KNOCKDOWN

If the word horsedealer has any rotten connotations it will have come by them honestly, or rather dishonestly, since Dick Francis' new book is all about buying and selling racehorses — a world in which bloodstock agent (the British term) Jonah Dereham is the exception. In fact, in an attempt to crowd him out he's viciously attacked twice, his best horse is let loose, and finally his stable is burned. But there's a nice girl, as well as Jonah's alcoholic brother, who comes through in the crunch, to raise the personal stakes. Post time's right now.