The Bottom Line
In his first book, long-time New York horsemen T.A. Landers introduces new fans to the world of horse racing, a sport that may be considered a mysterious, difficult-to-understand world to the uninitiated. This would make for a great gift for a veteran to give to a friend or family member to coincide with that person's first visit to a racetrack.
Pros
- Excellent way to introduce a new fan to the sport
- Focuses on the nuances of the sport itself, not just the gambling
- Useful travel guide for fans who wish to visit many tracks and big races
- Nice wraparound photo on the cover - guess who took it?
Cons
- Would not appeal to veterans. Focuses on the basics only.
Description
- Landers focuses more on the horse-sport and less on the betting side of the game.
- A brief history lesson is included, to increase one's appreciation of racing's rich traditions.
- The reader learns about racing equipment, raceday medications, and the trainer's art.
- Landers gives a brief but effective introduction into the science of handicapping horse races.
- Pace, speed, and class are quickly summarized so that a new fan can handicap a race right away.
- Although advanced lessons would help, a new fan cat at least make am informed bet, not a random one
- Includes an appendix, with a glossary, conformation diagram, and past performance guide.
- Look closely at the credit for the cover photo!
Guide Review - Review - Insider's Guide to Horseracing
Any veteran racegoer will tell you that horse racing is the most exciting sport to experience in person. Heart-stopping stretch runs, the beautiful animals in the paddock, the formal atmosphere steeped in centuries-old traditions, and of course the mental challenge of handicapping a race and backing one's opinion with money all contribute to the addiction one may have to racing. But to someone who has never been, the track is a mysterious, unwelcoming place. It need not be. Unlike other books meant for new fans, Landers aims to educate people on the sport itself and not just the gambling. As a horseman, he understands that for many people, racing's appeal is the horses and not the betting, so he takes the reader on a behind the scenes tour of the farm and the backstrech. Only after he has completed the lessons on horse training and equipment does he move on to the world of handicapping and wagering. He briefly summarizes the basic handicapping theories, and includes a past performance guide in the appendix to help a new fan read the Daily Racing Form. The main text ends off with a list of major North American racetracks and important races, giving the fan a convenient travel guide for future racing trips. Landers barely scratches the surface of the sport, but digs just deeply enough that a new fan feels compelled to visit a track for the first time, and eventually do further research on betting theory and racing history. Highly recommended for new fans.
