning four Indian Classics before narrowly missing out on the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. He started his career as a journalist for a Gujarati daily before rising to become the Managing Partner of one of India`s top law firms. A passionate racing enthusiast, he was also a breeder associated with the Capricorn Stud Farm.

With a keen eye for the sport and a front-row seat to its many twists and turns, Desai masterfully channels his knowledge into Murder at the Race Course. The book is a razor-sharp, darkly humorous exposé that pulls back the curtain on racing`s murky dealings, where winners aren`t always the fastest and the real games are played far from the track. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, Desai`s storytelling is in equal parts gripping and unsettling, making this a must-read for anyone who has ever set foot on a racecourse—or dared to believe in its illusions.