What are you reading now?

[Gold Bay]

I have a habit of reading Horse Racing books when I go to bed.Im finishing Litfins expert handicaping ( third read). I think ill read Three Strides Before the Wire next . I enjoyed it the first time.Anybody else?

[kenwoodallpromos]

"A breed Apart". 2nd time through!

[Tom]

Tomcat's book on wagering.

[Whirlaway]

Among non-handicapping books: Stud, by Kevin Conley; The Race for the Triple Crown, by Joe Drape; Horse of a Different Color, by Jim Squires; and Secretariat, by William Nack - all well worth reading.

[JustRalph]

By Ron Jeremy...........

[Kappa]

Just got a copy of Tomcat's book on wagering and the updated Modern Pace Handicapping.

Herman

[Richard]

The updated version of THE BEST OF THOROUGHBRED HANDICAPPING.Just finished the chapter on Steve Fierro's linemaking methods.

[Pace Cap'n]

Currently about 2/3rds through Scott's "How Will Your Horse Run Today?". Slow going, not too exciting.

In the first part of the book the author talks at length about the power of the 5-furlong workout. The time doesn't matter, just that there was a recent workout at that distance or longer.

Coincidence or not, I don't know, but if I had been betting the 5-f
work horses yesterday, I could probably have hired someone to read the rest of it to me.

[kenwoodallpromos]

Trellis Parker's "horses talk- it Pays to Listen. Great looks handicapping info!

[Thomason]

Winner's File, The Logic Behind Successful Handicapping by Henry Kuck. (Always wondered how to pronouce his last name.)

[kingfin66]

Originally posted by JustRalph
By Ron Jeremy...........

That sounds like an interesting read. He must have some very interesting stories. It's a miracle he hasn't died from AIDS.

[kingfin66]

Unfortunately, in a holding pattern with horse books, but...

Lessons From the Dojo Floor (wilder)
Play Poker Like the Pros (hellmuth)
Killer Poker Online

[David McKenzie]

Here's an interesting idea:

"You've come to a friendly place, and we welcome you to our book-lovers' community. What is BookCrossing, you ask? It's a global book club that crosses time and space. It's a reading group that knows no geographical boundaries...So go grab a book or two from your shelves now (they're not doing anyone any good there, are they?), register them here, jot down our URL and the BCID we'll give you inside the covers, and then give them away or leave them where someone will find them. "

http://bookcrossing.com/home

[Thomason]

What is the actual name of "Tomcat's book on wagering" to which several of you have referred?

[Zaf]

THE BEST OF THOROUGHBRED HANDICAPPING

Both old and new versions. I acquired both recently.

ZAFONIC

[Zaf]

Can anyone comment on Cramer's Kinky Handicapping / Kinkier Handicapping.

Thanks

ZAFONIC

[David McKenzie]

Originally posted by zafonic
Can anyone comment on Cramer's Kinky Handicapping / Kinkier Handicapping.

I enjoyed reading Kinky Handicapping years ago. Unfortunately, following some of his ideas wound up costing me real money, but that may have been my fault, not his.

In any event it's an enjoyable read.

His book on thoroughbred form cycles is much better in terms of practical applications.

[GameTheory]

Originally posted by Thomason
What is the actual name of "Tomcat's book on wagering" to which several of you have referred?

Exotic Wagering Formulas by Tom Walters, also known as Tomcat (I believe he posts here as "tcat"). They've got it at Gamblers Book...

[Niko]

Just started reading Handicapping Magic again a couple days ago. I still think that book has helped me more than any other overall.

[jotb]

Hello all:

I'm reading too much material. I think it's time to throw everything out. I'm in the middle of reading Barry Meadow's "Money Secret's at the Racetrack" which is a decent book but Barry has me quite confused with some of his material. I had to put the book down for awhile and listen to Dick Mitchell's "12 Steps to Handicapping Mastery" audio tapes but got turned off when he spoke highly about this guy Ron Ambrose and his theory on workouts. Supposely Ambrose takes a specific horse and adds the amount of furlongs and then divides by the number of days and if a maiden works 1 furlong per day on average the horse is a contender but sometime Ambros need to cheat by adding 3 or 4 furlongs to some horses because by adding the respective numbers of furlongs to the totals he included 80% of all maiden winners. That has the be most absurd thought I've ever heard in horse racing techniques!! If you want a decent book to read about horses try chcking out "The World According To Horses" by Stephen Budiansky.. This book is about how horses run, see, and think.

Joe

[GameTheory]

Originally posted by jotb
Supposely Ambrose takes a specific horse and adds the amount of furlongs and then divides by the number of days and if a maiden works 1 furlong per day on average the horse is a contender but sometime Ambros need to cheat by adding 3 or 4 furlongs to some horses because by adding the respective numbers of furlongs to the totals he included 80% of all maiden winners. That has the be most absurd thought I've ever heard in horse racing techniques!!

It is absurd to look at average furlongs worked per day or to cheat a little? The former is certainly useful, and the latter may just make the 1 furlong/day cutoff threshold work a little better, rather than using something like .80 furlongs per day...

[Bubbles]

The Race for the Triple Crown, by Joe Drape, is one I'm halfway through. The plot's a bit jumpy, but it's a very good read about a variety of horses and horse-people that have surfaced in recent years (Cash Run, More Than Ready, Todd Pletcher, etc.).

[kenwoodallpromos]

World According to Horses is a good read!

[brdman12]

Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley. Not a "how to" book. Just a good work of fiction about horseracing where anything can and does happen.

[superfecta]

I recommend "Amarillo Slim in a World of Fat People" or "Bringing Down The House".the first book is about the famous poker player,the second is about a MIT blackjack team that supposedly made millions at the casinos.Both entertaining reads but don't take em too serious.

[Thomason]

Because several of you have spoken highly of the book, I decided to buy it.

[delayjf]

I've been reviewing the above book for the past week. Good articles on using pace / speed figures.

While I think his turf pace figures are OK, I think there are better ways to rate turf performance (Sartin Sustained Pace). A quck study of his use of his figures shows that they are at there best when comparing apples to apples (turf races of the same distance). But, in his defense he does warn against attempting to compare 1 mile turf routes with 1 1/8 turf routes.

I tend to agree with his thoery that the longer a horse is able to maintain his late speed the better. (ie 3 furlongs at 36.00 seconds is better than 2 furlongs at 24.00). but I'm not sure he is implimenting it properly.

[Thomason]

GameTheory and others,

I bought Tom Walters' book on exotics wagers. Great book and a fun read. Finished it last night. I appreciate you guys mentioning it on this thread.

Thomason

[Thomason]

I had another good day today and in large measure it's due to Tomcat's book. I've only had it about three weeks and it has paid for itself several times over. It's all good but the exacta and Pick 3 chapters are exceptional.

Betting has been the weak link in my play and this book has really helped.

Michael Thomason

[Tom]

Thomason,
Glad your doing well with Tomcat's book. He is a selfless, giving person who is a genuine pleasure to know. And when it comes to picking winners. he knows of what he speaks.

[trying2win]

I'm reading a free, online e-book that I downloaded awhile ago. It's entitled "Betting on Yourself" by Dr. Robert Anthony. I read the same book in the paperback edition quite a few years ago.

The author as you know or may not know, also likes betting on the thoroughbred races. In that regard, some of his advice in this psychology book might come in handy when playing the ponies.

T2W

[Gold Bay]

Just finished the DWayne Lukas bio. Id give it 2 stars.It was rather dry almost documentry in style.I enjoyed reading about D Wayne in 3 Strides Before the Wire much more.