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View Full Version : The lack of a harness racing book


jeebus1083
09-21-2007, 01:27 AM
It's been years since the late Tom Ainslie published his "Complete Guide to Harness Racing" and nobody seems to have gone out of their way to bring his work or an explanation of the sport to a new generation.

Judging by the available data online and in print, harness racing is a game that is a relative virgin to information overload compared to its thoroughbred cousin. Whereas anything you want to know about a thoroughbred is available in the DRF or on Formulator, anything you want to know about a trotter is limited and the yeoman's work is left to the handicapper.

For this simple fact, I feel that if someone were to write an accurate treatment on harness racing, it would make the game more appealing to those who are looking for edges that have been exhausted in thoroughbred racing. Since harness is widely ignored compared to the thoroughbreds, edges not available mainstream can be created by individual hard work, like the thoroughbred game was before the speed figure boom of the mid-1970s.

One major problem that harness needs to address: the availability of incremental and elapsed times in hundredths. A horse losing by one length to a 2:00 flat winner does not necessarily pace a mile in 2:00 1/5. If the winner paced in 2:00.00, the one length translation of one length equals .18 seconds would mean the loser paced in 2:00.00, thus still within the realm of 2:00 flat. Both horses might have paced 2:00 flat, but the timing of the race in fifths makes the time glaringly inaccurate. It makes it hard to really generate a precise set of feet-per-second Sartin pace ratings (which I believe to be useful in harness as they seem to be used sparingly).

If there is a modern book on the trotters out there, let me know!

Heuer
09-21-2007, 06:35 AM
Hello jeebus1083,

There are just a few good books about harness betting.
1. Professional Harness Betting - Barry Meadow
2. Bettor's Guide to Harness Racing - Steve Chaplin
3. Selecting the Standardbred - Robert A. Perosino

You have probably read these books.
If not, I can recommend them.

See you at trackside,
Heuer

cj
09-21-2007, 09:39 AM
I seem to remember Tom Ainslie also wrote a harness racing book.

Tom
09-21-2007, 10:08 AM
Bill Heller and Ron Roblin have decent books, old, but good, out there.
Roblin's book works very well at small tracks - Batavia, Buffalo, to this day.
I think he is from Buffalo - many examples in the book are from Buf and Btv.
The method doesn't use time at all.
Aaron Bernstein has a good one out there - very old, but still sound principles.

harnesslover
09-21-2007, 10:30 AM
I have yet to read a decent harness racing book. Not to say there isn't one out there.

I think the way harness racing has changed is hard to keep up with. It's gone from horses breaking 2:00 as a feat to sub 1:50 miles have become all too common.

jeebus1083
09-21-2007, 10:57 AM
I seem to remember Tom Ainslie also wrote a harness racing book.

The trouble with Ainslie's book is that the original was published in 1970, with an update published in 1980. The majority of the drivers and trainers and tracks mentioned, not to mention the equipment, rules and class restrictions have changed dramatically since then.

While I have no doubt that Ainslie's work is a strong base for understanding the basics of the game, it is completely out of touch with the modern era of harness racing. Horses of all gaits race faster than ever before, sulky technology is at an apex, raceways have made tracks safer by eliminating hubrails in favor of stryofoam pylons, the modern medication factor (as displayed with the Ledford bans in NJ and the Cobra venom case at Saratoga Harness last year), and the boom caused by alternate gaming at once comatose tracks.

Compared to thoroughbred racing and the endless amount of available data for analysis, harness racing is still in the neanderthal ages.

harnesslover
09-21-2007, 11:27 AM
Compared to thoroughbred racing and the endless amount of available data for analysis, harness racing is still in the neanderthal ages.

There is everything you need out there, you just have to look a little harder. This is a good thing, as there is a little bit of an edge left.

headhawg
09-21-2007, 11:30 AM
There is everything you need out there, you just have to look a little harder. This is a good thing, as there is a little bit of an edge left.Totally agree. Just ask the average t-bred 'capper how much the wealth of extra information has helped him/her.

jeebus1083
09-21-2007, 11:31 AM
There is everything you need out there, you just have to look a little harder. This is a good thing, as there is a little bit of an edge left.

Which makes it an inticing game for the intellectual.

