The Bottom Line
Pros
- An easy-to-read introduction to the racetrack betting environment
- Does not bombard the reader with too much jargon or endless charts of data
- Excellent job explaining exotic combinations and how they are calculated
- Would be an excellent gift for a new fan of thoroughbred racing
Cons
- May not appeal to veteran horseplayers or fans who do not wager on races
- Readers will need to research other works for deeper understanding of concepts
Description
- How to read the past performances in the Daily Racing Form or the track program
- Understanding the information on the tote board
- How odds are calculated, and the effect of takeout and breakage on a horse's final odds
- Types of wagers available, including how to box and wheel exotic combinations
- The effect of post position and medication on a horse's potential performance
- Other handicapping factors: pedigrees, speed figures, bounce theory, and trip handicapping
- How to handicap a race taking all factors into account
- Debunking some common myths about race wagering
Guide Review - Review - The Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds
In the second book of the Authoritative Guides series, Blood-Horse editors help new fans in their initial forays into the parimutuel wars. Following a logical procession, the writers start off with the basics, such as reading the Racing Form past performances (using Smarty Jones as the example) and understanding odds and payoffs. Exotic wheels and boxes, a very important but often misunderstood part of the game, is explained in detail by John Lindley.Once the reader understands the basics, it is time to tackle the art and science of handicapping. Dan Liebman and Tom LaMarra explain the effects of post positions and medication, as these are two of the easiest factors to find in a racing program and the easiest to understand. LaMarra continues with more advanced techniques, such as workouts, equipment, racing surface and condition. Pedigree handicapping, trip handicapping and speed figure analysis are each given a chapter of its own, as these are the most popular techniques used today. As a sort of "practice test", past performances and a result chart for a sample race at Turfway Park are included so a reader can test his or her implementation of the techniques in the book.
A chapter on betting myths serves to refute some common misconceptions a newcomer may have which have prevented him or her from participating in the sport. This gives the novice player the confidence that horse racing is a gambling endeavor that is honest, fun, and potentially profitable.
