Handicapping Magic

Rating:
Summary: Nothing magical about this method!
Review: This book is 432 pages long yet only presents two basic formulas that are supposed to be used in the handicapping process. The real key to the method is deciding which past performance line to use for a given horse. The author presents rules which are to be used when you can skip a given past performance line and use the next line down. The problem is that these rules can be applied to so many lines that it's easy to look at the outcome of a race and say, "I would have had that if only I went down one more line."

It's also interesting to note that the company that published the book is the same company that he uses for all the examples in the book and is constantly remarking how great their service is. Mr Pizzolla will also sell you a great software package to do the calculations for you. How nice. But there's one thing he doesn't mention. The software only uses the most recent past performance line in the calculations and it is up to the user to manually select a different line. This is the most difficult part of his whole theory and it's not even a part of the software he's trying to sell. The software only does the calculations which are so simple anyone can do them in their head. I can't imagine what purpose the software is supposed to serve except to make the company he is attached to more money. Lucky for me they offer a 30 day money back guarantee on the software and happily refunded my money when asked.

I have personally been handicapping horses for 15 years and did find myself agreeing with many of the principles of pace that the author discusses. But his conclusions were far too simplistic to ever produce a long term profit. At least this is what I found in the trial runs I did using his method.

I would stongly suggest anyone thinking about using this method to do several weeks of trial runs on paper before risking any money.

Mr. Pizzolla repeatedly suggests that for anyone to succeed at his method they must practice. Perhaps with enough practice someone out their will find a way to make a long term profit using this method. If anyone succeeds it would indeed be Magic!

Rating:
Summary: A simple but complex system
Review: This book is a well explained system for a fan who wants to become a pace handicapper. Pace handicapping has many different and sometimes complicated approaches written by many different writers. This I found is one of the more easier to use, but pace handicapping is a supplemental tool at best. This writer points this out and goes to great lanks to explain this. I would have rated it higher except I do not like commercials in my books and the writer sells software. However, the approach is very sound and I will incorporate some of the ideas in my own handicapping.

Rating:
Summary: Handicapping Genius
Review: This book is, simply put, the greatest book on handicapping ever written. It follows closely the principles of William Scott. Who I thought the greatest teacher, until I read this book. It is not an automatic formula. I have been using this system for about four years. I still have not mastered it. It is like learning chess; you get some of it sometimes, and sometimes you don't. However; the insight you get into the game is phenomenal.
A friend of mine who used to be a far superior handicapper, was impressed by the handicapping insight I displayed shortly after reading this book. He wanted to know what I was studying. I told him. After he saw me picking longshot after longshot, he bought the book. We handicap together now. The power fraction led us to War Emblem (who we did not bet- too unsure of the system- to Funny Cide....

Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction to Pace Handicapping
Review: This is a decent general introduction to a system that is really nothing more than a variant of Pace Handicapping. It is a fun read, although sometimes the author seems a bit enamored with his sense of humor referring, for example, to horses as "pigs."

If you really want a complete understanding of Pace Handicapping, you will need to plow through Brohamer's book.

Rating:
Summary: Good Introduction to Pace Handicapping
Review: This is a decent general introduction to a system that is really nothing more than a variant of Pace Handicapping. It is a fun read, although sometimes the author seems a bit enamored with his sense of humor referring, for example, to horses as "pigs."

If you really want a complete understanding of Pace Handicapping, you will need to plow through Brohamer's book.

Rating:
Summary: Didn¿t Work For Me
Review: When I ordered Handicapping Magic, I looked forward to its arrival in the mail with great anticipation. When I finally received it, I put all my other reading aside and gave it my undivided attention. The book is an easy read, it is attractively printed, and Mr. Pizzolla's enthusiasm is infectious. I looked forward to my next visit to the track, and expected major improvements in my selections and wagering.

Handicapping Magic shows you how to calculate three simple numbers: the Fulcrum Pace, the Pizzolla Balanced Speed Rating (PBS), and the Projected Power Fraction (PPF). Most of the book's 432 pages explain how to apply these three numbers to one's handicapping.

I'm not a professional handicapper, and I can only visit the track on weekends. After much study and practice, I win 90 cents for every dollar I bet. I would like to do better, but considering that I am only a weekend player I am willing to tolerate the rate of return. I am always looking for ways to wipe out my deficit and at least break even. Swayed by the glowing reviews of Handicapping Magic and the raves about its readability, I thought I would give it a try. Alas, in actual practice, the application of these numbers in my handicapping led to a sharp decrease in my return on investment. When I applied Mr. Pizzolla's techniques at the track, my win percentage dropped to 63 cents won for each dollar bet.

