5 comments about Ainslie's Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Racing.

1. Some things don't change. Horses still have four legs. And Tom Ainslie still reigns as the Triple Crown Champion of handicappers. Forget the Beyer speed figure
   and pace gurus and go with the fundamentals. You'll also be treated to cogent
   and lucid prose, a rarity in racing books. This is The Bible, both Old Testament and
   New.



2. I had read nearly a dozen books on horserace handicapping before I read Ainslie's book. This should have been the first book on horseracing that I read. Ainslie covers every aspect of handicapping and the racing game imaginable. He writes in a simple, concise, easy style -- easy on the eyes, easy to absorb.
   
   It is well-organized. Each chapter covers a specific aspect of the game. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most (and have put to good use) is Ainslie's 60 item list on how to handicap a race --what to look for: angles to be aware of in class, form; speed; jockey/trainer angles .. and on and on and on. The beauty of this book is that the reaader is exposed to so many different topics and subject areas that he will able to find his nich, his own style in handicapping. If you are like me, after you read this book, you will have a list of several more books that you will simply have to have. Thanks to Ainslie.
   
   Ainslie doesn't tout any particular handicapping style; he simply informs the reader of all the many different angles there are instantly adding to the reader's knowledge of the game and providing instant improvement to his handicapping. This is the racing book you would keep on your bedside table; this is the book that you will be referring back to time and time again -- there is that much in this book. Tell you one thing, I envy Ainslie's friends who are able to get tips and suggestions from the author.
   
   If the reader is buying this book in paperback, perhaps he should buy two copies. Surely, he will wear this book out. I have.



3. Let's start with the obvious. Ainslie wrote in a different time: before exotic wagering, which he considered a gimmick, became 70+% of the daily handle. His specific advice about WPS betting and money management, as a result, should be discarded. Likewise, his advice about which trainers and jocks to follow has aged poorly.
   
   At the same time, there's information in here that's invaluable, such as the sections on understanding trainer intent, and on post parade and paddock behavior.
   
   This book has a special place in the history of handicapping, and for that reason alone, is worth having, but in the modern player's arsenal, it should be an added coloring and not the central philosophy.



4. What an eye opener it was when I stumbled on this fifteen years ago! Some of the material is dated, but the fundamentals are well covered and still relevant. Still a terriffic primer for someone wanting to learn the game.



5. Ainslie breaks down several factors that should be looked at when analyzing a race - speed, pace, trainer, class, form, etc. His writing style is great, the info is great, and it is a great primer for anyone just getting into the sport or wanting to improve their skills. Some of the jockey/trainer info is a little outdated, but I refer to the book often. Highly recommend.

5 comments about Basic Horsemanship (Revised) (Doubleday Equestrian Library).

1. I read this book just to see if I was riding the correct way because I taught myself. I learned a lot and it has helped me understand my horse better. It would be a great book for a Novice Rider or new Instructer. Anyone will benifit from reading this to improve their skills!



2. This is an awesome book teeling just about everything you need to know about basic riding! The index is full of pictures about tack, brushes and parts of the horse! It seems like you have a trainer right there with you helping you along the way, going at your pace! It is a great book for all!



3. I'm a twelve year old rider. I just started to learn to ride. I wanted to learn to ride better and faster since my riding lessons are only once a week. I think that the book helped me a great deal. I got to learn at the pace I felt comfortable with.



4. I have to say it's really "basic". I didn't mean that it's worthless.But it's not worth the price. It suits the one who is interested in horsemanship but doesn't have any experience in riding . The major drawback is the pictures or graph are not enough for the reader to make a precise and vivid image of what the author trys to present. And this is quiet helpful for novice riders.isn't it?



5. this book is great! it has a little bit of everything in it from riding to common horse problems.

3 comments about Trick Training Your Horse to Success.

1. This is an excellent book for anyone--not just someone who wants to train their horse to do tricks. It builds a better partnership and teaches the horse to be more responsive. Jan's explanations are clear--things that anyone can follow at home. The proof of her methods of training are in the horses she shows & the rave reviews of people who buy her foals. Her stallion, TS Black Tie Affair, has won world championships in many events and competes in everything from halter to dressage to speed classes! He's always good tempered and has excellent manners. And he loves to demonstrate his tricks!!! For those of you who are spotted horse fans, you'll love the illustrations in this book--they're all Pintos!



2. Jan's book is the best book I've read on the subject of trick training for horses. I own other trick training books (and videos) and if you own Jan's book, you can pitch the others. She explains each concept simply and includes training "keys" and "tips" that are absolutes! She also includes some notes of caution - things that you need to watch out for. Learning from her experience makes trick training fun and easy! I highly recommend this book!



