"My Old Man" Summary

Joey travels around Europe with his father, who is a jockey. His father works very hard to keep in shape, but rarely gets work. He gambles on horse racing a lot. Joey remembers one instance in France when his father has one of his jockey friends throw a race so that he can make money by betting on the underdog. Joey's father tells him about his life during the war and in the U.S. At one point, his father buys a horse, Gilford, to train and race. During a race, Gilford throws his father off and kills him. The other jockeys discuss how bad his father was.

"My Old Man" Analysis

The relationship between Joey and his father is similar to Nick Adams' relationship with his father. Both sons idolize their fathers and learn everything that...