Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies

by Richard Eng

Book Overview

How to enjoy a day at the races-and bet to win

The last two years have seen a record number of Americans tune in for climatic Triple Crown races featuring Smarty Jones and Funny Cide; in 2004, television viewership jumped a whopping 61 percent over the record set in 2003, and the Belmont Stakes race itself drew a record crowd of more than 120,000

This easy-to-understand guide shows first-time visitors to the track how to enjoy...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764578405
• ISBN13: 9780764578403
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 362 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Worth getting!

I didn't know anything about betting on horse racing when I got this book. Over Thanksgiving weekend of 2022, I won a $24000 pick 6! Get this book and apply it!

How to impress your friends while making money

I went to the track for the first time with some friends recently. Afterwards, I figured there had to be more to handicapping than picking the prettiest horse, or the one with a catchy name. So, I ordered "Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies", and read it over a weekend. It demystifies the racetrack experience, explains all the jargon, the various types of bets, etc. It also teaches you how to read the Daily Racing Form like a pro. Perhaps best of all, it explains how to interpret odds to maximize your return. The next time we went to the track, I really impressed my friends with my knowledge. I could read the Racing Form like a newspaper column, and explained things like "overlays" and "trifectas" with confidence. Best of all, I picked the winner in the first three races! Yes, I had a "Pick Three" bet down, and won a nice pot. What a great start to a fun day at the track. "Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies" helped make it happen!

Very Well Written, Clear, & Packed With Information.

This book is a great pleasure to read. I was amazed as I went from page to page with just how much information was packed into each page and how clearly the information was laid out, and how quickly you could pick up a lot of facts. I would ignore the single negative review that was written earlier. The breadth and depth of knowledge displayed about thoroughbred horses and pointers on handicapping is very good and shines throughout. This is clearly a writer who knows his stuff and the pages just draw you in. Don't just take my word for it, look for a copy at your local bookstore and just peruse the pages and see for yourself if that isn't true. What I also really liked about the book was the feel about the way it was written in that that the writer shows a clear respect for his readers and doesn't try to water down or dumb down a complex topic, but tackles it clearly and firmly with good explanations and little wasted effort. I'm a much smarter, more intelligent bettor for having spent time with this book, and the bottom line is - isn't that what this book is supposed to be all about?

A Big Help For This Novice Handicapper

As a novice, having been to Saratoga a handful of times, I never had a method or system to handicapping. I recently had the pleasure of applying some of the suggestions of this book at Hollywood Park during a family outing. For example, this book helped me ferret out the losers in a large field of maidens. We also put together a group parlay, I looked for overlays and more. I had limited success that day, but success doesn't come overnight. I felt overall I had made smart bets and felt good about my wagers. I found the book thoughtful, useful and easy to read. I used to think horseracing was sheer luck, but there is a way to better your chances. This book is my springboard for better handicapping at trackside.

A Racing Beginner's Bible

If you've recently fallen in love with the "sport of kings" or simply wish to revisit the fundamentals that enthralled you in the first place, this is the book for you. In Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies, Richard Eng somehow delivers the "rosetta stone" equivalent for horse racing -- breaking down the complex sport and art of handicapping into 26 trim chapters. I wish this book was on the market when I fell in love with racing nine years ago.