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Ainslie's New Complete Guide to Harness Racing
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 16, 2024
I took a long time deciding if I wanted to admit on the internet that I read this. I used to have a copy if the 1986 paperback edition. I had a very large library of animal books in my youth, but this is one book I do not miss and will never replace.
I bought a battered used copy in 1991 or so since I worked for one of the trainers mentioned in one of the handicapping exercises near the book's back. The trainer was cruel to animals and people. He once decided to cure a gelding from shying hy beating the crap out of him with a whip. He bred puppies for medical research. I was on minimum wage for six days a week, worn to the bone in just 6 or 7 months. Then, a Mac truck turned my car was into an accordion, with me inside it. Working hard labor was out of the question for a while, making it easy to quit.
This book was a disappointment because of the emphasis on gambling. At the time, I had no interest in gambling. I have since been bitten by the gambling bug, gambling on horse races during my time in England and then again during the pandemic. My last bet (knock on wood) was January 1, 2022.
I did remember some of the general advice given in this book when I played the ponies. None of it helped. Remember ... the house always wins. You will lose.
Reading this can get you drowsy enough to fall asleep, however. For that, it gets one star instead of no stars.
I bought a battered used copy in 1991 or so since I worked for one of the trainers mentioned in one of the handicapping exercises near the book's back. The trainer was cruel to animals and people. He once decided to cure a gelding from shying hy beating the crap out of him with a whip. He bred puppies for medical research. I was on minimum wage for six days a week, worn to the bone in just 6 or 7 months. Then, a Mac truck turned my car was into an accordion, with me inside it. Working hard labor was out of the question for a while, making it easy to quit.
This book was a disappointment because of the emphasis on gambling. At the time, I had no interest in gambling. I have since been bitten by the gambling bug, gambling on horse races during my time in England and then again during the pandemic. My last bet (knock on wood) was January 1, 2022.
I did remember some of the general advice given in this book when I played the ponies. None of it helped. Remember ... the house always wins. You will lose.
Reading this can get you drowsy enough to fall asleep, however. For that, it gets one star instead of no stars.
February 1, 2013
For those that enjoy going to the harness races and betting on the ponies, this is a great start at making handicapping understandable. Goes through the entire process of evaluating horses and riders and races to give one a feel for which horse might have the best chance. While no handicapping system is perfect, this book at least gives you a feel for the information in the program. Ainslie also wrote a companion volume on thoroughbred racing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews