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Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide [Paperback]

Andrew Beyer (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
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Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide + Beyer on Speed: New Strategies for Racetrack Betting + Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If the "Daily Racing Form" is the horseplayer's Bible, I believe that Beyer has written its most informative "Testament." (Bill Nack )

Product Description

Just as football evolved with the introduction of the forward pass and basketball with the development of the jump shot, so too was handicapping forever changed by the use of speed figures--and it all started with Andrew Beyer's Picking Winners. This edition features a new foreword in which the author discusses the changes that have swept the sport since the book's original publication. Picking Winners remains a classic in the field of thoroughbred racing.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Mariner Books (May 6, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0395701325
  • ISBN-13: 978-0395701324
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #79,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #3 in  Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Gambling > Track Betting
    #46 in  Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Horses
    #13 in  Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Gambling > Racing

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More About the Author

Andrew Beyer
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
right risk, bonus money, mutuel pool, track biases, poker night, tree lace, bold play, mint copy, trumpeter swan, strong betting action, speed handicapping, prime bet, speed handicappers, inside post position, brief speed, track variant, claiming price, allowance race, most recent race, betting coups, claiming race, early speed, seven furlongs, six furlongs, claiming horse
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Picking Winners, Racing Form, New York, Putting It All Together, Handicapping Primer, Last Raced Horse, Ambi Hula, Str Fin Jockeys Owners Odds, Money Management, Edwards Country, Commodore Downs, Mio Host, Deep Rang, Triple Crown, Riva Ridge, Fathers Ace, Gun Bow, Mutuel Prices, Gusty O'Shay, Allen Jerkens, The Joy of Handicapping, Wembley Legend, Group Plan, Flying Mercury, Come On Rabbit
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide
66% buy the item featured on this page:
Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide by Andrew Beyer Paperback 4.3 out of 5 stars (20)
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Betting Thoroughbreds for the 21st Century: A Professional's Guide for the Horseplayers
10% buy
Betting Thoroughbreds for the 21st Century: A Professional's Guide for the Horseplayers by Steve Davidowitz Hardcover 4.6 out of 5 stars (14)
$16.47
Handicapping 101: A Horse Racing Primer
6% buy
Handicapping 101: A Horse Racing Primer by Brad Free Paperback 4.0 out of 5 stars (4)
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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for picking more than just horses, May 15, 2006
This review is from: Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide (Paperback)
I've never bet on a horse race. I've actually only been to a track once in my life (we don't have a lot of it in this part of the country), and yet I still found this book tremendously useful. Why? Well, it was recommended to me as a guide to "Picking Winners," not just in the horse racing world but in the stock market as well. And, having now read the book I can say that it has proven a more effective lesson in choosing stocks than most of the investment books I've read.

Some of the areas Beyer explores which I think apply to the stock market as well (or to any investment situation as far as I can tell) are:
-the effect different track conditions can have on a horse's performance.
-considering the effects of trainers on a horse's ability to win, lose, progress, or decline in performance.
-spotting potential cases of insider information.
-When to bet on a consistent performer over an unproven newcomer and vice versa.
-detecting signs of physical malady or deterioration early before you lose money because of them.
-How to detect and hopefully stop a losing streak once one begins.

In short this book provides an incredible amount of insight into the ways of selecting the merits of one horse (ie stock) over another without discounting the influence of other factors (the trainer, ie management, for example) on the outcome. I highly recommend this book as a source of investing knowledge and insight and, were I to take up speed handicapping, would absolutely start here.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The one that started it all, February 1, 2000
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide (Paperback)
I've read many fine books on handicapping and this one is probably the best of them all. A real easy read, its peppered with fascinating and often humerous anecdotes and rules of thumb.

Beyer first introduced his speed handicapping concept in this book, and he shows how to compute the now famous Beyer speed figures. Even though they're available in the Form, its still good to know how they were derived.

At the time Beyer wrote this book, he focused most heavily on speed handicapping, and he would more thoroughly embrace other factors such as pace or trip handicapping later in his career. But he does at least touch on all facets of handicapping in this book, and either a beginner or expert will find it a informative and amusing read.

Enjoy!

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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars If you read no other horse racing book this year..., October 1, 1997
By J. Berry (Alexandria, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Picking Winners: A Horseplayer's Guide (Paperback)
Quality journalism, genuine passion and beneficial insight in the same book on gambling? Beyer is not only the preeminent thoroughbred handicapper in the world, but he's also an accomplished sports journalist. He wraps everything perfectly in his primer "Picking Winners." The book reads like a documentary (you feel his pain!) but teaches like Mister Miyagi (weight on, weight off). Anyone with a remote interest in horse racing betting will enjoy the experience, absorbing Beyer's sage advice all the while. While a beginner won't become a black belt handicapper overnight (like Danny), a new world of awareness will open. And actually that's the essence of this book -- no shortcuts, no easy answers. Become aware of the influences and gain proficiency in interpreting them. "Picking Winners" succeeds on many levels but primarily on where so many books of its genre fail. You can read it. Jax Berry
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Try walking around with this tucked under your arm it always starts a conversation
Try walking around at lunch with this tucked under your arm, it always starts a conversation. Strangers come up to you and ask about all your secrets at the track because surely... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark Ruzomberka

4.0 out of 5 stars The Starting Guide For Any Horseplayer
This is a brilliant book, but more importantly, it's the first must read for any individual looking to make money at the racetrack. Read more
Published 2 months ago by D.S. Williamson

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for the ponies..
When this book showed up in the Music Box bookstore in the Hamden Plaza, I was skeptical. OK, the guy on the cover had a moustache. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Alissa Mower Clough

2.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared :(
This book is from the 1970's. All the racing charts and related handicapping info/discussions are 35 years old. Meaningless with what's available to todays handicappers. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Marshall Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for all handicappers
Andrew Beyer is the father of the speed figures (a process he thoroughly explains across 3 chapters of this book) and one of the most well-known handicappers in the sport... Read more
Published 18 months ago by B. Johnson

3.0 out of 5 stars I've never been a huge fan, but I LOVED the anecdotes....
I've never been a huge fan, but I LOVED the anecdotes. I've always had the opinion that Mr. Andrew Beyer is a very stereotypical Harvard Grad. Read more
Published on July 8, 2008 by joseph tuttle

3.0 out of 5 stars Save your time and your money
Nothing against Beyer or any other handicapping writer, but devoting significant time to the study of handicapping is a fool's errand. Read more
Published on March 2, 2007 by R. Bailin

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny, but not helpful.
It was hard for me to give three stars for this book, because the author revolutionized handicapping. Read more
Published on January 14, 2007 by The Next Professional Horseplayer

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent & Enlightening horse racing information!
Andrew Beyer has been a godsend to horseplayers. He has made it easy to understand and gave us an edge when making selections. Read more
Published on June 25, 2006 by Paul Groffie

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative

Andrew Beyer takes an interesting and analytical approach to picking winners at the track, while his easy style makes this a fun and understandable read. Read more
Published on April 15, 2006 by K.A.Goldberg

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