Whatever happened to the Harness section of this board?

jeebus1083
09-21-2007, 11:35 AM
Totally agree. Just ask the average t-bred 'capper how much the wealth of extra information has helped him/her.

The wealth of information is a double-edged sword. It has made today's modern t-bred player more sophisticated, but at the same time, the sophistication has transformed $10 winners into $6, $6 winners in $3, etc.

Serious students of t-bred racing still have to be astute about trips and pace, but really have to think more outside the box than ever before to chase that elusive thing known as value.

melman
09-21-2007, 11:55 AM
Jeebus---It's not in book form but a series of articles by Bob Pandolfo that I think you will find are VERY interesting. Click the link "Pandycapping" on the home page of ustrotting.com. Up to date info and "Pandy" knows his harness. He had been planning a new book but I'm still waiting. :jump:

jeebus1083
09-21-2007, 12:15 PM
Jeebus---It's not in book form but a series of articles by Bob Pandolfo that I think you will find are VERY interesting. Click the link "Pandycapping" on the home page of ustrotting.com. Up to date info and "Pandy" knows his harness. He had been planning a new book but I'm still waiting. :jump:

Pandolfo is a good writer. I enjoy his articles. If you go to Saratoga Raceway's website (www.saratogaraceway.com (http://www.saratogaraceway.com)), Mike Sardella, the track's announcer/handicapper writes a weekly column on the website that is syndicated to The Troy Record and The Saratogian newspapers. He's a young man, about 27-28 years old, but he's very knowledgable about the sport.

harnesslover
09-21-2007, 12:52 PM
Which makes it an inticing game for the intellectual.

Whatever happened to the Harness section of this board?

Seems to be flooded with people that think harness racing is about as corrupt as boxing.

Often happens when people cannot figure out how to win, they have to assume it's fixed.

It's certainly not easy to profit with harness racing, but if you put the time in, you can do it on a consistent basis. One HUGE advantage, IMO, over t-breds is that horses generally race every week, so with all the replays and charts available, you can catch some opportunistic plays.

Tom
09-21-2007, 01:12 PM
You Bet also has some harness columns - the one by Mark Cramer is good.

PaceAdvantage
09-22-2007, 03:22 PM
Whatever happened to the Harness section of this board?Whatever do you mean? It's where it's always been....

PaceAdvantage
09-22-2007, 03:23 PM
Seems to be flooded with people that think harness racing is about as corrupt as boxing.Ummmm....no. As a matter of fact, until you started posting, I don't recall reading much of any posts concerning race fixing.

Signed,

Your friendly neighborhood board moderator.

harnesslover
09-22-2007, 04:56 PM
Ummmm....no. As a matter of fact, until you started posting, I don't recall reading much of any posts concerning race fixing.

Signed,

Your friendly neighborhood board moderator.

Ring a bell, guy??

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39759

PaceAdvantage
09-22-2007, 06:30 PM
What's wrong with talking about fixing every now and then? Are you claiming it hasn't impacted the game? If it has impacted the game, then it is worthy of discussion. I don't get the point of this banter.

trying2win
09-23-2007, 12:33 AM
When I play the harness races, I mainly use methods learned from reading the works of handicapping author Al Stanley. In addition, I play the odd method learned from Ron Roblin.


T2W

cj
09-23-2007, 05:09 AM
Harness racing has had WAY, WAY more scandals than t-breds. I used to follow the sport, but they lost me a few years back for a variety of reasons, cheating being one of them.

I understand the act has been cleaned up to a point. My guess is it is too late though. I'm sure there are many others like me that left and it is too late to get them back.

harnesslover
09-23-2007, 08:56 PM
What's wrong with talking about fixing every now and then? Are you claiming it hasn't impacted the game? If it has impacted the game, then it is worthy of discussion. I don't get the point of this banter.

So you say that posts about race fixing didn't pop up until I started posting, yet you then go to explain they are ok once in a while..

Thanks for the comic relief. Pick a side.

PaceAdvantage
09-23-2007, 09:52 PM
So you say that posts about race fixing didn't pop up until I started posting, yet you then go to explain they are ok once in a while..

