Handicapping Magic [Paperback]

Michael Pizzolla (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967987024 | ISBN-13: 978-0967987026 | Publication Date: August 8, 2000

Handicapping Magic presents a comprehensive approach to handicapping the thoroughbred horse race. It's not just another book by an expert showing how good he is. Instead, the techniques are explained step by step and there are dozens of real life examples. Complete instructions on calculating the Fulcrum Pace, Pace Balanced Speed Numbers, Projected Power Fractions, Form Cycle Windows, and much more are provided. The book also contains valuable advice on avoiding the Seven Illusions that can defeat the player, and how to answer the Seven Magic Questions in a Race. Most importantly, the real meaning of the overlay--a true value bet--is revealed and the book will show you how to find them and capitalize from them. The techniques revealed in this book are so simple and straightforward, so easy to use that it will truly seem like Handicapping Magic!

Editorial Reviews

Review

...more useful information that is thoroughly explained and illustrated with examples than any handicapping book that I have read... -- J.H.

I ... can honestly say it is the best teaching tool I have ever seen on the subject of thoroughbred racing! -- Bob Harris, Reno NV

This book is the culmination of the pace handicapping movement of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but far more than that. -- Charles Carroll, author of Handicapping Speed

About the Author

Michael Pizzolla is an attorney by training and an avid professional-level handicapper. Michael has taught seminars on handicapping throughout the country, showing thousands of players a simpler way to handicap. Michael is recognized as one of the pioneers of computer handicapping and has with his colleague Eric Langjahr, created state-of-the-art computer software packages for handicappers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Intl Thoroughbred Superhighway Inc (August 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967987024
• ISBN-13: 978-0967987026
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Didnt Work For Me, December 29, 2002

By 

Marc A. Mojica (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handicapping Magic (Paperback)

When I ordered Handicapping Magic, I looked forward to its arrival in the mail with great anticipation. When I finally received it, I put all my other reading aside and gave it my undivided attention. The book is an easy read, it is attractively printed, and Mr. Pizzolla's enthusiasm is infectious. I looked forward to my next visit to the track, and expected major improvements in my selections and wagering.

Handicapping Magic shows you how to calculate three simple numbers: the Fulcrum Pace, the Pizzolla Balanced Speed Rating (PBS), and the Projected Power Fraction (PPF). Most of the book's 432 pages explain how to apply these three numbers to one's handicapping.

I'm not a professional handicapper, and I can only visit the track on weekends. After much study and practice, I win 90 cents for every dollar I bet. I would like to do better, but considering that I am only a weekend player I am willing to tolerate the rate of return. I am always looking for ways to wipe out my deficit and at least break even. Swayed by the glowing reviews of Handicapping Magic and the raves about its readability, I thought I would give it a try. Alas, in actual practice, the application of these numbers in my handicapping led to a sharp decrease in my return on investment. When I applied Mr. Pizzolla's techniques at the track, my win percentage dropped to 63 cents won for each dollar bet.

The numbers are simply too unreliable. After using Mr. Pizzolla's method exclusively for almost three months, I feel that my results would have been just as good had I pinned the track program to the wall and made my selections throwing darts. If Mr. Pizzolla's ratings were reliable, I would expect that the horses I selected would finish close to the front at least most of the time (which is what happens when I apply the numbers found in Tom Brohamer's "Modern Pace Handicapping" - the best horses according to Brohamer's numbers usually finish fourth or better). But there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the results. In my experience, horses with the best PPF and PBS numbers finished last far more often than first. After a while I decided not to risk any more money and handicapped race cards without placing any bets. Maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself at the track, and would do better with a few dry runs at home. It didn't work. Whether it was for real at the track or for practice at home, the results were the same. More than once I bet exactas on the horses with the best PPF and PBS numbers, only to see them finish on the wrong end of the field, running last and next to last. Horses I would have otherwise bet in exotics, but eliminated because of the Handicapping Magic numbers, finished in the money.

My results were so poor that I thought I might be computing the numbers incorrectly. I purchased the Handicapping Magician software recommended in the book, and confirmed that my computations were accurate. (By the way, when I returned the software, my credit card account was promptly credited. Mr. Pizzolla and his associates stand by their products.)

The Fulcrum Pace, Pizzolla Balanced Speed Rating, and the Projected Power Fractions did not help me in my selections and wagering. For example, in his chapter on Fulcrum Pace, Mr. Pizzolla states, "...if you find that after setting a conservative Fulcrum Pace, that no other horse in the race can compete successfully against that pace, the Fulcrum horse is one of the safest and most consistent win bets in all of racing" (page 82). Though this situation did not arise frequently, it did happen a few of times, and not once did it result in a successful wager.

