This totally revised and updated edition of Betting Thoroughbreds is greatly expanded from the original, which introduced thousands of horseplayers to the importance of trainer patterns, key races, and track bias. Known as the 'sourcebook' to serious handicappers, Steven Davidowitz's famous guide now features ground-breaking chapters on pace analysis; innovative approaches to handicapping, claiming, and allowance races at major and minor tracks; new ways to use workout and breeding information; and successful strategies for simulcast betting and all forms of exotic wagering, including the Pick Six.
Betting Thoroughbreds
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Andrew Beyer
Introduction
1. Through the Looking Glass
How to watch a race properly
2. A B.A. in Handicapping
The author's college education at the track
3. The Horseplayer's Bible
The improved Daily Racing Form and the extraordinary value of result charges
4. The Bias of the Racing Surface
How and when the racing surface itself influences horse performance along with advanced applications of this phenomenon
5. The Money Tree
The winning strategy of an obscure trainer
6. The Tainer's Window
The role of the trainer in the conditioning process as described and illustrated by some of the finest trainers of all time, including Allen Jerkins, Woody Stephens, Frank Whitley, Jr., CharlesWhittingham and Jack Van Berg.
7. Who's Hot and Who's Not
Dealing with trainers on winning and losing streaks-a look at D. Wayne Lukas' methods
8. What's He Doing in Today's Race?
how to glean the most clues from past-performance profiles
9. The Key Race Method Revisited
The research technique to uncover important information not available in past-performance or result charts. New applications and variations to identify races of significant strength and depth
10. An Edge in Class
Minor track handicapping-the classification code-new applications to claiming races at major tracks
11. The mystery of Allowance Races
The hidden class dropdown and other tools to solve the handicapping riddles of better-class races
12. Speed Handicapping 101
Basics of speed handicapping-what's wrong with Daily Racing form speed ratings and when to make use of them
13. E=MC2
Class pars-parallel time charts-making Beyer figures, the best speed-figure method ever created
14. The Race Is to the Swift
When to use Beyer figures or your own and when to throw them in the wastebasket
15. Pace: The New-Old Frontier
Basics of pace as it makes the race-the importance of early speed, middle moves and late bursts of speed-Bill Quirin's speed-point method revised-positive moves in grass races
16. Pace as Science and Pseudoscience
Sartin methodology velocity ratings-the different values for 1/5 seconds and one length-estimated pace lines-weaknesses in pace handicapping's mathematics
17. Converting Beyer Figures for Pace Analysis
The value of par charts and the weakness of the Beyer rating scale for pace analysis-a new method for making pace ratings using Beyer speed figures in Daily Racing Form-different approaches to beaten lengths and track variants
18. Pace and the SIngle Race Bias
Analyzing races by their "shapes."-the power of pace analysis in races already run-limits of pace handicapping
19. Theory Versus Experiences
Hundreds of practical hints of weight, sex, running styles and the distance factor, optional equipment, horseshoes, bandages, physical appearance and evaluating jockeys
20. Working With Workouts
Detailed explanations and dozens of examples of how to interpret workouts-when to trust the workout line and when to regard it suspiciously-how to spot pending improvements, live first-time starters or absentees
21. It's in the Blood
Master turf sires-mud breeding-"early win sires" and speed breeding-the Chef-de-Race sires' list-Dr. Steve Roman's Dosage Index system to spot sprint speed and/or stamina in the racehorse-Dosage and the Kentucky Derby
22. The Drug Factor
The key facts about racetrack drugs and how they affect the horseplayer-when Lasix is likely to improve performance
23. The Bet or Not to Bet...and How Much
Recognizing winning situations-sensible money management-making and accurate morning line and the value line
24. Promising Exotic Plays
When and how to take advantage of daily doubles, exactas, trifectas, the pick three and pick six-wagering strategies for prime bets, action bets, reasonable longshots and the exotics-how to cure losing streaks
25. La Prevooyante to Win, My Wife to Place
Bonus profits in the place and show pools
26. Betting Myths and Longshot Angles
"Betting money" and sucker bets-going against the grain of common racetrack wisdom-dozens of invaluable hints on how to spot live longshots
27. The Best Handicapped Tool Ever Invented
Using the video home recorder to dramatically improve your handicapping-studying the Triple Crown
28. The Winning Horseplayer
A recap of major handicapping factors with key examples-assessing the wagering favorite-the best performance and best bet of all time
Appendix A: Guide to Daily Racking Form Past Performnaces
Symbols and abbreviations; purse values at North American tracks; points of call in result charts; post position surveys; morning line percentage tables; how to compute place and show prices; modern handicapping aids
Appendix B: Speed Figures
Complete parallel time charts for sprints and routes; computing Beyer speed figures and track variants; the projection method; class and speed pars for selected turf courses
Appendix C: Pace Figures
Fractional clockings and pace pars; complete six-furlong pace pars for a New York track; sample pace lines for six-and-a-half furlongs; seven furlongs, one mile, 1 1/8 miles and other two-turn routes; sample par times and pace lines for Santa Anita; mathematical errors in traditional beaten length charts; too fast preliminary fractions for two-turn routes
Appendix D: Exotic Wagering Strategies
Numerous examples of sound strategies for playing all exotic wagers including the Pick Six; recommended books, tapes and computer services
Recommended Reading and Resources
