Handicapping 101: A Horse Racing Primer

by Brad Free

Is it really possible to wager and win at the racetrack? Free's resounding answer is yes—horseplayers can and do win! This paperback edition includes an entire new chapter on synthetic racing surfaces, updated and current past performances and charts, an index for easier reference, and all of the enduring handicapping factors presented in the hard cover. Handicapping 101 gives both the novice and seasoned player the handicapping foundation required to succeed.

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2007

Reviews

[DK Simoneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an odd turn of events I found myself at a horse track three times in 10 days. I decided I wanted to bet basing emphasis on more than blindly choosing cute names or past winning dollar amounts. In came this book. After having been through the book once I understand way more than I did and I am enjoying working a race card with my pretend money much like some people work a crossword puzzle. My success has drastically improved in a very short time. The book is about finding contenders, making good bets not just finding winners. My goal is by the next time I go to a track I will make good bets and/or to have fun making an informed bet on the Kentucky Derby next year. My only reason for four stars is that this book is probably pretty out of date and things have changed a lot in just these last tenish years. The online forms all carry such different information now and some of it is hard to understand with only this book as the background. Regardless, I believe it offers a great foundation to anyone beginning as a horse player.

[Thomas Burchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

For beginners, like me, a very readable and useful primer to betting on the ponies, clearly explained. My edition was from 2007, however, and I gather an even newer edition has come out with more insights into handicapping for artificial turf. Also, Free's insights seem to apply mostly to his experiences at his home track, Santa Anita. Mine is Golden Gate, so I've found I've had to make adjustments. Oh well, playing the horses ain't the army and it ain't ideology, thank God. Recommended!

[Jim Berkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer for the beginner (who was me, some years back) who wants to understand the intricacies of the past performances found in the racing form. Free, the Daily Racing Form's Southern California handicapper, walks you through the various categories & numbers to consider and analyze to improve your odds in picking winners (or combos of winners, perhaps).

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to playing the Horses. Pretty dense in parts, but horseplay is quite complicated.