3. For example, one of the tools she recommends is the halter with chain over the nose for more "persuasive" effect. Unless you know already how to use this halter, don't start here. This type of halter can seriously hurt a horse unless used properly.

3 comments about John Henry (Thoroughbred Legends (Unnumberd)).

1. "John Henry" is book number ten in the Thoroughbred Legends series published by the Eclipse Press out of Lexington, Kentucky.

   Steve Haskin, an award-winning writer for "The Blood-Horse" tells a lively tale of the dumpy little bay horse that was back at the knees and, "like a bargain-basement sale item, ...always seemed to be available at a dirt-cheap price."

   John Henry was a demon in his stall---he hated to be confined. He passed through the hands of a number of owners and trainers who thought he showed some promise as a runner, even though he was in the habit of ripping his feed tub off of the wall and hurling it down the shed row. Once, when he was stabled at a track he didn't like, John Henry did the same thing to his trainer:

   "After one of the races, [John Henry] returned to the barn and was given a bath. Marino [his trainer] started walking him, and before he knew it, his jacket sleeve was in John's mouth. John picked Marino up off the ground and took off down the shed row, dragging him along. Marino was being lifted in the air and was completely helpless...'Thank God I had a goose down jacket or he would have taken a big chunk out of me,' Marino said. `That's how mad the horse was.'"

   Then the trainer, Ron McAnally took in the gelding that vented his anger on his water buckets, feed tubs, and sometimes his groom, and turned him into a demon on the race track. How did the trainer do this? McAnally says it was by treating him kindly and earning John Henry's trust.

   The ugly little demon-turned-race-horse repaid his trainer's kindness by earning an amazing $6.6 million in eighty-three starts and thirty-nine wins. His durability and courage became a legend, and he attracted record numbers of fans to the tracks where he ran. He won his second `Horse of the Year' title and closed out his racing career at the advanced age of nine.

   John Henry and his trainer, Ron McAnally were both elected to the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame in 1990, which was only fitting.

   John is now spending his retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park, and is shown to his visitors three times a day during the season (March 15th through October 31st). Go see him soon, as he turned twenty-six this year. Just don't visit the grand, old gelding on a day when he's been given medicine:

   "John also hates medicine, and whenever he's given a dewormer, which is a pasty substance, he keeps it in his mouth for hours and refuses to swallow it. One time, Roby [his groom] took him out to show him several hours after he had been given the medication. `John was standing in the ring,' she said, `and all of a sudden, he blows this wormer all over the audience.'"

   John still knows what he doesn't like.




2. After reading this heartwarming story of the ugly
   horse who blooms and wins our hearts and
   breaks racing records I wanted to stand up and cheer.
   I was inspired to visit this living legend
   and found him as mystical and charismatic in
   person as related in this wonderful book.
   A good book for the horse lover and for anyone
   who loves the unconquerable spirit.



3. Haskin provides a serviceable equine biography of American horse racing's last true superstar. As one Chicago journalist recently pointed out, John Henry's life story is a close approximation of Seabiscuit's: ex-claimer with bad conformation makes very, very good. Not the fastest race horse to ever set foot on a track, John Henry often won on sheer endurance and wits--part of his allure. Most fans will find little new in the way of facts, but will nevertheless want the book for its often amusing anecdotes. Who can resist a horse who drinks coffee? (Oddly enough, one of the most famous stories told by Chris McCarron--John Henry's habit of checking the leader board after winning a race--doesn't make an appearance.) Haskin's prose does not exactly fly, and some of his more rhetorical flights are unintentionally funny. The photographs, despite a somewhat annoying layout, are well-chosen; I was particularly glad to see the award-winning photograph of John Henry regally contemplating an adulatory crowd. Overall, entertaining enough as a quick read.

1 comments about Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia.

1. This book is absolutely wonderful for children, teachers, parents, anthropologists, and Mongolia enthusiasts alike! Ted and Betsy Lewin creatively captured the spirit and splendor of Naadam, a vibrant festival showcasing Mongolia's talented sportsmen and women. This book transports readers to the vast Mongolian steppe and lets them imagine what it would be like to stand shoulder to shoulder with locals, cheering for horses and young jockeys crossing the finish line after an emotional and exhausting race.

2 comments about Tales from the Triple Crown.

1. Veteran turf writer Steve Haskin strides past the typical coverage surrounding the rich history of the Triple Crown to pen this enjoyable romp for racing fans or those who follow the sport during the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
   
   The 21 stories feature the extreme highs and frustrating lows from the backside, with the roller-coaster ride life can bring off the track.
   
