Book Reviews?

MISTERGEE · #1 10-07-2009, 02:20 PM

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.

GenuineRisk · #2 10-07-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

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 think "How to Win" in the title of any book about handicapping is an indication it's not good. I would feel much better about a book entitled "How to Lose Less Than You Might Otherwise."

I liked "Exotic Betting." I'm sure it's basic for most of the seasoned handicappers here, but for a novice like me it was great at explaining how exotic bets are structured. And I liked the anecdotes.

richard burch · #3 10-07-2009, 07:27 PM

i have read three racing books over the past year. (non about handicapping)

the perfect ride by gary stevens 3 stars
(just a good all around horse racing book)

against the odds by jerry baily 2 stars
(this book is 50% racing and 50% why you shouldn't be an alcoholic)

ruffian. 2 stars.
(the writing is a little too descriptive for my liking but i got through it because this is one of my all time favorite horses.)

reading beyer on speed now.

hockey2315 · #4 10-07-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

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.

Mostly.

MaTH716 · #5 10-07-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard burch

i have read three racing books over the past year. (non about handicapping)

the perfect ride by gary stevens 3 stars
(just a good all around horse racing book)

against the odds by jerry baily 2 stars
(this book is 50% racing and 50% why you shouldn't be an alcoholic)

ruffian. 2 stars.
(the writing is a little too descriptive for my liking but i got through it because this is one of my all time favorite horses.)

reading beyer on speed now.

I am actually in the middle of Ruffian right now and think it's one of the best books I have ever read. The writing really makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all. I'm really enjoying it.

richard burch · #6 10-07-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I am actually in the middle of Ruffian right now and think it's one of the best books I have ever read. The writing really makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all. I'm really enjoying it.

...most likely because of my own comprehension level.

Thunder Gulch · #7 10-08-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I am actually in the middle of Ruffian right now and think it's one of the best books I have ever read. The writing really makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all. I'm really enjoying it.

There are two Ruffian books. One by Jane Schwartz "Ruffian, Burning from the Start" that is a fantastic book I'd give 4+ stars. The folks who wanted to do a movie about her were unable to reach a deal, so William Nack was hired to write a Ruffian book that I didn't read. Nack wrote the definitive Secretariat bio (fantastic), but I heard the Ruffian book wasn't nearly as good.

pgiaco · #8 10-08-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

There are two Ruffian books. One by Jane Schwartz "Ruffian, Burning from the Start" that is a fantastic book I'd give 4+ stars. The folks who wanted to do a movie about her were unable to reach a deal, so William Nack was hired to write a Ruffian book that I didn't read. Nack wrote the definitive Secretariat bio (fantastic), but I heard the Ruffian book wasn't nearly as good.

The Secretariat book is fabulous. Get it in the hard cover version if possible.

Thunder Gulch · #9 10-08-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

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 · #10 10-08-2009, 11:44 AM

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 · #11 10-08-2009, 11:51 AM

"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.

MaTH716 · #12 10-08-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

There are two Ruffian books. One by Jane Schwartz "Ruffian, Burning from the Start" that is a fantastic book I'd give 4+ stars. The folks who wanted to do a movie about her were unable to reach a deal, so William Nack was hired to write a Ruffian book that I didn't read. Nack wrote the definitive Secretariat bio (fantastic), but I heard the Ruffian book wasn't nearly as good.

I'm reading the Jane Schwartz version. Which like I said, I am enjoying very much. I'm glad I didn't know about the Nack version because I would have probably opted for that one, since the Secretariat book he wrote was so good.

I recently read Not by A Longshot by T.D. Thorton, which I think is a must read. It was very good and had me laughing at times. Also I read Stud, I forgot who wrote it. But I though it was mediocre at best. At times it was tough to follow.

Thunder Gulch · #13 10-08-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

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.

Thunder Gulch · #14 10-08-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

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.

Travis Stone · #15 10-08-2009, 01:23 PM

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.

MISTERGEE · #16 10-08-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

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 · #17 10-08-2009, 02:12 PM

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

MISTERGEE · #18 10-08-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

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 · #19 10-08-2009, 02:33 PM

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

Thunder Gulch · #20 10-08-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

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.