This autobiography investigates the life and career of Barney Curley, a figure who navigated the high-stakes world of horse racing while challenging the established power structures of the betting industry. Curley, writing with Nick Townsend, chronicles his trajectory from a youth shaped by his father's gambling losses to his emergence as a controversial and influential figure in racing. The text utilizes personal reflection and historical accounts of his most famous betting stings to argue that his actions were often motivated by a desire to protect the interests of the average punter against large bookmaking corporations.

The narrative provides a candid, first-hand account of a life defined by professional defiance and personal tragedy, offering a specialized look into the mid-to-late 20th-century racing scene. The text serves as a primary source for understanding the adversarial relationship between independent racing figures and the institutional betting establishment.