"A Week At The Races With Two Pros" and Bradshaw's "The Match Up"

[clue]

Hi all,

PA gave me the OK to post a link to a couple eBay auctions I have up currently.

Both these titles have been discussed here so I thought folks might want to know...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220684021673&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220684509241&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

There's also this lot of 10 books...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220686540445&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

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[Dick Schmidt]

Damn, $225! Really?!?!?!?! I still have the original past-ups of all the books and manuals I did for Sartin and I'll be glad to run off some copies at $200 each. SUCH A BARGAIN!!!!!

Dick


Religious war: grown men fighting over who has the best invisible friend.

God huh? My imaginary friend's name is Bobo.

[clue]

ha ha...

I know one went for ~$250 a while back and I think someone here said a copy sold for $195 on a Buy It Now. So, what the heck, figured I'd split the difference. And I will consider "best offers".

Dick, do you ever miss handicapping, now that you're working the Forex market? For me, there's something about racing that the stock market does not replace.

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[Handiman]

I wonder what my book, 'A week at the Races with Two Old Farts' is worth now.

Handi:)

[Dick Schmidt]

ha ha...

I know one went for ~$250 a while back and I think someone here said a copy sold for $195 on a Buy It Now. So, what the heck, figured I'd split the difference. And I will consider "best offers".

Dick, do you ever miss handicapping, now that you're working the Forex market? For me, there's something about racing that the stock market does not replace.

-clue

Well, good on ya, hope you get it. As I recall, the book is mostly PPs with a bit of analysis from Tom and I. I guess I really should reprint some of the old stuff.

As for missing racing, no not really. I miss hanging out at Santa Anita in the infield with Tom Brohammer, Tom Hambleton and the rest of the guys. I miss getting $13 on a 3rd favorite with a full second early speed advantage. I miss the fun we had at seminars back when we were all in it together. What I don't miss are the 15 hour days, the late money crushing my horse's price, the empty stands and the indifference of track management, while paying $15 to park and watch races on TV.

Overall, I can truthfully say that I'm happier since I turned first to commodities and then Forex. The money is much better, the hours limited to 3 or 4 a day (late at night, London time. I really don't like mornings), not much record keeping and the good (but not perfect) disclosure needed to keep a four trillion dollar a day market humming along. I've even made some good friends who can talk Forex the way I used to talk racing with the Toms. And did I mention the money? Still cooking along averaging 10-15% a week overall return, making frequent withdrawals to keep my account a reasonable size so "they" won't gun for me and really happy with my new broker in Finland. Gotta love a world market.

Dick

"You know, Gradie, most people seems to think I’m paranoid; crazy. But they never met any Precambrian life forms, have they.."
-Bert Gummer (Tremors)

[PaceAdvantage]

making frequent withdrawals to keep my account a reasonable size so "they" won't gun for meBeing a bit of a trader myself (index futures), this really caught my eye...who is the "they" you are referring to...is this some sort of concern over "them" tracking your trades and figuring out what you are doing?

Sorry for the off-topic tone of this post, but my curiosity has gotten the best of me...

[Dick Schmidt]

Unlike stocks and commodities, which are ostensibly under some sort to government/private exchange control, the FOREX market is wide open. When you place a trade with a Forex broker, he is taking the other side of the trade and all your winnings come out of his pocket. Now, some of them lay off their bets with banks and other larger brokers, but in the end the consistent winner has a target on his back. The market is too large to control in the long run, but short term manipulation such as stop hunting, sudden price spikes and quick price manipulation happen every day. The trick is to learn to recognize the broker's and bank's moves and use them against them.

Actually, this isn't much different to what the Specialists on the stock exchanges or the big players on the commodities markets do. Take wheat futures for example: do you really think that you and General Mills are playing on a level field? Especially when they are perfectly willing to take delivery on a contract and you aren't? Put the potential for billions in profits on the table and people WILL find ways to manipulate the markets and grab some.

Just remember that when you are in any financial market, you are betting against a bookie and if you hurt him, he will either come after you (figuratively anyway) or stop taking your bets (I've had two Forex brokers close my accounts). It's a zero sum game and every dollar you win, someone else loses.

Be careful out there.


Dick

P.S. PA, if you are active in the Forex market, I can point you at a guy who pulls back the curtain and lets you peek into the inner workings of the market. Not cheap, but well worthwhile.

Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

[clue]

The book sold for a "Best Offer" that was in the ballpark of previous auctions. I'd say demand is holding steady. Are you out in the garage yet, Dick?

Actually, it's just the sort of book that sells for a decent price. It's an expert treatment of a very specific topic and it's scarce. Also, it's written by practitioners, as opposed to theorists, who are a dime a dozen. I've sold lesser trading books for much higher prices. I'd say my buyer got a bargain.

PA, I have a background in trading futures and stocks and I agree with Dick. I say the sole purpose of any market is to fill orders. If (stop) orders accumulate at predictable locations, the "market" wants to go there and do what it does.

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