The Odds Must Be Crazy: Beating the Races with the Man Who Revolutionized Handicapping [Hardcover]

Len Ragozin (Author), Len Friedman (Author), Richard Steier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

Having honed his charts to a high art over the last twenty years, a horseracing expert now explains the system that has made him a legendary figure, detailing the nuts and bolts of handicapping and successful betting, along with his own life story. 15,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ragozin and his famed "sheets," which chart the race-by-race development of thoroughbreds, are legendary in horse-racing circles, so anyone who is at all serious about handicapping will want to read his book. Most will be disappointed. Ragozin explains how to use the sheets once they are purchased from him, but he won't explain how handicappers can compile their own numbers and make their own sheets using his methodology. It's Ragozin's prerogative to keep his trade secrets, of course, but why write a book if you aren't going to tell what you know? Here the answer seems all too obvious. The book is an advertisement for the sheets, apparently written to attract more customers. Still, Ragozin does provide some insights into what he calls "condition handicapping," which involves using patterns created by race-by-race speed figures to project future performances. Ragozin's reputation with horseplayers ensures significant demand for his book in cities with thoroughbred racetracks. Too bad it's not a better book. Dennis Dodge

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316604976
• ISBN-13: 978-0316604970
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #931,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute "must" for anyone serious about horse racing, June 20, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Joshua Bauman) (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Odds Must Be Crazy: Beating the Races with the Man Who Revolutionized Handicapping (Hardcover)

While Len Ragozin may, in part, be promoting his Sheet service, he does begin to impart very important information about the sport, handicapping, and some of the aspects of the game that necessitated the development of his number system. He actually does disclose how to develop the numbers, the problem is, partly, in getting the raw data that goes into them. Ultimately, it is the analysis of the numbers and the patterns combined with sound money management that offers the promise of success at the windows. Read the book. Adapt the handicapping principles to the information available from the Daily Racing Form, if you wish. One thing I think you will find is that Len Ragozin wants to share his knowledge and wisdom. The data, however, is for sale.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should definitely improve your handicapping., June 30, 2002

By 

STEPHEN (ARLINGTON, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Odds Must Be Crazy: Beating the Races with the Man Who Revolutionized Handicapping (Hardcover)

You don't need to purchase The Sheets to benefit from Len Ragozin's insight. You may, as some have, find a way to incorporate his theories into your personal methodology. Understanding thoroughbred form cycles is critical to successful wagering and this book shows the way. But you will have to work a little to master the concepts he presents. Until Ragozin wrote this book I was mystified by the unpredictable declines and sudden rises in the performances of young horses. Now some of my best bets come in three year old races. And I don't subscribe to the expensive figures.
What I have learned is worth many times the purchase price.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best handicapping book, March 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Odds Must Be Crazy: Beating the Races with the Man Who Revolutionized Handicapping (Hardcover)

You can see the author's brilliant ideas such as parimutual game charateristics, physics(wind), mathematical concept(large sampling), horse's develoing and declining physical conditions.