Thanks for the comic relief. Pick a side.No side to pick. I don't quite understand your response. If you're looking for a fight, you won't find one here.

harnesslover
09-23-2007, 10:28 PM
No side to pick. I don't quite understand your response. If you're looking for a fight, you won't find one here.

your site, yo have every right to contradict yourself..

46zilzal
09-24-2007, 10:42 PM
Many of the gate crew are assistants to standard bred trainers and I am getting another entire view of their field of competition. Always foreign to me, since it is totally different to the thoroughbred, equipment and the driver are such big factors that one would have to do a "thoroughbred-ectomy" in order to rid one's mind of the principle of handicapping we are so prone to use.

Many complaints I hear, are directed at a single trainer who has been ruled off all the larger jurisdictions, but some how, is allowed to train here. The gate guys tipped me to one as being so sore she could hardly walk the other night, and sure enough, as the 4/5 rail hugging favorite, she went off stride halfway through the race to finish off the board and it really lit up with huge payoffs. If these kinds of shenanigans are tolerated, no wonder there is a lack of confidence in betting them.

Tom
09-24-2007, 11:09 PM
I don't have any lack of confidence, nor do I see very many suspicious races in harness. Far more t-bred races leave me scratching my head. I do find it much harder to get prices in harness, but melman proves that is not impossible!;) I think there are a lot less variables to look at in harness. My game inproves a lot when I got rid of the suspicious nature and just looked at the last race or so straight forward. Oh, yeah, and avoided the 2yos.

harnesslover
09-25-2007, 10:47 AM
I don't have any lack of confidence, nor do I see very many suspicious races in harness. Far more t-bred races leave me scratching my head. I do find it much harder to get prices in harness, but melman proves that is not impossible!;) I think there are a lot less variables to look at in harness. My game inproves a lot when I got rid of the suspicious nature and just looked at the last race or so straight forward. Oh, yeah, and avoided the 2yos.

Tom, what I have noticed a lot is that when people cannot figure out how to win at harness racing and continue to fail, they reach for the lowest hanging fruit, which is to cry foul. It's so much easier to say harness racing is fixed and corrupt than it is to get off your ass, do some homework and learn how to profit.

Stick
09-25-2007, 10:21 PM
100% correct.

RaceBookJoe
09-29-2007, 06:15 PM
I am currently reading on old book(1961) by Bruce Gordon. It is ok but dated. What I like is his "how will the race be run" importance. Pandy's articles are good also. I am trying to incorporate early speed with late speed for harness.....late speed I am using the last 1/2, what would anyone recommend for early...the 1/4 or the 1/2. Thanks.

Heuer
10-01-2007, 10:22 AM
Hello RaceBookJoe,

"How to Win at the Harness Races" by Bruce Gordon is the first book I ever read about horse racing.

I quote from the book:
The harness races can be handicapped around three principles:
1. 1/3 the driver
2. 1/3 post position, the individual horse, and speed.
3. 1/3 "how the race will be run."

A very good book that helped me with the basics.

I think early speed is the first quarter in harness racing.

See you at trackside,
Heuer

mrharness
10-01-2007, 02:01 PM
Of those that have played both Harness and Thoroughbreds, which is easier to show a profit? I think Harness is easier to handicapp because of usually only going 1 mile. No weights to worry about.

I have known of a few that made it in Harness, but no "big names." Barry Meadow, but I think he no longer writes about Harness?

I have heard of some that play T'breds, Harness and casinos and do well at all of them.

RaceBookJoe
10-03-2007, 12:19 AM
Thanks Heuer. I am also reading Stanley's Law. I am trying to tie a few things together. I am mainly a thoroughbred player, but sometimes at night I like to look at the harness.

DeanT
10-03-2007, 11:12 AM
Hey Joe,

That is funny to me. I actually got back to tbreds because I was playing harness at night and the Mountain was running against it.

Books are far and few in harness, as stated here. For a true blue Tbred player I think the toughest thing to transition is that final time means so little in harness, and in a world of speed figures it is hard for a tbred player to come to terms with that. On a half mile track, a horse with the rail can win in 155 at 7-5. The next week, in the same class, he will be 15-1 from the 8 post, and that might even be an underlay if he is going straight to the back. He might be lucky to break 157 coming from behind, eventho he is a 155 horse. It truly is a "how the race will be run today" sport, and if you have a good grip on trainer intent and pace with regard to how the race will be run, it is a good starting point, imo. In a 6f sprint the horses who are 1,2,3 at the first call, might all be off the board quite easily. In a one mile dash at Buffalo Raceway, the horses who are 1,2,3 at the quarter might finish that way 6 times out of 10.

