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Old 12-02-2022, 10:19 PM   #16
lefty359
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I would add Dick Mitchell's books
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Old 12-03-2022, 12:40 AM   #17
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I would add Dick Mitchell's books
Without a doubt.....He wrote some of the first and BEST books on the OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, Wagering
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Old 12-06-2022, 09:14 PM   #18
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Read and digest the book "Winner's File", by the late Henry Kuck. You can buy a used hardback copy in very good condition from Amazon for about $4. After that, read the book "Blinkers Off", by the late Cary Fotias. A used copy in very good condition of this book will run you about $6 on Amazon. Continue by opening a modest account at Twinspires so you can access the day's past performances for the cost of a daily minimum bet. From then on, handicap the races and place minimum-sized bets so you can pay the cheapest tuition possible for your racetrack education.

Forget about "paper-betting", by the way. Mind bets do more harm than good, IMO. When you bet on paper instead of putting out real money, you end up with the impression that you are a lot more creative and a lot more courageous than you really are. This can be very dangerous to the bankroll...and to the psyche. You can't learn how to swim without jumping into a swimming pool...and you can't learn how to bet the horses without jumping into a wagering pool.

Thus spoke thaskalos.

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Old 12-06-2022, 10:39 PM   #19
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Read and digest the book "Winner's File", by the late Henry Kuck. You can buy a used hardback copy in very good condition from Amazon for about $4. After that, read the book "Blinkers Off", by the late Cary Fotias. A used copy in very good condition of this book will run you about $6 on Amazon. Continue by opening a modest account at Twinspires so you can access the day's past performances for the cost of a daily minimum bet. From then on, handicap the races and place minimum-sized bets so you can pay the cheapest tuition possible for your racetrack education.

Forget about "paper-betting", by the way. Mind bets do more harm than good, IMO. When you bet on paper instead of putting out real money, you end up with the impression that you are a lot more creative and a lot more courageous than you really are. This can be very dangerous to the bankroll...and to the psyche. You can't learn how to swim without jumping into a swimming pool...and you can't learn how to bet the horses without jumping into a wagering pool.

Thus spoke thaskalos.
Agree on the paper betting, and solid on the books. Funny you mention Winner's File, I'm reading that one again currently. I've read it many times, but been many years since the last time.
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Old 12-06-2022, 10:45 PM   #20
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Agree on the paper betting, and solid on the books. Funny you mention Winner's File, I'm reading that one again currently. I've read it many times, but been many years since the last time.
Great minds think alike. 🙂

I don’t think I’ve seen the book Winner’s File mentioned even once on this board.
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Old 12-06-2022, 10:59 PM   #21
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Great minds think alike. 🙂

I don’t think I’ve seen the book Winner’s File mentioned even once on this board.
Was excited to add a couple of recommended books to the library! Then I saw the cover of Winner's File on Amazon, and realized it's already IN the library - albeit in storage while we're in temporarily smaller living quarters.

But I didn't have the Fotias book - so it will be an early Merry Christmas to me!
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Old 12-07-2022, 01:46 AM   #22
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Was excited to add a couple of recommended books to the library! Then I saw the cover of Winner's File on Amazon, and realized it's already IN the library - albeit in storage while we're in temporarily smaller living quarters.

But I didn't have the Fotias book - so it will be an early Merry Christmas to me!
You can get the Fotias book here for free, just have to sign up with an email and password then download the chapters in PDF:

https://www.predicteform.com/Form-Cycle-Analysis
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Old 12-07-2022, 08:33 AM   #23
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Great minds think alike. 🙂

I don’t think I’ve seen the book Winner’s File mentioned even once on this board.
Au contraire. http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/s...inner%27s+file

It is a very underrated book, imo. Excellent recommendation.
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Old 12-07-2022, 11:33 AM   #24
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Read and digest the book "Winner's File", by the late Henry Kuck. You can buy a used hardback copy in very good condition from Amazon for about $4. After that, read the book "Blinkers Off", by the late Cary Fotias. A used copy in very good condition of this book will run you about $6 on Amazon. Continue by opening a modest account at Twinspires so you can access the day's past performances for the cost of a daily minimum bet. From then on, handicap the races and place minimum-sized bets so you can pay the cheapest tuition possible for your racetrack education.

Forget about "paper-betting", by the way. Mind bets do more harm than good, IMO. When you bet on paper instead of putting out real money, you end up with the impression that you are a lot more creative and a lot more courageous than you really are. This can be very dangerous to the bankroll...and to the psyche. You can't learn how to swim without jumping into a swimming pool...and you can't learn how to bet the horses without jumping into a wagering pool.

Thus spoke thaskalos.
The "paper betting" comment is spot on IMO for the reasons stated. There may be a place for "paper betting" for a a very brief time for a complete newbie to kind of test things out and get a feel for some handicapping but the sooner you have some skin in the game the better off you will be.

There are some good books out there even though some may be dated, the books mentioned here in previous posts would be excellent.

