Timeform Racehorses Annuals

Good luck with your search.   They turn up fairly regularly on Ebay.   "Best Horses" for 1943 to 1947 inclusive sold back in November for £560!.  All had Dust Jackets which as you probably know adds to the value.  If you buy or have copies without DJ's there are a couple of guys who specialise in good photocopies.

welcome to the forum, Magnus55

I have best horses of 1945(Phil Bull),no cover,
and others for sale.

Thanks guys. I’ve just bought 1944, 45 and 46 for a total of £105 on eBay. Still looking for1943 and 47 to 52 inclusive. I doubt me ever getting the 1942 (issued as a paperback I believe).

Yes - 1942 was a very small, and thin,  - probably  usually now,  mostly,  tatty in condition - if can be found - Grey cover Paperback ...  I have some Photos of a copy, and then photocopies of same, that I once took in the early 1980s

Actually - You would not give the 1942 a second glance - if you did not know pf it's historical relevance, and financial worth

1942 is in absolute contrast to the strong Blue Back 'Best Horse of' 1943 to 1947 - which are brilliant in themselves - and are more detailed and descriptive than the early Timeform 'Racehorses' Annuals

Thanks Onlooker. If you’d be prepared to let me have a photocopy copy of the 1943, please let me know how much you’d want. stevetaplin@hotmail.com

Oops sorry it’s stephentaplin@hotmail.com

1942 !

A lot turn up in Charity shops, believe or not. Someone dies and the family with no interest in racing just hand them in to said shops. I`ll keep my eye open.

BTW, I loved you 2-y-o annual over the years. Superb.

Thank you Mighty Mac, both for saying you’ll keep an eye open for me and for your kind words about my two-year-olds book.

You are welcome. I buy your annual every year since it first came out, about mid 80s?? It`s a fantastic book, couldn`t do without it. A lot lot bigger and more informative now than the first, but first ones were extremely good too at the time.

Good luck for 2019!

Cheers. I’m still planning on doing the book again this year (I’m about half way through the pedigree research) but sadly this one will almost certainly be the last. Health issues.

Magnus, if you click on the link for or go to the website      " the saleroom "  ...

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb

it covers a lot of auction houses throughout the country, just put " Timeform annuals" into the search engine

every so often and it will give you a good chance, bid and buy online if you see one you need, i will keep an eye out

for you.

Magnus55 - what is the likely release date for the 2019 annual?

I hope you overcome the health issues.

Glasgow Calling. Thank you, I’ll check that out. 

Thanks Davros. As usual I’ll be aiming for the last week in April.

No worries Magnus, is it still just between those dates you need. ?

... just seen your 16-23 post Magnus, ignore my last post.

I am sorry to hear about your health issues and I hope that you can overcome them. Take care.

Thanks guys. Those Timeform books I ordered- 1944, 45 and 46, arrived this morning. I’ve had a quick look at the discussions on Dante and Tudor Minstrel. They’ve reminded me of Phil Bull’s phenomenal racing brain.

Magnus - thank you for all the effort that goes in to your 2yo books. Always a fascinating read.

Very sorry to hear of your health issues - I wish you well.

Cheers

There's a 1947 edition on ebay. £200 mind

I have the 1943-45 editions.No dust covers,but in good condition.What might they be worth,collectively or for each on it's own?

@Magnus55 -- great book; shame there is no Kindle version; sorry about issues.

47 seems to be always the most difficult to find of this period, but sans dust jacket you should be able to get a decent one for not much more than 60. The 1947 copy on Ebay looks to have its original DJ hence the high price. He hasn't sold it yet mind
43 to 45 inclusive should be less than £100 sans DJ's
Original Dust Jackets nearly double the value of most issues - see my not below for the lot that made £560.

Onlooker will know - what is the rare softback year?, when most were issued in hardback but a limited number were done in a handy form.  I remember being at Graham Budds Sotheby sale in about 2014 when one copy sold for really silly money.

Good thread this, on a subject dear to my heart.

Good evening, blackbarn

The SOFTback edition was 1949 ONLY - It was produced AS WELL AS the regular 1949 HARDBACK...
- with the Softback being - as you say - much, much,  rarer

There was also, I believe,  a PAPERback - 'SUPPLEMENT to 1948 Racehorses'.

Quite what it contained, I do not know ... as the regular HARDBACK 1948 Edition does contain Ratings - so the Supplement is not for that.

There is no reference to this SUPPLEMENT in the Foreward or Preface to Racehorses of 1948 -

- and the only similar reference is a NOTICE - saying ...

The first issue of 1949 TIMEFORM will be published on April 23rd.
It will provide up-to-date comments, racefigures and ratings for all horses which have reached the first six in any race prior to April 17th, and also for those horses which have not succeeded in reaching the first six but whose running demands a revision of what has been written  about them in Timeform Annual,
The Annual itself shout not be discarded after April 23rd.
Itshould be retained throughout the season as a source of information about those horses whose names do not appear in the current issues of Timeform.
---------

The Annual itself shout not be discarded

There is an UNDERSTATEMENT - if ever there was one!


It is extremely RARE - and I have never seen a copy.

*  - my typo ...

should not be discarded

Onlooker and Blackburn...thank you for your v interesting comments. I’ve just agreed to buy 1943 for £60 (apparently a good copy but no jacket) and 1947 (nice copy with a worn jacket) for £125. As long as I’m happy with them it leaves me looking for 1948 to 1952 inclusive. I think I’ll have to forget 1942.

perhaps not exactlty what you looking for

but a great obscure books site for a view

https://www.way-books.co.uk/

Thanks Delta, funnily enough I bought my last 2 timeform books from Mr Way. He lives near Newmarket.

Magnus - As in life, a worn jacket is much better than no jacket at all.   I'll get me coat!!!!

Sorry to have been absent - Apple tree pruning starts today.

Lol

Only just read this posting. 1947 Best Horses has a supplement which looks very similar to first 1948 Racehorses annual. White thin paperbacks and generally worth quite a bit more than Best Horses annual. Exception is 1942 which worth around £2,000 on its own.

I have 52,54,55,56,57,58,60,61 & 63. Inside is in good condition. Green outer has some minor stains etc. Anyone know if they are worth anything or anyone want them? I was clearing a relatives house who had them. Was thinking of putting them on eBay as a job lot for around £150. Is it worth it?

Should have said. Mines are Timeform racehorses of 1952 and so on.

Unfortunately it would appear OP Steves luck ran out.
Sad 2 hear .RIP.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/author-steve-taplin-dies-aged-65-following-long-illness/400257

Omg I am soooo sorry. I had no idea. Condolences.

R.I.P,sad to read that.

Thanks for the memories Steve.

Sorry to hear this, RIP.

End of an era.

RIP

Yes, Steve Taplin's Two Year Olds of xxxx annuals were fantastic. First task: scan each entry for any mention of Royal Ascot. Second task: remember that trainers can be wildly optimistic!

The amount of work it must have taken is incredible, especially in the early years when trainers were more reticent than (most are) today.

RIP.

A sad ending to a good thread.
R.I.P

That is extremely sad news to hear. I didn`t realise that Steve had sadly passed away. His books were highly regarded, especially when they first appeared in the pre-internet world way back in the day. Sincere condolences to Gillian and Kimberley. RIP Mr Taplin.

Tragic post. When i read the bottom of the thread i thought i recognise steve as i have bought his great 2yo books for the past few years and knew he has passed away.

Rest in peace steve, you will be remembered well by the racing community