The numbers are simply too unreliable. After using Mr. Pizzolla's method exclusively for almost three months, I feel that my results would have been just as good had I pinned the track program to the wall and made my selections throwing darts. If Mr. Pizzolla's ratings were reliable, I would expect that the horses I selected would finish close to the front at least most of the time (which is what happens when I apply the numbers found in Tom Brohamer's "Modern Pace Handicapping" - the best horses according to Brohamer's numbers usually finish fourth or better). But there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the results. In my experience, horses with the best PPF and PBS numbers finished last far more often than first. After a while I decided not to risk any more money and handicapped race cards without placing any bets. Maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself at the track, and would do better with a few dry runs at home. It didn't work. Whether it was for real at the track or for practice at home, the results were the same. More than once I bet exactas on the horses with the best PPF and PBS numbers, only to see them finish on the wrong end of the field, running last and next to last. Horses I would have otherwise bet in exotics, but eliminated because of the Handicapping Magic numbers, finished in the money.

My results were so poor that I thought I might be computing the numbers incorrectly. I purchased the Handicapping Magician software recommended in the book, and confirmed that my computations were accurate. (By the way, when I returned the software, my credit card account was promptly credited. Mr. Pizzolla and his associates stand by their products.)

The Fulcrum Pace, Pizzolla Balanced Speed Rating, and the Projected Power Fractions did not help me in my selections and wagering. For example, in his chapter on Fulcrum Pace, Mr. Pizzolla states, "...if you find that after setting a conservative Fulcrum Pace, that no other horse in the race can compete successfully against that pace, the Fulcrum horse is one of the safest and most consistent win bets in all of racing" (page 82). Though this situation did not arise frequently, it did happen a few of times, and not once did it result in a successful wager.

Let me give you a frustrating example of a typical Handicapping Magic experience. On Sunday, November 24, 2002 at Aqueduct, Race 5, I narrowed the field down to three horses: Panner, Baseball and Honorifico. However, in a nine horse field, Honorifico had the worst Pace Balanced Speed Rating and the next to worst Projected Power Fraction. Against my better judgment, I replaced Honorifico with Welcome Matt (whose PBS and PPF were among the best in this race; he was also the Fulcrum Pace horse) and boxed him in an exacta with Baseball and Panner. Panner finished first and Honorifico finished second. The exacta paid ($$$). Needless to say, this was the last time I used Handicapping Magic.

The book is not completely without value. Leaving the Fulcrum Pace, PBS and PPF aside (which means leaving aside most of the book, unfortunately), some of what Mr. Pizzolla teaches is sensible. The Form Cycle Window is a useful method for picking pace lines, even though it is tedious and time consuming. Chapter 8 is a helpful explanation of pace handicapping concepts.

It was with great disappointment that I put "Handicapping Magic" aside. I could not add Michael Pizzolla to my list of authors who have improved my handicapping. I recommend instead the writings of James Quinn, Tom Brohamer and Dick Mitchell.

Rating:
Summary: Finishing School
Review: While not a beginners text by any means, this work can be helpful to both beginners and aspiring advanced players alike. There are already many basic works on handicapping. Pizzolla's work complements them and presents both a fundamental and workable method for betting the horses, which is excellent in it's clarity and succinctness. The basic ideas are to rank the horses and then rank how the public will bet them. Once that is done possible opportunities may be evaluated. It's a great system explained.

Rating:
Summary: BEST HANDICAPPING WORK EVER!! Do you REALLY WANT TO WIN?
Review: Why do you lose at the track?? Ever thought about it..Is it the inside information you heard and played and it lost?? Want to know the REAL inside information on winning at ANY TRACK?? Are you looking the secret to winning..well let's start off by saying there is NO INSIDE SECRETS to winning at the track!! Get this book and I assure you that it will put you on the right track and you will NEVER LOOK back ever again!! This one is going to unlock what you have been looking for!! Mr. Pizzolla takes you by the hand and walks you thru every step that he does to WIN. Remember if you work with a WINNER..YOU WILL BE A WINNER with this book. Really this book should be RATED A STRONG 10 +!! I have purchased almost all the big name author books and I would give them ALL UP for this one!! You will feel the same after reading this one and doing it exactly like Mr. Pizzolla tells you..His book is very easy reading with a LOT of examples of real races with the pp's and charts and so on.. If you play the races then don't let Handicapping Magic pass you by. Bill Zettler St. Louis, Mo [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Best
Review: You will make money at the track by following the guidelines in this book, it is that good. The techniques in this book stand on it's own. I'm someone that doesn't have a large bankroll; and I've been leaving the track with a large bankroll. This book will show you which races to bet and which to avoid. And with some short practice, you will become a winner with the exotic bets. I'm glad that Mr. Pizzolla wrote this book and made me into a winner at the racetrack. I've recommended this book to my relatives and close friends.