what I would like to do is

look at a "book" after a race ( a good handicap ideally)

when I say a "book" I don't mean a book as in paperback but a bookmaker's book

Any suggestions as to how i would be able to do this?

Does it appear in a recommended book for example?

I've already read quite a few books on the subject of bookmaking and I have searched on Google for blogs

and am unable to find a single real-life example.

Are you looking in the section marked 'fiction'?

No

I wouldn't mind a fictional example even

as long as the amounts were in proportion

All you need to know is that no bookmaker ever has the perfect book - there's always exposed areas of liability - in my experience (brief stint in a small offshore company) the punters who put on chunky stakes were generally ahead of the inept traders so they'd always have value leaving areas of liability they didn't want.

Thanks capri

From my reading so far I am aware of what you have said but it would be nice to see (for a typical good betting handicap)

where the losers are and how much of a limb they are out on

The 'further reading' section might be of use.....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics_of_bookmaking

must admit that I haven't read all of those Gerry

I'll see if North Tyneside Libraries have any of them ....