RACING BOOKS BEST BUYS

Horsetrader is an excellent read although ruined slightly by the author's terribly sycophantic style. No matter. In essence it charts the story of the collaboration between what we know these days as Coolmore and their alliance with Robert Sangster. Thrilling stuff where it recounts the furious bidding wars of the mid-eighties onwards.

Bought this book, a timeless classic written by John White, back in the early 90s....



The rest, as they say, is history.

Who could resist a book like that TRD?

^Top2

There is actually a Betting Calculator
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Betting-Calculator-/371314486487?pt=LH_DefaultDoma...

There is actually a Betting Calculator
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Betting-Calculator-/371314486487?pt=LH_DefaultDoma...

Here are the top 3 books as voted by SmarterSig users, the rest can be found on the site

Betting on Flat Handicaps    Jon Gibby    17   


Precision: Statistical and Mathematical Methods in Horse Racing    CX Wong    9   


Against the Crowd    Alan Potts    7

I've heard that "One Jump Ahead" is good value.  Cannot remember for the life of me who recommended it though.

One from early in your date range called Classic Lives by Caroline Silver, which traced the development of a group of horses from conception to racecourse. No doubt training methods and, of course, the racing program have changed since them, but I remember it as a fascinating insight into a world most punters never see.

Second would be the Martin Pipe biography, written by Richard Pitman - glimpses of the mind of a that produced new ways of thinking about training NH horses make it worth the effort of suffering the writers prose style.

And one unusual suggestion, a book called Sport of Kings, written by Rebecca Cassidy. Essentially an academic study of the horse racing world by an anthropologist who actually went and worked in studs and stables around Newmarket to gain the necessary knowledge. But it contains real insight into the people that inhabit the sport and I particularly liked the dissection of the pretences of bloodstock agents. I should add that I appear briefly in this book in the section about gambling and I don't come out of too well either! Well written with plenty of humour to keep the reader interested alongside the drier academic material.

I should add that as the author of Against The Crowd, I couldn't recommend that at all. It was my first book, a pretty amateurish piece of writing and hardly relevant to the world of betting we know now.

Very modest of you Alan, I think at the time many people found it an eye opener. Hope you are well and still making it pay. Would like to do that extended interview with you some day in addition to the one that appeared in my book.

Johnny_Mustang    26 May 15 11:58 
Horsetrader is an excellent read although ruined slightly by the author's terribly sycophantic style. No matter. In essence it charts the story of the collaboration between what we know these days as Coolmore and their alliance with Robert Sangster. Thrilling stuff where it recounts the furious bidding wars of the mid-eighties onwards.


Re reading this for about the tenth time, Johnn'y summation is spot on.

That's funny Johnn because I've read it five or six times myself. That was the period when I got hooked on racing and I still look back on what they did in those days with a certain admiration.

Some of the bravado and the daring in the early days at Keeneland was amazing. The writer's sycophancy is worth putting yup with for some of the stunning insights.

My old Dad had a copy in hardback that went missing. when he was hospitalised with stomach cancer before his death he wanted to read it one last time, and I managed to pick up a copy on Amazon. Says it all for such a well read man, he wanted to be reading that one before he checked out

That's a nice story Johnn. I can't quite put my finger on it either but I've read most classic literature over the years and keep finding myself lured back to that book too.

Actually to my shame I have a copy and have not read it...

Used to to run the Betting shop next to where Sangster and his pals used to drink...

I was only a young fella mind but the stories I could tell...

Just dug out my copy of Classic Lives Alan, frightening to think I have it over forty years.

It don't half make me feel old.

The art of legging

Always Back Winners - Stewart Simpson
Betting For A Living - Nick Mordin
Against The a Crowd - Alan Potts
The Inside Track - Alan Potts
One a hundred Hints For Better Betting - Mark Coton
Profitable Betting Strategies - Clive Holt
Class Of The Field - James Quinn
The New Expert Handicapper - James Quinn
Picking Winners  - Andrew Beyer
Betting Thoroughbreds - Steven Davidowitz
Ainslie's Complete Guide To Thoroughbred  Racing - Tom Ainslie

would just like to echo "johny mustang"and "john"" r.e horsetrader. I must have read hundreds of books down the years not only horseracing( though that would be my first love)and would say horsetrader would deadheat with henri charriere {papillon)as the best book I have ever read I have a hardback copy and have read it 4/5 times and is one of my treasured possesions.

Betting For A Living by Nick Mordin is the most influential book on @Facts' list. Like Helen, it launched a thousand pundits' and punters' careers (hi, Willow) so there are two ironies. First is that Mordin has recanted pretty much all of it, and second is that it is actually two different books with the same title, and why the publisher allowed that to happen is beyond me.

It takes a brave man to recant anything in this industry.

re cant

First is that Mordin has recanted pretty much all of it, and second is that it is actually two different books with the same title, and why the publisher allowed that to happen is beyond me.

Can you expand on that, Ramruma?

Nick Mordin -- Betting For A Living.

The paperback came out ten years later and had almost entirely new content apart from the betting diary, yet the publishers give no hint of this: it's not even called "second edition" FFS.

Sometimes publishers only call a version a second edition or revised edition if significant copy changes have occurred. Having not read either of Nick Mordin's books, were the changes on that scale Ramruma?

I have the paperback edition and it says "Revised and Updated" on the cover.

In that case the publishers did act responsibly.

The book by Norton Howells was a fun read, not going to change your punting perspective, but good fun. He states that he is on here, pop on and tell us how you're doing if you read this, Norton.

Well this is the publishers comment on Amazon for the paperback, published in 2002:

Not only in paperback for the first time (after nine reprints in hardback), this classic work has been exhaustively revised so that all examples are from the 2002 season.

All that remains of the old are the actual journal detailing Nick’s betting performance.


Just to add that this was after the original company had gone bust in 2001 and I was also asked if I would update my books to provide them with something to publish. Having been cheated out of royalties in the liquidation, I impolitely declined!

Good for you Alan