A Breed Apart: The Horses and the Players [Paperback]

Mike Helm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992

This entertaining behind-the-scenes study takes the dedicated horse-player to California's tracks to meet Jack Kaenel, who booted Aloma's Ruler to victory in the Preakness, and Chuck Jenda, who trained Brown Bess to an Eclipse Award. These and many other professionals are by your side as races are analyzed, bets placed, and questions answered about everything from claiming races, turf versus dirt, drugs, fixed races, and more. This informed look at the sport of kings offers information unavailable from any other source.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This look at what goes on behind the scenes at the San Francisco Bay area's Golden Gate Fields will interest virtually everyone who has ever visited a racetrack. Helm, publisher of City Miner Books, takes readers on a tour of what the cognoscenti call "the backside," introducing us to trainers and assistants, jockeys, exercise riders and grooms, trackmen, veterinarians, stewards, owners and a racing secretary. He also interviews bettors who claim to have developed methods to beat the system. We're shown that innumerable elements are involved in a horse race, from the physiology and even the psychology of the horse and the sensitivity of trainer and jockey to the condition of the track, which can vary hour to hour, and the racing secretary's ability to furnish good competition. Readers looking to improve their handicapping skills will find Helm a knowledgeable, pragmatic consultant.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is an entertaining and refreshing look at the behind-the-scenes activities of horse racing. Written by a San Fran cisco Chronicle correspondent who is also a recreational horseplayer, the book is mostly a transcription of interviews with some of the sport's many participants. Included are conversations with a jockey, a trainer, and a veterinarian, who explain their respective roles in the sport. In the process, they reveal aspects of racing that are little known to most trackside enthusiasts and that might be useful to betting strategies. The book's interview style captures much of the color, character, and passion that is invariably a part of the horseracing environment. Very informative and highly readable, this can be digested purely for pleasure or for the handicapping insights which can be gleaned. Highly recommended for all sports collections.
- David Van de Streek, Pennsylvania State Univ. Libs., York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co (P) (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805023798
• ISBN-13: 978-0805023794
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,036,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An education in what makes a track tick., December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Breed Apart: The Horses and the Players (Paperback)

Mike Helm is a writer who happens to be a handicapper and racing fan. In this book he explores all aspects of thoroughbred racing by visiting and speaking at length with all the people that have a role horse racing.

This would include jockeys and their agents, trainers, owners, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders, vets including the track vet, stewards, the racing secretary, handicappers, gamblers, and parimutuel clerks.

If I'm making it sound dry, it isn't. The passion for horses and the game is right on the surface all the way through.

He also answers many questions I have asked myself: on what bases does a racing secretary assign weight? Why do they write a well-balanced card one day, and a full card of cheap claimers with an allowance thrown in as the feature on others? Do jockeys pay any attention to what the owner and trainer tell him before a race? Why do horses often run off form when bumped up in class? What do trainers really think? Why do stewards rarely take down a horse based on a jockey or trainer objection? Does anyone make money gambling on horses over the long haul?

This is the kind of book you will enjoy reading, and can refer back to. I wish it had an index though.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fast Paced Learning Experience, January 31, 2001

By 

Rob C. (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Breed Apart: The Horses and the Players (Hardcover)

Though not the ideal bok for the novice horseplayer, this book give insight and information most people interested in the thoroughbred racing game have no idea exists. Written by a reporter, the prose is quick and is filled with quotations by trainers, owners, jockeys and track officials in a real time, fast-paced dialog that is powerful but sometimes difficult to keep up with.

There is no glossary or index of terms and many of the terms used are over the heads of those just learning about horse racing. This book is focused toward a betting audience or readers who currently follow racing and want to learn the intricacies of this most captivating sport.

Funny and hard hitting, this is good read and for the most part well done. Again, not for those just making a foray into this unseen world of lovely mounts and high stakes, but a good book to get acquainted with what happens before and after the starting gate opens.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book on horseracing., September 5, 2010

By 

R. Pandolfo (Lehigh Valley, PA.) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Breed Apart: The Horses and the Players (Paperback)

This book is well written and has several interesting chapters that delve into different aspects of horse racing. Very good chapter with a leading trainer offers details about the training of horses and there are good chapters with gamblers, jockey agent, the track racing secretary, etc. One of the better books on horse racing that I've read. As a handicapper, this does give pretty solid handicapping insights, although it's not really a book on handicappping.