Let me give you a frustrating example of a typical Handicapping Magic experience. On Sunday, November 24, 2002 at Aqueduct, Race 5, I narrowed the field down to three horses: Panner, Baseball and Honorifico. However, in a nine horse field, Honorifico had the worst Pace Balanced Speed Rating and the next to worst Projected Power Fraction. Against my better judgment, I replaced Honorifico with Welcome Matt (whose PBS and PPF were among the best in this race; he was also the Fulcrum Pace horse) and boxed him in an exacta with Baseball and Panner. Panner finished first and Honorifico finished second. The exacta paid ($$$). Needless to say, this was the last time I used Handicapping Magic.

The book is not completely without value. Leaving the Fulcrum Pace, PBS and PPF aside (which means leaving aside most of the book, unfortunately), some of what Mr. Pizzolla teaches is sensible. The Form Cycle Window is a useful method for picking pace lines, even though it is tedious and time consuming. Chapter 8 is a helpful explanation of pace handicapping concepts.

It was with great disappointment that I put "Handicapping Magic" aside. I could not add Michael Pizzolla to my list of authors who have improved my handicapping. I recommend instead the writings of James Quinn, Tom Brohamer and Dick Mitchell.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple on the surface, but so far, very effective, August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Handicapping Magic (Paperback)

I was informed of this book in a on-line newsletter about horse racing, and the authors were describing the successes they were having with some of Michael's methods. I am a seasoned handicapper, and the last thing I thought I needed was another handicapping book, but I was intrigued. After reading the book, I found the rating techniques described simple to anyone who has handicapping experience and is serious about the game (for the novice, it is very helpful to be good with numbers and calculations).

The techniques also seem to be quite effective. I usually handicap multiple tracks at an simulcast facility, looking for good bets (i.e. longer-priced horses that have a chance to win). The first 2 days I tried Michael's methods, I was pointed to a total of 4 longshot winners that I would have otherwise passed over using my current handicapping methods. Not bad....

Michael details his background in the book to some extent, and the reader will realize that he did not come up with these techniques overnight - years of experience and refinement have brought him to the methods he describes. Any serious bettor and student of the game can appreciate the effort. If anything, the techniques described in the book will help you find overlooked horses, as the methods seem to be very good at quickly ferreting out 'hidden ability' - ability not apparent from looking at the past performances in the public's generalized way. If the methods and rankings point to the logical favorites, pass the race. Otherwise, be prepared to play!

This book is an excellent supplement to anyone's current method of handicapping, and gave me more tools to add to my 'handicapping toolbox.' Like any handicapping method, it is desirable to show proven success over the long haul, but Michael states his case well and I am off to a flying start with the techniques - the book has already paid for itself several times over. Any book that can help someone make profits and provide enjoyment is worth its cost and deserves 5 stars.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing magical about this method!, August 11, 2001

By 

richard gibble (elizabethtown, pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handicapping Magic (Paperback)

This book is 432 pages long yet only presents two basic formulas that are supposed to be used in the handicapping process. The real key to the method is deciding which past performance line to use for a given horse. The author presents rules which are to be used when you can skip a given past performance line and use the next line down. The problem is that these rules can be applied to so many lines that it's easy to look at the outcome of a race and say, "I would have had that if only I went down one more line."

It's also interesting to note that the company that published the book is the same company that he uses for all the examples in the book and is constantly remarking how great their service is. Mr Pizzolla will also sell you a great software package to do the calculations for you. How nice. But there's one thing he doesn't mention. The software only uses the most recent past performance line in the calculations and it is up to the user to manually select a different line. This is the most difficult part of his whole theory and it's not even a part of the software he's trying to sell. The software only does the calculations which are so simple anyone can do them in their head. I can't imagine what purpose the software is supposed to serve except to make the company he is attached to more money. Lucky for me they offer a 30 day money back guarantee on the software and happily refunded my money when asked.

I have personally been handicapping horses for 15 years and did find myself agreeing with many of the principles of pace that the author discusses. But his conclusions were far too simplistic to ever produce a long term profit. At least this is what I found in the trial runs I did using his method.

I would stongly suggest anyone thinking about using this method to do several weeks of trial runs on paper before risking any money.

Mr. Pizzolla repeatedly suggests that for anyone to succeed at his method they must practice. Perhaps with enough practice someone out their will find a way to make a long term profit using this method. If anyone succeeds it would indeed be Magic!