Book Reviews?

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

Admit I am sucker for reading books about handicapping. I am sure most on here know all the famous good ones by Beyer, Davidowitz, etc.. But, how about some sleepers of good books youve read on the subject, or some real losers. I will start off with to me a loser, "How To Win The Pick 6" by Steven Kolb. This book has mostly rave reviews on Amazon.Com so it could just be me but it is the worst horse handicapping book I have ever read. I am starting to wonder about those reviews on Amazon. Are they shills? Anyway though this could be a good way we could all find about about some good reads or avoid some bad ones.

I wrote a lot of Amazon reviews on handicapping books, and have read 25 or 30. In general, Quinn's works are solid in fundamentals and certainly worthy of reading. The pace material by Brohammer, Pizzola, and Hambleton is all solid and worth a read. My favorite author is Marc Cramer because he takes a contrarian approach to most everyone else. He wrote several that will have you thinking more about finding value after you go through the fundamental nuts and bolts process of picking winners.

Losers: Pedigree Handicaping by Stich wasn't good...Helm's pedigree book was much better. Go for the Green by Heller was written for somebody who never picked up a racing form....Ragozin's book offered almost nothing from a handicapping perspective.

[Holland Hacker]

I have read a number of books going back to Tom Ainsle's almost 25 years ago.

Some Books I really liked:

Ruffian - Burning from the Start - Jane Schwartz

Exotic Betting - Steven Crist

Handicapping 101 - Brad Free

Man O'War - Dorothy Ours

and some not so much:

The Training Game - Karen Johnson, decent read will not help you handicapping much.

Secretariat the Horse that God Built - Rather dissapointing story about Big Red.

I know I'm personally waiting to get a copy of The Serling Way - A Real Horse Players Insights into the Game.

[pgiaco]

"A Wild Ride" by I think it's Anne Hagedorn was a great read. Tells the story of the rise and very hard fall of Calumet Farm.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by pgiaco

"A Wild Ride" by I think it's Anne Hagedorn was a great read. Tells the story of the rise and very hard fall of Calumet Farm.

Agree. Couldn't put the book down even though we all know how it ends.

[Travis Stone]

Reading handicapping books is just like reading poker books... some thoughts/ideologies you'll agree with, while others you will not. But it's good to have perspective from all angles as you never know what little tidbit here or there will pan-out a being useful with how you approach and play the game.

That said, in my opinion, Andy Beyer has the most entertaining books with good info while Steve Davidowitz's Betting T-Breds is the single best book out there to kick-start one's handicapping endeavours.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

I liked Handicapping Magic by Pizzola.

didn't buy into the PBS numbers at all, because I used to handicap and
come up with pace and final figs using similar theories behind the PBS #s.
Otherwise excellent imo, especially Chapters 4, 6, and 7.

Bet With The Best 2 was good.

Six Secrets of Successful Bettors is a must for anyone considering getting
real serious about handicapping for profit, just to make some extra dough
outside your job ( if you still have one )...............
and I think borderline-mandatory if your crazy enough to take the plunge.

This read will let you know that interpretting PPs, result charts, and replays
better than everyone you know in your tiny circle of family and friends
simply won't be enough to make it as a true full-timer.

Pizzola's book was good and his theories are intriguing, though admittedly I don't follow his method. Most selection oriented writings point to early speed while this one points you to value oriented closers who can compete in certain pace scenarios.

I thought the "Bet with the Best" books were ok, but would strongly recommend Quinn's "Best of Thoroughbred Handicapping" over those. The idea of all 3 is to introduce ideas from other handicapping books, but Quinn does a better job of organizing the work as well as introducing some lesser known (and better) authors.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I wrote a lot of Amazon reviews on handicapping books, and have read 25 or 30. In general, Quinn's works are solid in fundamentals and certainly worthy of reading. The pace material by Brohammer, Pizzola, and Hambleton is all solid and worth a read. My favorite author is Marc Cramer because he takes a contrarian approach to most everyone else. He wrote several that will have you thinking more about finding value after you go through the fundamental nuts and bolts process of picking winners.

Losers: Pedigree Handicaping by Stich wasn't good...Helm's pedigree book was much better. Go for the Green by Heller was written for somebody who never picked up a racing form....Ragozin's book offered almost nothing from a handicapping perspective.

Seems like most of the reviews on Amazon are by relatives of the author most likely. The ones like yours giving honest opinions few and far between hence the idea for this thread. I really enjoyed anything by Quinn and Quirin, havent seen anything by either lately. I did read Pizzola. Lots of valid points but he comes across as too much of a marketer trying to sell other services it seemed. I am currently reading "Tropical Downs" the novel by Cramer and have read his contrarian books on handicapping. He seemd to be one of the first "value" handicappers. I used to get Helms pedigree ratings every year but since he retired I switched to "Sire Stats" by Thoroughbred Sports Network which come out each year

[MISTERGEE]

has anyone read "Extreme Pace Handicapping" by Randy Giles and also are you applying his methods?

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

has anyone read "Extreme Pace Handicapping" by Randy Giles and also are you applying his methods?

Thought about it, but haven't yet. After Brohammer, Pizzola, Fotias, and Helm, I'm twisted up enough on pace approaches.

[MISTERGEE]

any actual pace ratings you like the best? I never really looked at Moss #s. I used to do my own Beyer pace #s. Now anyway most say it doesnt matter which horses have the best speed just how many like to go to the front no matter the rating.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

any actual pace ratings you like the best? I never really looked at Moss #s. I used to do my own Beyer pace #s. Now anyway most say it doesnt matter which horses have the best speed just how many like to go to the front no matter the rating.

I use BRIS and have found them to work well for my purposes, plus I am comfortable with their whole product now. Maybe there is too much information there, but after using them, the DRF looks rudimentary.

I have also used Equiform's Xtras (Cary Fotias) from time to time. I can see how their stuff can really put you on some nice prices. Basically a combination of pace figures and sheets.

[JohnGalt1]

I use methods in these three books.

"Total Victory at the Track" by William L. Scott. His Performance Class Ratings (PCR) are a good way to compare the class of the field. If you have difficulty with All Weather tracks, PCR ratings are valuable. I don't use the second call in creating my PCR numbers and I don't like the way he makes his pace figures, especially sprinters stretching out.

"Pace Makes the Race" by Sartin, Schmidt, Hambleton, and Pizzola. I separate the running styles with their E, EP, P, and S designations--that's why I don't use the second call for the PCR rating. I use their EPR, FFR, and TPR for pace ratings.

"Handicapping Magic" Michael Pizzola. The best advice in the book--for me--is always use the last race for the pace figure, unless you shouldn't. He lists some reasons why the last race may not be used. And for his turf pace line advice.

General handicapping books with excellent advice are, "Betting Thorougbreds", "Kinky Handicapping" and "Six Secrets"

The worthless crap books I've read ( about 15) I gave away to charity. I hope my competitors at the track found them, read them, and bet their advice.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

I haven't read this. Did you ?

Yes I have. Just wanted to compare notes with others who have. Are you interested reading it?

[MISTERGEE]

Basic premise is when to bet speed or closers based on speed point method