Rating: 
Summary: A detailed manual for success at the track!
Review: As a long-time horseplayer, I was sceptical that this book could teach me much that I did not already know. To my surprise, however, I learned a great deal about the track from this book. Ainslie goes into each of the book's topics in depth and writes with great clarity. I now find myself going back to the book often, using it like an encyclopedia or reference work. Most importantly, this book is helping me take home profits that I never would have earned before. A must read for anyone who wants to know what they're doing at the races.
Rating: 
Summary: Good 1st Reference
Review: easy to see that this was the predecessor to many guides to follow. Not enough new information that hasn't been rehashed by following guides. Touches every base; speed, pace, class, condition...but doesn't provide his take on which should take precedence. Where is your 'solid lock' angle? All guides should take this leap and provide its First Choice/First Pass angles and this one does not. Good for your first dive into the game, but not for anyone with 2+ years experience.
Rating:
Summary: Good 1st Reference
Review: easy to see that this was the predecessor to many guides to follow. Not enough new information that hasn't been rehashed by following guides. Touches every base; speed, pace, class, condition...but doesn't provide his take on which should take precedence. Where is your 'solid lock' angle? All guides should take this leap and provide its First Choice/First Pass angles and this one does not. Good for your first dive into the game, but not for anyone with 2+ years experience.
Rating: 
Summary: The Old School Fundamentals
Review: I checked out the 1967 version of this book in the library when I first became interested in horse race handicapping. It was so full of information that I ended up buying it. A few years back, I loaned it to my brother and later asked for it back so I could review some stuff. But, his dominating wife had thrown it away. Well, enough of this boring stuff. This book does a good job of introducing a new, novice, or disorganized horseplayer to the fundamentals of handicapping--a fancy way to say picking winners at the track. Ainslie covers distance, speed, class, form, track conditions, breeding, and jockeys and trainers very thoroughly. The reader should avoid the laundry lists of specific qualifications for horses that appear periodically in the book. This book was published before the advent of Beyer speed figures and other new concepts in handicapping. Also, as in most how to pick winners books, Ainslie has sections of the Daily Racing Form from races where he made a big score. Racing authors seem to never have DRF examples of races where they lost their shirts. But, it is a useful treatise to learn the fundamentals of handicapping though even the lastest edition (1988) is a bit dated. I would advise the reader to learn the general concepts in the book and to avoid the specific criteria for picking horses. It is an excellent place for a new horseplayer to start. Now, if someone could write a book for my brother telling him how to stand up to his wife.
Rating:
Summary: The Old School Fundamentals
Review: I checked out the 1967 version of this book in the library when I first became interested in horse race handicapping. It was so full of information that I ended up buying it. A few years back, I loaned it to my brother and later asked for it back so I could review some stuff. But, his dominating wife had thrown it away. Well, enough of this boring stuff. This book does a good job of introducing a new, novice, or disorganized horseplayer to the fundamentals of handicapping--a fancy way to say picking winners at the track. Ainslie covers distance, speed, class, form, track conditions, breeding, and jockeys and trainers very thoroughly. The reader should avoid the laundry lists of specific qualifications for horses that appear periodically in the book. This book was published before the advent of Beyer speed figures and other new concepts in handicapping. Also, as in most how to pick winners books, Ainslie has sections of the Daily Racing Form from races where he made a big score. Racing authors seem to never have DRF examples of races where they lost their shirts. But, it is a useful treatise to learn the fundamentals of handicapping though even the lastest edition (1988) is a bit dated. I would advise the reader to learn the general concepts in the book and to avoid the specific criteria for picking horses. It is an excellent place for a new horseplayer to start. Now, if someone could write a book for my brother telling him how to stand up to his wife.
Rating:
Summary: The Horseracing Information Bible
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: I READ THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS BOOK APPRX 27 YRS AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE READ BOOKS BY BEYER & OTHER AUTHORS. MOST OF THESE GUYS ARE SPEED FREAKS AND IGNORE CLASS. AFTER EXPERIMENTING WITH VARIOUS SYSTEMS I FIND MYSELF RETURNING TO TOM'S BASICS. THERE'S A SAYING MY FRIENDS AND I ADHERE TO RELIGIOUSLY AT THE TRACK: "THROW OUT THE RULES AND BET THE CLASS". TOM. WHAT WAS YOU SAID ABOUT VAN BUREN AND SPEED FREAKS?
Rating:
Summary: Once the best...Still the best
Review: I read the original version many years ago and can say with absolute certainty that this book is a must read for novice handicappers. The section on the form factor alone is worth the price of the book as it will steer the beginning player away from many false favorites and towards logical overlays. While not in itself a guide to instant profitability (no book is) this book provides a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build. The insights contained in this book would take many years (and dollars) to learn through trial and error handicapping and will put the player way ahead of other novice handicappers. A seminal work in the field of horse race handicapping, this book provides a lot of useful info on a wide range of topics. While there may not a lot in here for experienced players, if you're just starting out then this should be the first book you read.
Rating:
Summary: A must for beginners
Review: I read the original version many years ago and can say with absolute certainty that this book is a must read for novice handicappers. The section on the form factor alone is worth the price of the book as it will steer the beginning player away from many false favorites and towards logical overlays. While not in itself a guide to instant profitability (no book is) this book provides a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build. The insights contained in this book would take many years (and dollars) to learn through trial and error handicapping and will put the player way ahead of other novice handicappers. A seminal work in the field of horse race handicapping, this book provides a lot of useful info on a wide range of topics. While there may not a lot in here for experienced players, if you're just starting out then this should be the first book you read.
Rating: 
Summary: Are you kidding me
Review: I wish I could have booked Tom Ainsile's action throughout his life at the track , although after reading this gibberish, I tend to doubt he spent much time there. Save your money, buy a program & usually it'll contain the same info .IE Place betting means your horse must finish first or second.Instead of buying this book , use the money to play some doubles or better yet close your eyes....what do you see...nothing...the same thing you'll get out of this book
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