The Bottom Line
Recommended to fans considering taking their handicapping to a more serious level. Casual fans may find Borg's methods too labor-intensive, but the potential profits would make it worthwhile.
Pros
- An easy-to-follow system of finding overlays
- Result charts give the player an added "edge"
Cons
- System might be too labor-intensive for some
Description
- Most racegoers rely solely on past performances in programs or the DRF to pick winners.
- Despite the amount of detail, it is still far from a complete description of the race in question.
- Daily Racing Form's quality assurance analyst Nick Borg demonstrates this fact in his new book.
- Borg writes,"Within each chart lies the most comprehensive insightful racing information published."
- Which is why past charts are his weapon of choice in the battlefield of pari-mutuel wagering.
- Borg says, "Race result charts can uncover valuable edges in several areas...
- ...which can lead to many old and newly introduced racing angles and handicapping principles."
Guide Review - Book Review: "Off the Charts"
Borg walks the aspiring handicapper through his system of chart annotation and recall, involving storing charts of every race on the circuit you are playing and highlighting the best horses from each race, not necessarily top finishers. Then, over the next few weeks, betting them at long odds. Because of data missing from the past performance lines the public makes the wrong choice. Since the majority does not research charts, overlays are common. Borg's method is an extension, if not an improvement, of the classic "Key Race" method. He includes lessons in running-style evaluation, post position and track bias analysis, understanding pace and its application to charts, and proper utilization of the Winner's Book in DRF Simulcast Weekly.
