Kerouac\'s earliest writing assignments were to cover, as a 12 year old, an imaginary
New England racing circuit he created, complete with fictional tracks,horses,
jockeys and owners. He composed, by hand and in pencil, a short publication for his
own entertainment which resembled the Morning Telegraph, complete with articles and
charts. Kerouac describes some of these fantasy sports activities (he also was
heavily into fantasy baseball) in Dr.Sax.
The leading owner on Kerouac\'s fantasy circuit was Jack Lewis, a retired jockey.
Lewis\' top horse was Repulsion, who defeated all challengers yet somehow always
offered good value in the show pool.
About 2 years ago the main branch of the NY Public Library featured an exhibit of
all things Kerouac, including the elaborate notebooks in which Kerouac recorded
the activities of his fantasy racing circuit.
Also exhibited was the long scroll on which Kerouac composed On the Road. The
scroll was loaned to the exhibit by Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, who
had purchased it for 2.4 million. (Irsay is a huge rock and roll fan and amateur
musician; each year at Christmas he distributes a CD on which he sings and plays
guitar for his close friends. Apparently he one year paid Steven Stills $1M to play
\"back-up\" on the CD.)
But how great was Kerouac, who suggested that we all drop out, experiment with
drugs, and pursue freedom on the road, yet spent most of his own adulthood living
with his mother.
