 |
|
08-31-2018, 05:59 PM
|
#1
|
|
Mad as hell !
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Bridgeport, CT
Posts: 1,136
|
Useless handicapping books...
The Power of Early speed thread got me to start thinking. We are always recommending handicapping books here. How about a thread about books to keep away from. I nominate The Power of Early Speed, Pedigree Handicapping by Lauren Stitch, of course anything that RPM advertises and any of those 73 page handicapping "books" on Amazon.
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 06:02 PM
|
#2
|
|
Buckle Up
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,614
|
This is trouble for me, because if I told the truth I would be permanently banned from PA, thus I cannot participate... 
|
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 07:53 PM
|
#3
|
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Fergus,ON
Posts: 3,709
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nutz and Boltz
The Power of Early speed thread got me to start thinking. We are always recommending handicapping books here. How about a thread about books to keep away from. I nominate The Power of Early Speed, Pedigree Handicapping by Lauren Stitch, of course anything that RPM advertises and any of those 73 page handicapping "books" on Amazon.
|
Shoot! So I wasted my money on the power of early speed? I haven’t tried it but hopefully it could work. And your welcome about starting this
__________________
Handicapping the world year round'  
-Conley
|
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 08:30 PM
|
#4
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,545
|
I wouldn't go as far as to call these handicapping books "useless"; I'd call them "unnecessary". The best thing for the relative beginner, IMO, is to study an introductory book or two...and then open a modest online betting account whereby he can access the daily past performances for the cost of a $2 wager. Then he can conduct his own research into the game at his own pace, while keeping his "tuition costs" as low as possible...without being misled by the confusing and often contradictory opinions of others.
As far as I am concerned...any books that aren't titled Betting Thoroughbreds for the 21st Century, The Winning Horseplayer, and Blinkers Off...could safely be deemed "unnecessary".
__________________
Live to play another day.
Last edited by thaskalos; 08-31-2018 at 08:40 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 09:34 PM
|
#5
|
|
PA Steward
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Del Boca Vista
Posts: 88,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReplayRandall
This is trouble for me, because if I told the truth I would be permanently banned from PA, thus I cannot participate... |
If you try and convince us you're the kind of exaggeration, we won't believe your other threads either.
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 09:39 PM
|
#6
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,545
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage
If you try and convince us you're the kind of exaggeration, we won't believe your other threads either.
|
Are you implying that we should believe him in his other threads NOW?
__________________
Live to play another day.
|
|
|
|
|
08-31-2018, 09:48 PM
|
#7
|
|
Buckle Up
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,614
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage
If you try and convince us you're the kind of exaggeration, we won't believe your other threads either.
|
C'mon Mike, you're just a little upset with me for taking an off-topic video rant, and using it in a horse racing thread.....My bad, used too much firepower against another liberal idiot in the wrong place this time.
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2018, 04:59 AM
|
#8
|
|
Authorized Advertiser
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Oakland, Ca
Posts: 7,953
|
I base my opinions of books, methods, etc on whether I learned anything from it. I definitely learned from POWER OF EARLY SPEED.
One book I was disappointed in was
"Off the Charts: Turning Result Charts into Profitable Selections at the Track" by Nick Borg
I had high hopes when I ordered it...didn't learn a thing from it.
I ordered a "grab-bag" of assorted books on e-bay. You couldn't pick n choose...that's why it was called a "grab-bag". The price was very low, even with shipping so I went ahead and ordered one. I received a box with maybe half-dozen books on horse racing.
Don't know if anyone has read, or even heard of "Scientific Handicapping" by two college professors --one Poly Sci, the other Professor of English, who happened to also be horse players. They discussed their findings & testing by going through old stacks of Racing Forms.
That struck me as odd--two college professors using old 'forms for data...like we all did before computers. I finally looked at the year the book was printed: 1963.
It could be valuable to a collector, but a previous owner (or two) underlined sentences on almost every page.
Another book about betting systems (martingale, etc) ...hand written on the opening blank page it said " To Dad: Happy Father's Day 1968--love Nancy"
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2018, 10:06 AM
|
#9
|
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 16,908
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCalGreg
Don't know if anyone has read, or even heard of "Scientific Handicapping" by two college professors --one Poly Sci, the other Professor of English, who happened to also be horse players. They discussed their findings & testing by going through old stacks of Racing Forms.
That struck me as odd--two college professors using old 'forms for data...like we all did before computers. I finally looked at the year the book was printed: 1963.
It could be valuable to a collector, but a previous owner (or two) underlined sentences on almost every page.
|
That is a book you should read.
There are several core principles in that book which have real relevance even today.
I actually did a show about it several years ago.
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2018, 11:43 AM
|
#10
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Western NY
Posts: 5,336
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCalGreg
Don't know if anyone has read, or even heard of "Scientific Handicapping" by two college professors --one Poly Sci, the other Professor of English, who happened to also be horse players. They discussed their findings & testing by going through old stacks of Racing Forms.
That struck me as odd--two college professors using old 'forms for data...like we all did before computers. I finally looked at the year the book was printed: 1963.
It could be valuable to a collector, but a previous owner (or two) underlined sentences on almost every page.
|
I have that book too and just looked at it and it's in great shape except, there is a lot of underlining it my copy too! I'll have to go back and re-read it now.
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2018, 06:47 PM
|
#11
|
|
The Voice of Reason!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canandaigua, New york
Posts: 112,787
|
I like Extreme Pace Handicapping for a close look at race shapes and running styles.
But, I can find a use for any handicapping books.
__________________
Who does the Racing Form Detective like in this one?
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2018, 07:35 PM
|
#12
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 15,118
|
Had a book called Handicapping For Dummies, but I could not understand it.
|
|
|
|
|
09-05-2018, 10:07 PM
|
#13
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Norfolk VA
Posts: 6,246
|
Just for me personally, I got nothing out of Handicapping Magic
|
|
|
|
|
09-06-2018, 07:49 AM
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,176
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz
|
Dave, that was an excellent presentation on decision making on final times/speed figures to use in sprints in that video.
__________________
One of the downsides of the Internet is that it allows like-minded people to form communities, and sometimes those communities are stupid.
|
|
|
|
|
09-08-2018, 01:23 AM
|
#15
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posts: 1,622
|
IMO anything by Bill Heller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Rate This Thread |
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
@
