Customer Reviews

Ainslie's Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Racing

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read the original version many years ago and can say with absolute certainty that this book is a must read for novice handicappers. The section on the form factor alone is worth the price of the book as it will steer the beginning player away from many false favorites and towards logical overlays.

While not in itself a guide to instant profitability (no book is) this book provides a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build. The insights contained in this book would take many years (and dollars) to learn through trial and error handicapping and will put the player way ahead of other novice handicappers.

A seminal work in the field of horse race handicapping, this book provides a lot of useful info on a wide range of topics. While there may not a lot in here for experienced players, if you're just starting out then this should be the first book you read.

The book covers eveything but tends to be complicated at times. The author provides so much info, it becomes almost impossible to remember all of it without reading the book several times. ( I read it at least 4 times ). Also, some of the information is quite outdated and might not be useful at this time. Overall this is a very good book , but needs to be revised.

I checked out the 1967 version of this book in the library when I first became interested in horse race handicapping. It was so full of information that I ended up buying it. A few years back, I loaned it to my brother and later asked for it back so I could review some stuff. But, his dominating wife had thrown it away. Well, enough of this boring stuff. This book does a good job of introducing a new, novice, or disorganized horseplayer to the fundamentals of handicapping--a fancy way to say picking winners at the track. Ainslie covers distance, speed, class, form, track conditions, breeding, and jockeys and trainers very thoroughly. The reader should avoid the laundry lists of specific qualifications for horses that appear periodically in the book. This book was published before the advent of Beyer speed figures and other new concepts in handicapping. Also, as in most how to pick winners books, Ainslie has sections of the Daily Racing Form from races where he made a big score. Racing authors seem to never have DRF examples of races where they lost their shirts. But, it is a useful treatise to learn the fundamentals of handicapping though even the lastest edition (1988) is a bit dated. I would advise the reader to learn the general concepts in the book and to avoid the specific criteria for picking horses. It is an excellent place for a new horseplayer to start. Now, if someone could write a book for my brother telling him how to stand up to his wife.

Let's start with the obvious. Ainslie wrote in a different time: before exotic wagering, which he considered a gimmick, became 70+% of the daily handle. His specific advice about WPS betting and money management, as a result, should be discarded. Likewise, his advice about which trainers and jocks to follow has aged poorly.

At the same time, there's information in here that's invaluable, such as the sections on understanding trainer intent, and on post parade and paddock behavior.

This book has a special place in the history of handicapping, and for that reason alone, is worth having, but in the modern player's arsenal, it should be an added coloring and not the central philosophy.

I had read nearly a dozen books on horserace handicapping before I read Ainslie's book. This should have been the first book on horseracing that I read. Ainslie covers every aspect of handicapping and the racing game imaginable. He writes in a simple, concise, easy style -- easy on the eyes, easy to absorb.

It is well-organized. Each chapter covers a specific aspect of the game. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most (and have put to good use) is Ainslie's 60 item list on how to handicap a race --what to look for: angles to be aware of in class, form; speed; jockey/trainer angles .. and on and on and on. The beauty of this book is that the reaader is exposed to so many different topics and subject areas that he will able to find his nich, his own style in handicapping. If you are like me, after you read this book, you will have a list of several more books that you will simply have to have. Thanks to Ainslie.

Ainslie doesn't tout any particular handicapping style; he simply informs the reader of all the many different angles there are instantly adding to the reader's knowledge of the game and providing instant improvement to his handicapping. This is the racing book you would keep on your bedside table; this is the book that you will be referring back to time and time again -- there is that much in this book. Tell you one thing, I envy Ainslie's friends who are able to get tips and suggestions from the author.

If the reader is buying this book in paperback, perhaps he should buy two copies. Surely, he will wear this book out. I have.

As a long-time horseplayer, I was sceptical that this book could teach me much that I did not already know. To my surprise, however, I learned a great deal about the track from this book. Ainslie goes into each of the book's topics in depth and writes with great clarity. I now find myself going back to the book often, using it like an encyclopedia or reference work. Most importantly, this book is helping me take home profits that I never would have earned before. A must read for anyone who wants to know what they're doing at the races.

I, like another reviewer, bought the original 1966 edition of this book. I recently checked out the 1988 edition in the library and reread it. It is still a valuable book particularly when many horseplayers are getting away from a comprehensive method of handicapping and relying too much on Beyer figures. Ainslie, as in earlier editions, is still biased towards New York and East Coast tracks. But, if you want to get serious about playing the horses, consider using this book as a starting point.

Very Useful book for the beginner, it sorts with every aspect of horseracing with great detail,it explains what pace, speed class, jockeys, trainer angles, distance etc. etc. are all about, glossary is huge and the best, but beware of the principles at the end of the book: they are not to be used as isolated facts that will help you win, they are just a guide,they are best used when combined with other handicapping aspects.

I checked out the 1967 version of this book in the library when I first became interested in horse race handicapping. It was so full of information that I ended up buying it. A few years back, I loaned it to my brother and later asked for it back so I could review some stuff. But, his dominating wife had thrown it away. Well, enough of this boring stuff. This book does a good job of introducing a new, novice, or disorganized horseplayer to the fundamentals of handicapping--a fancy way to say picking winners at the track. Ainslie covers distance, speed, class, form, track conditions, breeding, and jockeys and trainers very thoroughly. The reader should avoid the laundry lists of specific qualifications for horses that appear periodically in the book. This book was published before the advent of Beyer speed figures and other new concepts in handicapping. Also, as in most how to pick winners books, Ainslie has sections of the Daily Racing Form from races where he made a big score. Racing authors seem to never have DRF examples of races where they lost their shirts. But, it is a useful treatise to learn the fundamentals of handicapping though even the lastest edition (1988) is a bit dated. I would advise the reader to learn the general concepts in the book and to avoid the specific criteria for picking horses. It is an excellent place for a new horseplayer to start. Now, if someone could write a book for my brother telling him how to stand up to his wife.

Some things don't change. Horses still have four legs. And Tom Ainslie still reigns as the Triple Crown Champion of handicappers. Forget the Beyer speed figure
and pace gurus and go with the fundamentals. You'll also be treated to cogent
and lucid prose, a rarity in racing books. This is The Bible, both Old Testament and
New.