Customer Reviews

Dave Litfin's Expert Handicapping: Winning Insights into Betting Thoroughbreds

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Litfin has written a very good book that contains much useful information. Most of the examples in the book are from races at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Litfin also devotes a fair amount of space to the "sheets". If you use Ragozin or Thoro-gragh data, this book is definitely for you. If you play races in New York extensively, this book will give you a greater insight into the three tracks operated by the New York Racing Association.

Litfin has a winner with this book. He has excellent form/cycle anaylysis using both "Sheets" style figures and Beyer speed figures. He recognizes and illustrates how to spot several useful patterns and what they mean. In the second part of the book, he takes pattern recognition a step further by dealing how trainers tip their intentions with regards to having a horse ready to run his best race. Overall, there is a lot for the intermediate level handicapper to take from this work and improve his game with.

Dave Litfin's insight to thoroughbred handicapping was very informative and challenges the handicapper to look further into the past performance of a horse. Looking at the past performance is not enough and one must learn to interpretate the data as to the horses physical fitness, trainer intention and racing angles. Dave explains each principle in detail and gives concrete examples so the reader can grasp the concept visually by reviewing actual races and results.