What do you think?
Rate this book
Figure Handicapping: A Practical Guide to the Interpretation and Use of Speed and Pace Figures
Modern figure handicapping, the conversion of actual times into speed and pace figures, has become the final word in thoroughbred racing. And with Figure Handicapping, any bettor can understand the importance and use of speed figures in spotting the winning horses.
Many handicappers already use the technique, most without understanding how to properly interpret their findings. They fail to win as often as they could because they don't know the circumstances under which high-figure horses have a better chance to win. With a firm understanding of a horse's past history, now easily available from the Daily Racing Form, anyone using this book can master the techniques of figure handicapping.
Figure Handicapping answers such questions What are the best applications of speed figures? When should pace figures supersede speed figures, and vice versa? Under what circumstances should speed figures be ignored? Which patterns in a horse's past performances are most useful? Most reliable? Most profitable? Which claiming horses will rise successfully in class? Which varieties of high-figure horses are bogus? And which can be trusted to win waltzing?
Six of the most popular styles of figure handicapping are discussed, each in clear, detailed, down-to-earth language. From the art of making figures to the final interpretations, Quinn's book illuminates every aspect of figure handicapping.
The book also includes the author's innovative approach to figure handicapping on the turf, replete with brand-new speed charts for twenty-eight racetracks around the country.
Many handicappers already use the technique, most without understanding how to properly interpret their findings. They fail to win as often as they could because they don't know the circumstances under which high-figure horses have a better chance to win. With a firm understanding of a horse's past history, now easily available from the Daily Racing Form, anyone using this book can master the techniques of figure handicapping.
Figure Handicapping answers such questions What are the best applications of speed figures? When should pace figures supersede speed figures, and vice versa? Under what circumstances should speed figures be ignored? Which patterns in a horse's past performances are most useful? Most reliable? Most profitable? Which claiming horses will rise successfully in class? Which varieties of high-figure horses are bogus? And which can be trusted to win waltzing?
Six of the most popular styles of figure handicapping are discussed, each in clear, detailed, down-to-earth language. From the art of making figures to the final interpretations, Quinn's book illuminates every aspect of figure handicapping.
The book also includes the author's innovative approach to figure handicapping on the turf, replete with brand-new speed charts for twenty-eight racetracks around the country.
- GenresHorse Racing
Hardcover
First published November 17, 1992
9 people want to read
About the author
James Quinn
103 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Others:
James 2^ Quinn: GR author, fiction
James 3^ Quinn: GR author, fantasy, sci-fi
James 4^ Quinn: GR author, thriller
James 5^ Quinn: director, filmmaker
James 6^ Quinn: fiction, attorney
Others:
James 2^ Quinn: GR author, fiction
James 3^ Quinn: GR author, fantasy, sci-fi
James 4^ Quinn: GR author, thriller
James 5^ Quinn: director, filmmaker
James 6^ Quinn: fiction, attorney
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2008
James Quinn, Figure Handicapping (Morrow, 1992)
It's inevitable in the career of any prolific writer that you're bound to tail off once in a while. (Look at Stephen King.) This is just as true of nonfiction authors as it is of fiction authors, and Jim Quinn's nadir is Figure Handicapping. Not to say it's a bad book, but if you've read a lot of Quinn in the past, you'll want to get this one from the library instead.
Quinn comes right out at the outset and tells you you've seen most of this before. The only thing new in the book is his chapter on figure handicapping on the turf (which, I should probably not mention, is covered in far fewer words in Michael Pizzolla's wonderful book Handicapping Magic; far more bang for your buck there). In other words, you're better off with Quinn's other books (especially Class of the Field, High-Tech Handicapping in the Information Age, and The Handicapper's Condition Book) and Pizzolla's Handicapping Magic. But if you want it all in one place and haven't read it before, you can get the basic ideas from here. ** ½
It's inevitable in the career of any prolific writer that you're bound to tail off once in a while. (Look at Stephen King.) This is just as true of nonfiction authors as it is of fiction authors, and Jim Quinn's nadir is Figure Handicapping. Not to say it's a bad book, but if you've read a lot of Quinn in the past, you'll want to get this one from the library instead.
Quinn comes right out at the outset and tells you you've seen most of this before. The only thing new in the book is his chapter on figure handicapping on the turf (which, I should probably not mention, is covered in far fewer words in Michael Pizzolla's wonderful book Handicapping Magic; far more bang for your buck there). In other words, you're better off with Quinn's other books (especially Class of the Field, High-Tech Handicapping in the Information Age, and The Handicapper's Condition Book) and Pizzolla's Handicapping Magic. But if you want it all in one place and haven't read it before, you can get the basic ideas from here. ** ½
May 23, 2013
Brought speed figures into a new light for me. Anyone with any reservations about speed figures will be enlightened.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews