Customer Reviews

May The Horse Be With You: Pack at the Track

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A great read. Harvey Pack is the most knowledgable racing expert in the sport today. He is also a funny and talented wordsmith. Make sure that you pick up this book before Saratoga. It will be worth its weight in gold.

This book is an ideal beach, track or lakeside reader. Do you have to be a racing fan? I'd say yes, most definitely. The book has many stories and funny "rules of thumb" when speculating ( notice I am a racing speculator not a gambler, ha ha )on the outcome of a race. You will meet characters that will inspire you and make you appreciate what little you have but still have. Harvey is a great guy and a great storyteller. The book, I feel, really picks up in the middle when we get Harvey's true story on his rise to racedom ( notice I didn't say, stardom - though I'm sure many people would recognize him on the streets of Manhattan and most assured they'd know that face up at Saratoga. I am a big Harvey Pack fan. I brought an elderly grandmother from upstate to Aqueduct and she wanted to meet Harvey. No problem, he came down and hugged her and said "I need every fan I can get - so stay healthy....." What a guy. Now get this book if you are a racing fan ( A MUST ) and get this book if you love Harvey ( A MUST ), and as a matter of fact - get the book anyway. Harvey's alittle low on cash up at Saratoga and needs the spending money another book sale will bring him. " May Harvey always be with us "

I really enjoyed reading May The Horse Be With You: Pack At The Track. I saw Harvey Pack host the NYRA replay shows off my late Father's old C-band dish in the mid 80s. I was always impressed with the way Harvey KNEW how to use the medium of television. Unlike so many of today's so-called broadcasters, Harvey realized the strength and magic of using television to create a very intimate and personal relationship with each of his viewers. His ability to do that was also reflected in his "in person" persona. This past Spring, he held a room of handicappers captive with his genuine personality at the DRF Handicappers Expo in Las Vegas. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about Harvey!

Let's face it. This book is not "War and Peace." It's about a much more serious topic - horse racing.

I first encountered Harvey Pack at my maiden trip to Saratoga in 1983. My buddies and I stumbled across Harvey's Paddock Club when it was actually across from the paddock, next to the jockey's dressing room. There was Harvey holding court. He did his shtick: reminded us to gloat over our victories and to keep track of our winnings/losses with his tale of warning concerning Clark at Aqueduct who lost his house, car and family but thought he was about even. We ate it up. Even though he was about 30 years older than us we all wanted to be Harvey or at least have his job but we couldn't figure out how to get it.

Well, thanks to this book we now know how to get the job of a lifetime while have no discernible skills. At least Harvey would like you to think that. Actually, Harvey had a great skill of being able to transfuse his love of racing to whatever audience he was facing - Be it the live at the Paddock Club, doing race recaps on radio or TV or hosting the Breeders Cup.

Reading this book is like a full season of the Paddock Club and more. Anyone who follows horse racing will enjoy Harvey's insight on racing and handicappers. Anyone who has glancing acquaintance with Harvey over the past 50+ years will love it.

Mr Pack's impact on the sport of kings during the 1970s,1980s and 1990's was to me "a horseplayer" as profound as secretariat's,affirmed's and seattle slew's. in mr. pack we had someone who shared our passion and wore it on his sleeve. he was the father to everyone who passed through a turnstile at belmont, aqueduct and saratoga in hope of having that "magical day" for the $2.00 price of admission. he bestowed on us his wisdom for FREE, asking only in return that we remain faithful to the game he so loved. this book is a glimpse into his world, one i thank God i was part of. one that i wake up in the middle of the night and my heart aches for.
Mr. Pack, know that you have ran the race, finished it and in my book are a champion who belongs in the horse racing HALL OF Fame for your lifetime of achievement to the sport we love.

thank you,
charles p. gouldsbury/ farmingdale ny

Entertaining and "no non-sense" tales from longtime and legendary Horse Player and Handicapper Harvey Pack. Follow Harvey on his trip through life as a person and horse player. You will enjoy the many encounters that Harvey has had with some very "interesting" characters and jobs he held. I just wish that I could have spent some of my military days as Harvey did. You'll have to read the book to find out his story!!! Excellent job Harvey!!.........And...May the Horse Be With You!!!

At 159 pages kind of a slight read. Enjoyed the reminiscences and the anecdotes. Being from Brooklyn and a "degenerate" horse player I can recommend it to others with a similar illness.

Wonder how you get a job that really isn't a job but a means to address your passion? Pack outlays his life and his "angles" on how he made it happen. Full of facts regarding other "degenerates". Caught Pack towards his later horse days and scored on some tips. If you enjoy a quick track read that doesn't involve much handicapping, key this one.

If you've been to the seminars at Saratoga, then the sharp wit and character of Harvey Pack is a familiar one. If you enjoy his lively repartee as I do, then I think you'd quite enjoy this book. True, there is a fair bit about his life, but it's all part of the experience that is Harvey, and isn't that the point?. Well done.

While this is a slim read, (I easily finished it the same day I picked it up) it is nothing less than enjoyable. Harvey certainly represented "Everyman" at the racetrack and his good humor and self deprecating wit shine through in this volume of stories from the track. Some great recollections of some legendary horsemen, horseplayers, degenerates and hangers-on: but the best is the venom that Harvey saves up for his old "friend" Kenny Noe. The book is worth reading for just the part where Harvey describes Kenny's work as a racing steward. If you love racing and want some really good laughs, you should pick up this fun and entertaining read. You will wish there were more stories (hopefully this will spawn a follow-up book), but you will be hanging ballons nonetheless!