Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets (Hardcover)

by Brad Free (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Newcomers to the sport of Thoroughbred racing have struggled for years to find the ideal book to introduce them to the fundamentals of the fascinating game of betting on horses. Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets ends that quest and is destined to become the definitive guide not only for novices but also for veteran players in need of a refresher course.

From the Publisher
Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free has written a primer that is set squarely in the new world of 21st-century handicapping, where new exotic bets dominate the $15 billion annual wagering handle and new training methods and racing schedules have transformed the game. Free walks new and old players through the enduring basics of speed, pace, class, and condition, with dozens of recent race examples and interviews with leading trainers and jockeys, then also explains each of the new wagers available to the modern fan. Are racehorses predictable? What are the key factors and where can they be found? Is it really possible to win at the races?

Free's resounding answer is yes-horseplayers can win! He explains that by learning how to read and interpret the past performances, and applying their own analysis and observations, fans can not only cash more tickets but also gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of how racing really works.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: DRF Press (June 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972640177
• ISBN-13: 978-0972640176
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #476,675 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back to the basics., April 27, 2005

By	Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Brad Free, Handicapping 101 (DRF Press, 2004)

Handicapping 101 is exactly what it claims to be-- a back-to-the-basics primer on trying to pick a winner. Something a good lot of us horseplayers most probably need. It doesn't matter how long you've been playing the ponies (in fact, I'd be willing to bet that the longer you've been playing, the more you need this book), you're liable to find something in here you'd discarded over the years and forgotten about.

Free takes us back to the four factors that are most likely to give us a winner-- speed, class, form, and pace-- and discusses each in detail, then goes over the secondary factors, giving each about the amount of space they deserve, and ties it all together with (of course) copious examples.

A good, solid fundamentals-of-handicapping book. Recommended. ****

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is definitely THE place to start, November 21, 2005

By	MJC (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

Brad Free's Handicapping 101 is an outstanding book for the purpose that it was meant. Will this book make you an instant winner at the track? Probably not. Will it make you win more? Maybe. Will it help educate a beginner on what to look for, how to read past performances, and when/how to bet? DEFINITELY.

I have always loved horse racing, but mainly went to the races for a day of cheap entertainment and excitement. I'd bet $2-4 a race "just to keep it interesting." I rarely came away a winner, and when I did, I felt it was just pure luck. After getting into the game of much more this year and taking regular trips to Keeneland and Churchill Downs, I wanted to get serious.

Handicapping 101 hasn't made me rich or an instant winner right away, but it definitely has made me a much more informed horse player who stands a MUCH better chance than the general betting public. This book is extremely well written and is a joy to read. If you're a beginner who really wants to get into the game, start here!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget The Handicapping Systems - Buy This Book Instead, May 5, 2006

By	Mark W. Napier (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a must-have book on horseracing handicapping. Don't be fooled by its title into thinking this book is only for beginnners - in fact it should become a handicapping classic. Over the last eight years, I have read many horseracing handicapping books - some good, some bad, but this is my clear favorite. Well-written, easy to understand, and it explains very well the four main handicapping factors - condition/form, class, overall speed, and pace. And, it provides guidelines on how these four factors are applied at the various class levels. The first time I applied the author's guidelines to a maiden claiming race I hit a 28-1 winner. From my experience, I am firmly convinced that successful horseracing handicapping long-term can not be achieved by a computer program or a mathematical method/system. But, you can achieve a positive ROI long-term by applying the handicapping guidelines set forth in this book and making value bets, not just betting on the likely winner in every race. Buy this book - it will pay for itself many times over - it sure has for me.