Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher [Hardcover]

Steven Crist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2003

Whether you're a casual fan tuning in to the Kentucky Derby or a dedicated horseplayer trying to turn a profit, says the author, racing and betting today are completely different than they were in the days of Seabiscuit and Secretariat. The author has been at the forefront of many of these changes and in this long-awaited memoir, he chronicles his unique adventures in racing journalism, politics, high finance and, closest to his heart, betting on horses.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This rollicking memoir by established horse-racing expert Crist (Offtrack; The Horse Traders) is often fast paced and exciting. When Crist takes a chance trip to Boston's Wonderland Greyhound Park in 1977 to avoid thinking about his senior-year English thesis at Harvard and editing the Harvard Lampoon, he finds that the track's printed program statistics on the dogs gives him "something that was pure and straightforward and utterly without fakery" and reveals his true calling-studying and betting on horse races. Fortunate enough to get a night copyboy job at the New York Times, Crist begins a wild personal and professional ride that includes a long stint as the Times horse-racing reporter; a brief time at the Racing Form, which he started; an equally short tenure as racing consultant to the New York State government; and finally as the successful bidder for the prestigious Daily Racing Form. Along the way, Crist provides numerous insights into legendary sports writers such as Joe Hirsch, the racing industry itself ("incredibly disorganized and casual about where the money was going") and the ins and outs of completing complicated business deals-insights that are driven by an energy and optimism that can come only from someone who truly loves his work and what it represents for him: "One of the great things about the racetrack is that every day the game begins anew and with unlimited promise."
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Daily Racing Form (July 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097264010X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972640107
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Horses > Racing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written Memoir from a Fascinating Person, September 17, 2003

By 

John Standiford (Cypress, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher (Hardcover)

Unfortunately, horse racing continues to decline in popularity and rarely gets mainstream attention. If it did, this book might be a bestseller. Steve Crist is one of the best horse racing handicappers in the world but will be mainly revered by most horse racing fans as the man who had the guts to take on the Racing Form a number of years ago and then to come in and save the publication from its decline.

During what has been a short career, Crist has went to lead horse racing writer at the New York Times,editor of the Racing Times, served on a statewide commission regarding horse racing and now is the publisher of the Daily Racing Form. All of this is recounted in the book with prose that is easy to read and very informative.

The only minor quibble I would have with the book is that Crist spends very little time discussing the craft of betting on horses. He spends a few pages talking about the Pick Six, an exotic wager that he has hit many time, but doesn't explain his strategy in all that much detail. In some ways I don't blame him, but I sense that I could learn a lot from him which is why this book is worth buying.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Racing's Renaissance Man, September 5, 2003

By 

Judi Griggs (St Simons Island, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher (Hardcover)

Incredible autobiographical tale for anyone interested in horses, gambling, big business, big government or the impact one person can make. Crist's careers to date have included New York Times reporter, founder of Racing Times, political consultant, full-time gambler (Mr. Pick Six), New York Racing Association executive and now Chairman of the Daily Racing Form (after a leading a $40 million charge to buy the publication while living on credit cards). An amazing resume for anyone, especially one who has yet to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Unlike many me-me-me tomes, Crist is scant with the usual laborious personal details (we know nothing about his favorite color or childhood pets). He takes a journalistic perspective as he recounts his high stakes business dealings with the late Robert Maxwell and former New York governor Mario Cuomo. He reports his successes and failures with equal detail.
The editor of the Harvard Lampoon and president of the Signet Society before redefining racing journalism and many parts of the game, Crist's writing is smart and lively.
You'll enjoy this book whether you are an industry insider or have watched the Derby on television once.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He took the words out of my mouth, April 10, 2004

By 

Vic Ridgley (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher (Hardcover)

The nearby review - Well Written Memoir from a Fascinating Person - got all the details of a review right, so I don't need to repeat them. Enthusiastic individual believes in himself, makes good, but fails (hardly by accident) to reveal some of the "secrets" of parimutuel betting success. Kind of like that magician who just won't explain how he cut the lady in half.