   There are fresh angles to older stories, like the disappointment of trainer Bud Delp after Spectacular Bid lost his bid for the Triple Crown due to a safety pin; along with new gems, with a chronicle of jockey Angel Cordero's misadventures in trying to get home after winning the 1985 Kentucky Derby aboard Spend a Buck.
   
   There are also nice features on the recent heroes, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones, along with a moving piece on Barbaro.
   
   This is a solid example on how a book does not have to run according to form to be a fun read.



2. Steve Haskin's always does a wonderful job of making you see his love of the sport through his eyes and experiences. All the way through to Barbaro. The only thing missing is Eight Belles but obviously this book was done before her tragedy.

5 comments about There are No Problem Horses, Only Problem Riders.

1. .
   "With all of the great books for horse people and horses out there, there's no reason to buy this book." That's what respected trainers told me. I wish I'd listened and saved having to throw it in the garabage, but I liked the (misleading) title and it was on sale, so I learned the hard way.



2. The worst thing you could do to horses is to follow the advice of Mary Twelveponies. This book and her philosophies are based on the principle: eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. She often refers to the holy book. Maybe she seeks an excuse when she hit horses with nails if they bite. She likes to punish horses with a whip if they don't obey. She says serveral times: you have to be the boss. So you whip a horse on the foreleggs firmly if he does'nt listen? When I finished the book I was alsmost shaking because of disgust. Unbelievable that these kind of people may spread their word in print. This book should be put into a huge bonfire. I am relieved that there are other authors like John Lyons and Pat Parelli. Those persons deserve respect.



3. I bought this book thinking it would be full of wonderful advice, but I really did not gain a thing from it. I get much better results from communicating with my horse, rather than threatening him. Also, the advice on mounting a tied horse is outright DANGEROUS! DO NOT DO THAT! When I started my horse, he was hard to mount, so I just taught him the verbal command of 'stand' (which I use for all kinds of other things too, not just mounting) and now he knows to stand quietly when I ask. I agree with another reviewer, Pat Parelli and John Lyons have much better advice.



4. Mary Twelveponies provides excellent advice to riders on all levels. Her approach is practical and takes into account the importance of respect in the relationship between a human and a 1,000 lb. animal. I sent a copy to my neice to help her learn the necessary assertivness skills to deal with her typical "new horse-owner" type problems. A well-behaved horse is a joy to ride. Getting and keeping one that way takes some work. This book will help. Those who have called these techniques harsh should note that John Lyons wrote the forward. I found her approach balanced and clearly that of an experienced horsewoman.



5. Twelveponies falls for the oldest mistake in the book. Since she is a trainer, she thinks all problems can be solved by training.
   
   I've "retrained" many problem horses. In many cases, the problem was not the former rider/trainer. It was a physical problem. I always start with a farrier and vet, and look for conformation problems that call for a specialty saddle. It is so rewarding to give a problem horse a rest and treatment to heal sore muscles, arthritic joints or a damaged spine. It's so easy to get proper corrective shoes, fit the right saddle, and then all is well. Once in a while the problem is more serious, but still is fixable by a vet. Example: a retained testicle. No amount of training will get an apparent gelding with a hidden testicle to stop acting like a stallion.[...]

5 comments about The Handicapper's Condition Book, Revised: An Advanced Treatment of Thoroughbred Class.

1. Quinn takes class evaluation of thoroughbreds to a new level and backs it all up with statistical data to prove which horses are best suited for each race and it's conditions. Quinn explains in exceptional detail how to seperate contenders from pretenders. I don't think you want to throw a true beginner into this, but novices can substantially improve their understanding and win percentages by mining this volume for ideas of what to look for. The Appendix summarizing what kind of horse to look for in each type of race is worth it's weight in gold and is something almost anyone with even limited experience can apply to their handicapping. I can honestly say that I believe my handicapping is going to a new level as I read and re-read this book to absorb the material.



2. This book is awesome, and simply the best as it pertains to condition, class, and form. A must have, will simply improve your handicapping skills by leaps and bounds.
   
   As you can see from the others reviews; all positve, all five stars plus!!!



