After somehow graduating from Tufts University in 1983 despite spending most of his college years gambling at Suffolk Downs, Bill Finley began a career in racing journalism that has included stops at the Daily Racing Form, New York Post, New York Daily News and New York Times.

He currently writes a weekly racing column for ESPN.com and is the co-publisher of Harness Racing Update, an on-line publication that is recognized as one of the leading voices in that sport. Along the way, he has earned several awards, including an Eclipse Award for outstanding print journalism. Recognized as one of the leading racing writers in the country, he has been part of the Down the Stretch and Race of the Week teams since Day One, working as an analyst and occasional host of the racing broadcasts. He lives in Fair Haven, New Jersey, which, he notes, is just 5.7 miles from Monmouth Park, his favorite thoroughbred racetrack.