The Bottom Line
At this price point, no follower of Thoroughbred racing can afford not to have this book on his or her bookshelf. The amount on information will amaze the uninitiated reader, and can help both new and long time fans of racing gain an even deeper appreciation for the sport. Just about anything statistical you can think of about horse racing, and some you didn't consider, can be found in its record 2,116 pages of data.
Pros
- An indispensible tool that racing fans can refer to throughout the year
- The most thorough coverage of racing to be found anywhere, it has no equal.
- At just $40 list price, it is by far the best bang for your buck in a racing bookstore
Cons
- A follower of racing would be hard-pressed to find fault in the venerable ARM
Description
- Leading North American jockeys and trainers by lifetime wins and earnings
- Annual leading horse by races won (dating back to 1975)
- Progeny of leading broodmare sires
- Best times at all distances at every track in 2003, fastest times at all common distances since 1991
- Lifetime leaders among trainers and jockeys
- Complete listing of Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay's career graded stakes wins
- 2003 Best Horses recap by Daily Racing Form's National Handicapper Mike Watchmaker
- Long-defunct features revived this year by Welch-Prather include the year's necrology
- A list of all-time leading horses in wins, the breeders and sires of millionnaires
- Triple dead heats for wins, and leading horses by money won in Europe, Middle East, and Far East
Guide Review - Review: '2004 American Racing Manual'
The American Racing Manual has for years been the reference manual of choice for followers of Thoroughbred racing. After a brief hiatus in the 1990's, new DRF co-owners Steve Crist and Steve Davidowitz revived the ARM in 2000, and the "old guard" of racing books has never looked better. With 100 pages more than last year's edition, new editor Paula Welch Prather, taking over from Davidowitz, kept the Manual true to its roots, but at the same time reviving some features that had gone missing in recent years, and brought in some new ones of her own. These new features are listed above. Among the data that readers have come to expect include the most comprehensive recap of the 2003 racing season to be found anywhere. Charts of each graded stakes run in North America in 2003 is included, along with the past performances of the winners. Followers of speed won't be disappointed, as Beyer figures and race times figure prominently. The ARM is where you will find the most current list of world record times. For each North American racetrack you can view a diagram of what the track looks like and a list of its track records. Finally, also included are informational sections like the "Rules of Racing", pari-mutuel takeout by state, and a directory of racing organizations. Accompanying all this data is the useful Year in Review section, written by Jay Privman, Bill Tallon, Alan Shuback (foreign racing), Karen Johnson, and Glenye Cain.