3. I've read several books on handicapping and wagering on racing. Some have been very good and very helpful.
   None were as helpful as this.
   As a casual handicapper, you learn to look at speed figures and try to guess who's fastest. But the fastest horse doesn't always win. Class and form are sometimes overlooked.
   This book taught me to look at who belongs and who doesn't. And who was meant to win this particular race.
   After you read this book, you won't miss as much regarding class and form. This will likely lead you to more live horses at longer odds. Especially when so many others use speed as their primary criteria and create short prices for the horses with the highest Beyers.
   And the appendicies are a tremendous tool for day-to-day handicapping. A must-read for any serious handicapper.



4. This is the most valuable book I own on horse racing. James Quinn writes so clear and knows so much about the sport. This books tells you all the different types of races and what horse is most qualified to win those races. It has helped me out so much. I don't bet, but I enter contest online and you have to be prepared for every type of race when you enter them. An excellent read for everyone.



5. Essential to any bettor's library. This book has cut my handicapping time in half as I eliminate the absolute non contenders in minutes. Combined with form analysis, this book also points out the strong favorites and chalk in just a bit more time.

5 comments about The Power of Early Speed (Elements of Handicapping).

1. I agree that early speed is important in horse racing and in particular horse racing on dirt. Klein Speed Points and Klein Track Bias Numbers as mentioned in this book give the horse racing fans some kinds of objective measurement and idea on how the speed of a race will look like and the likelihood that a horse will perform better because of the favourable change in the pace of a race as well as track bias. However, the author of this book does not explain how the formulas used to derive Klein Speed Points and Klein Trace Bias Numbers are created.
   
   Once again, I would like to stress that just knowing early speed is not enough. This is only one part of horse racing. Moreover, if everyone focuses on early speed evaluation, the inefficieny in the "horse racing market" will disappear and the profit will also disappear.
   
   This book is OK to read, but as an experienced horse racing fans who have read many books on handicapping I found no surprise in this book.



2. I liked the book mostly for the Klein speed figures, I have applied them with some success. I was disappointed though when I figured out that it was pretty uneccessary to figure them myself, TVG for example has speed figures that almost exactly mirror what I came up with using the formula from the book. But it did give me a new respect for early speed that I will continue to use in my handicapping.



3. The title says it all in that early speed is the ultimate bias. It's like in the movie Top Gun where Tom Cruise says "I feel the need, the need for speed." The stats of the sucess of early speed don't lie, & this book presents an interesting way of compiling them with an emphasis that includes field size. And a large part of the book presents charts on trainers, jockeys, etc. But concentrating on the 1st call only without the all important 2nd call & no use of fractions means that this work as providing raw numbers is only a starting point for further research. The books of Ainslie, Beyer, Davidowitz & Brohammer should be studied first, as while this effort presents a formula for early speed points, the best system is that one that compiles information & experiances using the most complex computer, the one above the shoulders.



4. I can only half-finished but will not continue the book. If the people believe or love statistic records, the book is for them. Half of the book is stats records for USA dirt track ( unfortunately I am living in Australia ). I cannot enjoy the book.



5. Horseplayers have always known that, all things being equal, the horse that takes the early lead has the best chance to win the race. In "The Power of Early Speed," veteran handicapper and columnist Steve Klein shares a formula for identifying horses most likely to take the lead at the first call. Klein also explains how to use the formula to uncover horses who are good bets to win on the front end at long odds, taking into account field size, jockey and trainer tendencies, track biases and other factors. "The Power of Early Speed" is an excellent analysis of the inherent advantage of early speed (calculated by Klein using a massive sample of horses and races) and the best ways to exploit that advantage. [...]

5 comments about Arabians.

1. i love the great pictures of these beautiful horses, and the text actually tells alot, where most books give alot of info you dont need.



2. This is a great title to add to your ever growing arabian horse book collection. It's excellent reading, as it contains everything that you need to know about this magnificant breed and is fully illustrated with beautiful graphics.



3. This book is a necessity for the library of any Arabian lover. The text and photographs take you around the world and through the passages of time. Fabulous photographs and wonderful attention to detail. What a worthwhile purchase!



4. This book has entrancing photos, and skips through a large number of countries and studs. If you are looking for in depth information on Arabians in any particulary part of the world this book is not for you. It looks at selected studs only. If you want lovely pictures you wont be unhappy.



5. Expertly edited by Hossein Amirsadeghi with enhanced with full color photographs from Rik van Lent Sr. and Rik van Lent Jr. and an informative text by Peter Upton, Arabians is an extensive pictorial documentation and understanding of a distinctive equine of historic lineage -- the Arabian Horse. Providing readers with an detailing of the breeds origin, use, recorded development, and the interesting historical significance of the prestigious and fascinating animal. Arabians is very highly recommended as illustrated compendium of detailed writings about a truly noble and enduringly popular animal.