If I can make an unsolicited suggestion I would concentrate on the Meadowlands if I were a tbred player and I was getting into the game. There (well last year the fields were short and annoying, but generally) we tend to see "the best horse win", post positions do not matter as much, and you can get some good prices from horses who are overlooked by the public, like tbreds. The half mile tracks are shorter prices generally, because most can see how the race will be run, and what horse will control the pace. The M it is not quite that simple and that lends itself to being more handicappable, imo.

A couple of tbred angles that work well in harness racing, imo, for a new player who is used to the runners are imo:

1. Lone speed. A horse who can get out and control, who is capable can win easily. Bomb prices can and do happen in harness with this angle.
2. Pace moves. A horse who pulls and commits himself in a big middle half, that hangs around at the end, is a fit good horse. He mighta got beaten by 8, but he is in fine form and might be overlooked next time. Conversely, one who gets things all his own way will tend to be overbet, because he looks better than he is. I have not bet a horse who controlled a race and won easy back the next week at the Meadowlands for about ten years. It is a total money burner, just like it tends to be in tbreds.

RaceBookJoe
10-03-2007, 01:26 PM
Hey Joe,

That is funny to me. I actually got back to tbreds because I was playing harness at night and the Mountain was running against it.

Books are far and few in harness, as stated here. For a true blue Tbred player I think the toughest thing to transition is that final time means so little in harness, and in a world of speed figures it is hard for a tbred player to come to terms with that. On a half mile track, a horse with the rail can win in 155 at 7-5. The next week, in the same class, he will be 15-1 from the 8 post, and that might even be an underlay if he is going straight to the back. He might be lucky to break 157 coming from behind, eventho he is a 155 horse. It truly is a "how the race will be run today" sport, and if you have a good grip on trainer intent and pace with regard to how the race will be run, it is a good starting point, imo. In a 6f sprint the horses who are 1,2,3 at the first call, might all be off the board quite easily. In a one mile dash at Buffalo Raceway, the horses who are 1,2,3 at the quarter might finish that way 6 times out of 10.

If I can make an unsolicited suggestion I would concentrate on the Meadowlands if I were a tbred player and I was getting into the game. There (well last year the fields were short and annoying, but generally) we tend to see "the best horse win", post positions do not matter as much, and you can get some good prices from horses who are overlooked by the public, like tbreds. The half mile tracks are shorter prices generally, because most can see how the race will be run, and what horse will control the pace. The M it is not quite that simple and that lends itself to being more handicappable, imo.

A couple of tbred angles that work well in harness racing, imo, for a new player who is used to the runners are imo:

1. Lone speed. A horse who can get out and control, who is capable can win easily. Bomb prices can and do happen in harness with this angle.
2. Pace moves. A horse who pulls and commits himself in a big middle half, that hangs around at the end, is a fit good horse. He mighta got beaten by 8, but he is in fine form and might be overlooked next time. Conversely, one who gets things all his own way will tend to be overbet, because he looks better than he is. I have not bet a horse who controlled a race and won easy back the next week at the Meadowlands for about ten years. It is a total money burner, just like it tends to be in tbreds.

Dean, thanks for your input. I have dabbled with the harness races for a long time, but never really serious or really putting in the effort to handicap them. I basically use your angles above, lone speed, pace moves. I am in the process of just getting better at it. I am using Tbred knowledge but trying to adapt it to the harness races. I grew up going to Saratoga harness races and tbreds of course, but since moving to vegas I have been watching Northfield, but will add the Big M also. I am doing ok at Northfied but like you said, I get many short prices. I try to limit my betting on the lower price horse.
I am the opposite of you, i was doing Mnr on monday nights and just strted watching Nfl which was running at the same time. I usually play the Tbreds(depends on the day and the time of day it is) but every now and then early evenings I will run over to the casino and see whats running and i find the harness races a nice change. It is nice that you only have to deal with 1 distance and usually only 8 horses. talk soon