mark cramer

[BIG HIT]

Have not seen any discushion about his book's here form cycles or tropical down.Has anybody read them did they have any worh while insight.Just think he sound good in the cx reports i have read any anybody want give there thought welcome

[Pensacola Pete]

Originally Posted by BIG HIT

Have not seen any discushion about his book's here form cycles or tropical down.Has anybody read them did they have any worh while insight.Just think he sound good in the cx reports i have read any anybody want give there thought welcome

All of his books will give you something to think about. If you get one good idea out of a book, it's worth its money.

[BIG HIT]

pensacola pete have a happy xmas and happy new year

[infrontby1]

Originally Posted by BIG HIT

Have not seen any discushion about his book's here form cycles or tropical down.Has anybody read them did they have any worh while insight.Just think he sound good in the cx reports i have read any anybody want give there thought welcome

If you can get your hands on a copy of Thoroughbred Cycles, then do so. One of the best writings on an obscure area of handicapping when written circa 1990.

Very intense reading.

[thaskalos]

Mark Cramer is the only handicapping author that I would classify as a true "contrarian".

[BlueShoe]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Mark Cramer is the only handicapping author that I would classify as a true "contrarian".

Some good thoughts in his "Kinky Handicapping." While it was done 20 years ago, still worthwhile. His views on lack of betting action on obvious favorites is still relevant today Imo.

[MJC922]

Everyone is worth a read, I agree 100% with those who say even if you get a little something out of an entire book it's well worth it in the long run. With that said, I had an extensive handicapping library 15 or so years back and owned three or four of Cramer's books -- I never got much out of them. I mean no disrespect to him, I don't doubt he's a solid handicapper and the books were well written. If I were in a losing streak though one of the things I liked to do was to take a week or two off from racing, rest and recalibrate my thinking by going back to some of the books.

Typically that would be Beyer, Quirin or Ainslie.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by BlueShoe

Some good thoughts in his "Kinky Handicapping." While it was done 20 years ago, still worthwhile. His views on lack of betting action on obvious favorites is still relevant today Imo.

There is an excerpt from that book on his web site.

Cramer now lives in Europe, and has written a new book about traveling to various race tracks by bicycle. It includes a lot of his latest thoughts on handicapping. Excerpt from Handicapping on the Road.

The new book details a new approach to handicapping he has developed call the Short Form, a simple screen for contenders to see if a race is playable before spending a lot of time handicapping it.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Mark Cramer is the only handicapping author that I would classify as a true "contrarian".

One of the most qualitative handicappers in a world of number crunchers. I'm starting to lean more in that direction, as all of my figures keeping giving me short priced horses.

[zimal2]

Cramer is first of all that remarkable rare person who has crafted a life as he would want it to be. In addition to his handicapping books, he's written a book of vignettes about Paris (where he lives) past and present; another about bicycle friendly cities. He has devoted himself to try to stop the slaughter of racehorses at retirement.
He teaches English at a university level while handicapping daily. He continues to challenge himself to find new ways to look at races. For example, he described how in France the trainer 's comments are a regular
and expected part of handicapping. He found that 95% or more were honest but there were profits in discerning when the less than 5% were or weren't telling the truth.
He writes little pieces for Ed Bain's newsletter and I find each of them pearls of wisdom. Not least of all his astute observations about foreign horses in the Breeders Cup which I've regularly used as keys.

[DeltaLover]

I find his theories and overall approach to be really outdated and old fashioned. Maybe a good writer but from what I understand, not a professional gambler. A wannabe at best...

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by DeltaLover

I find his theories and overall approach to be really outdated and old fashioned. Maybe a good writer but from what I understand, not a professional gambler. A wannabe at best...

While his stuff may be interesting and give you something to think about, I have yet to run across anyone who made a profit on any thing he wrote or was able to incorporate any of it into a successful handicapping method. You may find enjoyment in his writing, but you probably won't find gold.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

While his stuff may be interesting and give you something to think about, I have yet to run across anyone who made a profit on any thing he wrote or was able to incorporate any of it into a successful handicapping method. You may find enjoyment in his writing, but you probably won't find gold.

Oh, you have talked to how many people?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by DeltaLover

I find his theories and overall approach to be really outdated and old fashioned. Maybe a good writer but from what I understand, not a professional gambler. A wannabe at best...

Things are not old fashioned if they work.
Who ever said he was a professional gambler?
He is a professional writer with a good head on his shoulders.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by Tom

Oh, you have talked to how many people?

probably 3 or 4 who have read some of Cramer's books. How many have you talked to and found any them to be useful?