Do not overlook this forum however. There is a wealth of interesting info in the archives and don't hesitate to do a search on a topic. You will find it interesting and informative. Harry, I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor and hope you will find it both challenging and rewarding.
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Old 12-07-2022, 12:00 PM   #25
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For me it came down to money management and playing a high percentage game. A game where you have winning days 40% of the time and profits in the 8-10% ROI range, pre-rebate days. I can assure you that was attainable. Horses I would give a 50/50 chance to at 3-2 or more is really the foundation of the money management plan that I used and it was from the Beyer/Davidowitz recommendations in their early books. Bet at 2% of bankroll. Cap the bankroll at a number that's sensible given both the pool sizes where you play and your own bet sizing comfort levels, then do profit-taking when the bankroll goes above that. I was placing my bets late in those days but it was before the late odds volatility really took hold of the game. Now you should use the DD probables matrix to assess your odds, stick with NYRA and you won't have any problems with odds. I'm of the opinion you find value in the factors that most people do not understand or really pay attention to. I don't think you'll find much value in putting together a whole bunch of level-one data better than the next guy. That's where many of the books will lead you.
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Old 12-13-2022, 05:32 AM   #26
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Au contraire. http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/s...inner%27s+file

It is a very underrated book, imo. Excellent recommendation.
I stand corrected! And it doesn't surprise me that this fine book was previously recommended by you.
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Old 12-17-2022, 10:40 AM   #27
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Please tell me what is the best 5 advice you could give a new handicapper starting out. Thanks!
1. Outwork your competition. Keep copious notes. Go back and look again a second, third and fourth time. You'll find important, relevant things you didn't first see.

2. When about to reach the teller or press submit ask yourself this question. Do I have a VERY good reason to do this? If they answer isn't hell yes. Don't do it. Betting $20, having every go perfectly and getting back $38 is NOT a very good reason.

3. When you lose which you should be doing 5 or 6 or even 7 times for every win. Look for REASONS not excuses. Why were you wrong?

4. Anytime you're in general agreement with the betting public. Walk away.

5. Be arrogant and untoutable about your opinion. Defend it with your life.

6. (bonus) This is an adjunct to #2 and #4. How many times have you heard a buddy say. I like the He then looks and sees the horse is 21-1 and says ah that's crazy nobody likes him. He passes or worse bets less. It's only the public doing that, and we already know they have no f-ing clue what's going to happen. They're wrong at least 7 out of 10 times. Not only should you not tone it down. The more out of the box your play looks. The BIGGER the bet you should make.

The game has NOTHING to do with picking winners or cashing tickets. It's about making money. Consistently making the correct bet. The results will come. When they don't. Don't panic and chase. The last race of the day is only the race before the first tomorrow or at the next track. So many people will do whatever it takes to show their pals they "had it". Those guys CANNOT WIN.

FINAL THOUGHT: Every great poker player has one thing in common. The ability to occasionally lay down the best hand. Otherwise, you become a calling station because you can't stand the feeling of being bluffed. You can't allow yourself to become that guy. At some point you have to draw a line. I don't care if you think a horse is the international cinch, mortal lock of all time. If that horse continues to drift down to a price you know you shouldn't be taking. No matter how hard it is. You MUST PASS. Not look for an alternative way to use it. Just let it go. If the race runs and he gallops by 10 lengths. Who cares? You HAD TO LET IT GO. You must have the strength to walk away. To lay down the best hand. They WON'T always win. And when they run a bad 4th and you passed there's no greater feeling. Now you're a horse player. One of the guy's others look to for an OPINION! Not a calling station. Now you're in position to take the $$$ of the guys that didn't have the same commitment and fortitude.

LET'S GO!
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Old 12-17-2022, 04:13 PM   #28
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To be honest...the best advice anyone could give to a novice starting out im the game, is to direct him to a more worthwhile game to play. With sports betting bursting upon the gambling scene...why not spend the time researching the everyday sports like baseball and basketball? With the number of baseball and basketball games played every year, and the set odds that these games offer...isn't the profit potential for the motivated gambler much higher than what can be attained in horseracing? Profit is the real reason that we play these gambling games...NO?
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Old 12-17-2022, 11:43 PM   #29
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To be honest...the best advice anyone could give to a novice starting out im the game, is to direct him to a more worthwhile game to play. With sports betting bursting upon the gambling scene...why not spend the time researching the everyday sports like baseball and basketball? With the number of baseball and basketball games played every year, and the set odds that these games offer...isn't the profit potential for the motivated gambler much higher than what can be attained in horseracing? Profit is the real reason that we play these gambling games...NO?
Although as we see from the reports both here and overseas, regular sports gambling winners repeatedly get barred or severely limited.

Horse racing is the only "sport" where you if you are able to win, no one is going to restrict you from playing at the level you want to play at.

Now, whether they should go for horse racing or let's say, poker, is another question.
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Old 12-18-2022, 01:46 AM   #30
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Although as we see from the reports both here and overseas, regular sports gambling winners repeatedly get barred or severely limited.

Horse racing is the only "sport" where you if you are able to win, no one is going to restrict you from playing at the level you want to play at.


Now, whether they should go for horse racing or let's say, poker, is another question.
I don't know how it is where you live, but in the Chicago-area where I live, you can walk into a casino or an OTB, make your sports wager...and no one will know whether you are a winner or a loser, nor can anyone limit the size of your bets. And it won't be long before this is the case nationwide. Don't believe all the nonsense that you hear. And if you think that the horses are easier to beat than baseball and basketball...then I think you should have your head examined.

And another thing. The horses and poker require that you sit your ass down and spend hours and hours in active participation in order to make a profit. It's like a second job. With sports betting...you walk up to the window, make your bets...and go on with your life.
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