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09-04-2012, 02:14 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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The Art and Science of Picking Winning Horses
This book ought to stir the pot in this forum -- The Art and Science of Picking Winning Horses by James Hillis. It's probably a rewrite of an old Gamblers Book Club book. Why it should stir the pot here is because it is a Form Handicapper's method with a point of view from the old school of handicapping. No adding second call to final time and calling it Pace that makes the race stuff. It's hardcore Form handicapping. And in today's handicapping literature, it is quite refreshing. It will make real handicappers out of you computer types. (My weakness also. So I'll re-read later.)
The book can be read at many levels from beginner to advance. The advance reader will have to read between the lines and correlate their experience and knowledge to what is being said. The author stays focused and gives simple but sage advise.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-04-2012, 05:04 PM
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#2
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PA Steward
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Del Boca Vista
Posts: 88,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capper Al
It will make real handicappers out of you computer types.
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Although I will not allow this thread to devolve into a discussion on this (there are plenty of others that exist), it's this sentiment that I was talking about the other day...kind of offensive actually...for as much as one can be offended by something related to handicapping...
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09-04-2012, 06:11 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,581
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capper Al
This book ought to stir the pot in this forum -- The Art and Science of Picking Winning Horses by James Hillis. It's probably a rewrite of an old Gamblers Book Club book. Why it should stir the pot here is because it is a Form Handicapper's method with a point of view from the old school of handicapping. No adding second call to final time and calling it Pace that makes the race stuff. It's hardcore Form handicapping. And in today's handicapping literature, it is quite refreshing. It will make real handicappers out of you computer types. (My weakness also. So I'll re-read later.)
The book can be read at many levels from beginner to advance. The advance reader will have to read between the lines and correlate their experience and knowledge to what is being said. The author stays focused and gives simple but sage advise.
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I don't know what you mean by "today's literature"...because I haven't seen anything new printed in this game -- which could be called "worthwhile" -- since 2004, when Brad Free's HANDICAPPING 101 was published.
"Hardcore form handicapping"...you say.
I wonder if that's anything like Tom Hambleton's book FORM POINTS...from some years back. That too was a rather exhaustive treatise on the complexities of "form"...
I paid $49.95 for it years ago, as I recall...and I have been regretting it ever since.
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09-04-2012, 07:30 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage
Although I will not allow this thread to devolve into a discussion on this (there are plenty of others that exist), it's this sentiment that I was talking about the other day...kind of offensive actually...for as much as one can be offended by something related to handicapping...
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Did you miss that I said that I was a computer type also? The book is out dated. The reader must re-interpet 10 days to 21 days rest for claimers, etc. But the book does work the form. I am not saying this is a great book. What I am saying is that it deals with an understanding of the game lost in the modern era.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-04-2012, 07:33 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thaskalos
I don't know what you mean by "today's literature"...because I haven't seen anything new printed in this game -- which could be called "worthwhile" -- since 2004, when Brad Free's HANDICAPPING 101 was published.
"Hardcore form handicapping"...you say.
I wonder if that's anything like Tom Hambleton's book FORM POINTS...from some years back. That too was a rather exhaustive treatise on the complexities of "form"...
I paid $49.95 for it years ago, as I recall...and I have been regretting it ever since.
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Extreme Pace by Randy Giles was a breathe of fresh air also. This book in no way compares to something like Hambleton's work. It just brings us back to an era when form was most everything in handicapping.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-04-2012, 07:49 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capper Al
Extreme Pace by Randy Giles was a breathe of fresh air also. This book in no way compares to something like Hambleton's work. It just brings us back to an era when form was most everything in handicapping.
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Greg Wry wrote a book somewhere around 2006ish, not bad especially for beginners. He goes through his process of analysis/breaking down a race..class,speed,pace. Very easy reading, may not be help to more advanced players, but for someone new, it was a decent read.
Book is called " How to turn any racetrack into your own money machine "
__________________
Those with the best knowledge have the best luck !!!
Last edited by RaceBookJoe; 09-04-2012 at 07:52 PM.
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09-04-2012, 08:00 PM
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#7
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 719
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days of rest in not example of an understanding of the game lost in the modern era. factors that contribute to a strong understanding of the game transcend time.
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09-04-2012, 08:25 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Here's why the book works for me. One needs to get a feel for horse racing outside of the numbers. Many times our software leaves us floundering between two or three top numeric picks. Then the capper must use their understanding of the game to fish themselves out and make a final selection. This book, while aimed at beginners, does cover the essential methods for comparing horses on the form. It reminds me of the dot method, if you remember that one.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-04-2012, 08:35 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 16,930
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Quote:
days of rest in not example of an understanding of the game lost in the modern era. factors that contribute to a strong understanding of the game transcend time.
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...Except for the fact that horses coming off a layoff now outperform horses coming back in 14 days or less.
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09-04-2012, 08:38 PM
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#10
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 719
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz
...Except for the fact that horses coming off a layoff now outperform horses coming back in 14 days or less.
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i'm sure that this is THE key factor.
i'm still trying to get over the link between 'understanding the game' and the dot method.
Last edited by Itamaraca; 09-04-2012 at 08:40 PM.
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09-04-2012, 10:30 PM
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#11
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The Voice of Reason!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canandaigua, New york
Posts: 112,988
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The game went downhill after the Alphabet System died.
All you needed to win was copy of the NY Post.
__________________
Who does the Racing Form Detective like in this one?
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09-05-2012, 06:14 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom
The game went downhill after the Alphabet System died.
All you needed to win was copy of the NY Post.
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You know the game did seem a lot more fun back then when it was the most attended sport.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-05-2012, 06:18 AM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz
...Except for the fact that horses coming off a layoff now outperform horses coming back in 14 days or less.
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You're right Dave. There is a lot of translating to do with this book to bring it up to date. Matter of fact, I don't recommend the book. It fit the bill for me because I am in need for what to do with the final 2 or 3 contenders in my selection process.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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09-05-2012, 07:39 AM
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#14
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The Voice of Reason!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canandaigua, New york
Posts: 112,988
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Bet the two at the highest odds.
__________________
Who does the Racing Form Detective like in this one?
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09-05-2012, 06:40 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 6,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom
Bet the two at the highest odds.
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That's the rule of thumb, and it has seemed to work. I'm just wondering if I can understand these final few a little better.
__________________
"The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France
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