GuideReviews Index
The Training Game by Karen M. Johnson
A review of The Training Game: An Inside Look at American Racing's Top Trainers by Karen Johnson. An entertaining look at eight top thoroughbred trainers, how they got started, their methods, and more. A well written book that should be of interest to any horse racing fan.
Triple Crown Handicapper 2009
by Jim Mazur. An excellent publication for anybody wanting to bet the tough Triple Crown races, or for newer horseplayers wanting to learn more about the use of angles and biases when selecting their horses.
Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments DVD
A review of "Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments" from Churchill Downs. A great new DVD with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info which any racing fan should enjoy.
Kentucky Derby: Run for the Roses
Book review for 'Kentucky Derby: Run for the Roses' by Bill Doolittle, from your About.com Guide
Global Racing: The Complete Guide to the Greatest Foreign Racecourses
A review of Global Racing: The Complete Guide to the Greatest Foreign Racecourses by Alan Shuback. A comprehensive guide to 42 of the top racecourses around the world with info about betting horses from them, sending horses to race there, and travelling to them for their top races.
Cajun Racing by Ed McNamara
From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown by Ed McNamara. Cajun horsemen have been perennial leaders in North American Thoroughbred racing. Learn about the unique, horse-centered environment in Cajun country of Louisiana, and some of the prominent families whose names grace the racing news pages and result charts.
Tropical Downs by Mark Cramer
A Novel of Peril and Misadventures in Search of the Elusive Automatic Bet by Mark Cramer. Horse racing fans and mystery fiction lovers alike will enjoy this well-written story revolving around shady dealings in the creation of a racetrack in Bolivia with some handicapping thrown in on the side.
Trip Handicapping DVD by Dan Illman
Trip Handicapping: Watching Thoroughbred Race Replays DVD by Dan Illman. Any veteran horseplayer or even a new fan who wants to learn more about what to look for in a race would enjoy this DVD, the first video entry in DRF Press' Elements of Handicapping series.
Fix Six by Noel Michaels
by Noel Michaels. This novel brings up just about every crooked thing ever done in racing and weaves it into an interesting and humorous work of fiction.
Breeders' Cup World Championships: The First 25 Years
A review of "Breeders' Cup World Championships: The First 25 Years" by HorsePhotos. This DVD is a montage of still photos of highlights from the first 24 years of Breeders' Cup with narration which any racing fan should enjoy.
Bet With The Best 2: Longshots
A review of 'Bet With The Best 2: Longshots' By Editors of the Daily Racing Form
Betting Synthetic Surfaces
A review of 'Betting Synthetic Surfaces: Conquering Racing's Newest Frontier' By Bill Finley
Crushing the Cup 2008
A review of 'Crushing the Cup 2008: The Handicapper's Guide to Breeders' Cup XXV' by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett.
Betting the Kentucky Derby
How to Wager and Win on America's Biggest Horse Race by Dean Keppler. Breaks the task of handicapping the Derby into easy to understand strategies that any bettor at any level of play can implement.
Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide
A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Glasses and Shot Glasses edited by Judy Marchman. This new 2008 edition is an invaluable tool for anyone who collects Derby, Preakness, Belmont, or Breeders' Cup glasses and shots. Photos of everything included so you can ID glasses you find.
Kentucky Derby 133 Review
This new annual coffee table book is the definitive collection of photographs from Street Sense's Kentucky Derby victory in 2007. Definitely recommended to Street Sense or Kentucky Derby fans, but any racing fan would enjoy it.
My Guy Barbaro
A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse by Edgar Prado with John Eisenberg. Jockey Edgar Prado tells about his special bond with Barbaro and how the whole experience affected him.
Melbourne Cup 1930 by Geoff Armstrong and Peter Thompson
How Phar Lap Won Australia's Greatest Race by Geoff Armstrong and Peter Thompson. Covers the four intense days preceding the infamous race, during which time a drive-by shooting was attempted after morning workouts.
Kelso: The Horse of Gold
by Linda Kennedy. A fitting tribute to one of Thoroughbred racing's all time greats and its only 5-time Horse of the Year. Kelso dominated American racing during the 1960's and no horse before him or since has matched his accomplishments on the track.
2007 Horseplayers Expo Collector's Edition DVD Set
This 5 disc set includes over 18 hours of handicapping lessons from some of the best handicappers around.
Review: "Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter's Son"
A review of 'Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter's Son' by John Jeremiah Sullivan. A study of the relationship between men and horses, both at the races and beyond, combined with a tribute to his late father's career as a turfwriter.
Review: Handicapping Contest Handbook (2nd edition)
A review of 'Handicapping Contest Handbook: A Horseplayer's Guide to Handicapping Tournaments' by Noel Michaels
Review: "Saratoga Tales"
"Saratoga Tales: Great Horses, Fearless Jockeys, Shocking Upsets and Incredible Blunders at America's Legendary Race Track" by Bill Heller. Strongly recommended addition to every racing fan's personal library. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down until you're finished.
Horse Racing Coast to Coast: The Traveler's Guide to the Sport of Kings
The Traveler's Guide to the Sport of Kings by Michael Walmsley and Marlene Smith-Baranzini. A great book for anyone planning to travel to an out-of-town race track in North America.
Review - Go Very Highly Trippingly To and Fro/The Stretch Run
by Raymond DeCapite. Although billed as racing fiction, it isn't really and may be too literary in style for most racing fans.