Recent good handicapping books

[highnote]

10 to 25 years ago there was a mini revolution in handicapping books -- Quinn, Quirin, Ziemba, Beyer, Fotias, Meadow, Cramer, Sartin, Brohammer, Bradshaw, Mordin, Carroll, Litfin, et al.

I can only think of one good book on racing in the past 5 years -- CX Wong's "Precision" book.

What are the other good books that have been published in the last five years on racing?

[thaskalos]

The readers have gotten wise...

[Overlay]

Originally Posted by highnote

10 to 25 years ago there was a mini revolution in handicapping books -- Quinn, Quirin, Ziemba, Beyer, Fotias, Meadow, Cramer, Sartin, Brohammer, Bradshaw, Mordin, Carroll, Litfin, et al.

I can only think of one good book on racing in the past 5 years -- CX Wong's "Precision" book.

What are the other good books that have been published in the last five years on racing?

Dave Schwartz's Percentages and Probabilities 2012 comes to mind. Is that type of statistical study within the scope of your question, or do you mean texts with more narrative? And when you say "published", are you referring only to mass-market titles that would be available in a bookstore?

[banacek]

Handicapping the Wall Street Way?

Actually, I can't think of a good book in the last 5-8 years (leaving out statistical studies like Dave's book). But hope springs eternal...Thaskalos book is in the works!

[ReplayRandall]

Originally Posted by highnote

10 to 25 years ago there was a mini revolution in handicapping books -- Quinn, Quirin, Ziemba, Beyer, Fotias, Meadow, Cramer, Sartin, Brohammer, Bradshaw, Mordin, Carroll, Litfin, et al.

I can only think of one good book on racing in the past 5 years -- CX Wong's "Precision" book.

What are the other good books that have been published in the last five years on racing?

When I went to Vegas last April, the wife always lets me visit my favorite place, the Gambler's Book Club on S. Eastern. However, when we got there, they had moved in with the Gambler's General Store, to S. Main between Charleston & Fremont. The manager, Peter Ruchman is the most knowledgeable and resourceful guy you'll ever meet. Peter, and Howard Schwartz, if he's around, are from the same old school philosophy as the original owner John Luckman, who passed in '87. Great place to visit! Here is the latest on the Horse Racing front:

http://gamblersbookclub.com/Horse-Do.../#.VG1E6s8o45s

[highnote]

Originally Posted by Overlay

Dave Schwartz's Percentages and Probabilities 2012 comes to mind. Is that type of statistical study within the scope of your question, or do you mean texts with more narrative? And when you say "published", are you referring only to mass-market titles that would be available in a bookstore?

No qualifications -- any book that is for sale.

[highnote]

Thanks for the link. Looks like some interesting books there!

Originally Posted by ReplayRandall

http://gamblersbookclub.com/Horse-Do.../#.VG1E6s8o45s

[DRIVEWAY]

If you handicap with software, the challenge is to evaluate the reason for eliminating a horse from consideration.

Track these elimination reasons for a week and see if a pattern or two develops. As your handicapping ability improves and your win percentage evolves, your are also agreeing more and more with the general public.

That means you are eliminating horses for similar reasons. Identify weakness and flaws in these reasons and you will uncover hidden opportunities.

When you read a lot of handicapping books look to identify similarities in the elimination process. The elimination rules will define reason types that can be tracked.

It's not always easy to separate yourself from the competition. Handicapping for mediocrity while tracking elimination reasons maybe that path.

[banacek]

It is unfortunate because the game has changed quite a bit from 20-30 years ago..time for some updating. I guess there isn't much incentive anymore, because they realize they not going to sell the number of copies like Picking Winners did (as an example).

[Robert Goren]

The Randy Giles book is a little over the 5 year limit. It is very good. You should read it if you haven't already. Pandy has put out a couple of books that I haven't read, but have gotten high praise here.
C X Wong's book is a How to stats text book for using "R" with horse race data. There is no new ideas about handicapping in it. Not even any old ideas in it.

[DeltaLover]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

There is no new ideas about handicapping in it. Not even any old ideas in it.

How do you define handicapping ?

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by DeltaLover

How do you define handicapping ?

Picking a winning ticket or trying to so. A book on data processing is not book on handicapping. While C X Wong's book might have shown a new method of Data Processing to some bettors, the method(s) used in the book is hardly new and has been used in other fields for quite some time.

[DeltaLover]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Picking a winning ticket or trying to so. A book on data processing is not book on handicapping. While C X Wong's book might have shown a new method of Data Processing to some bettors, the method(s) used in the book is hardly new and has been used in other fields for quite some time.

Not sure I like your definition of : Picking a winning ticket

I would say something like this:

Handicapping is the process of identifying patterns with predictable performance

For example having a three year old running against older in the beginning of the year, is pattern with handicapping value, since we can prove that this type of matches are in disadvantage as far as their winning share is going.

Another example, can be found on a horse dropping from Maiden special Weights to Maiden Claimers, and angle that clearly favours its winning chances...

If we agree in this definition, I do not really think there is anything new when it comes to handicapping. Of course, the angles might change as time goes by, but the concept remains exactly the same...

[RaceBookJoe]

About 10yrs ago, Greg Wry wrote a book, "How to Turn Any Track Into Your Own Money Machine " , that I felt might be a decent read for someone brand new to horseracing. Its basically how he goes through his handicapping process. Its not technical like Brohamer etc, but it gives an outline to a basic start-to-finish handicapping process. From there, the newbie can go into learning pace,trips etc. Most readers here most likely wouldn't find it helpful though.

[Gapfire]

My father's book "Logical Longshots" is a great book. As is our site, no one does better for the price bar none! Sorry to resort to bragging, but our service gives out better info than anyone.