Rating: 
Summary: Great thorobred horse racing reference.
Review: I, like another reviewer, bought the original 1966 edition of this book. I recently checked out the 1988 edition in the library and reread it. It is still a valuable book particularly when many horseplayers are getting away from a comprehensive method of handicapping and relying too much on Beyer figures. Ainslie, as in earlier editions, is still biased towards New York and East Coast tracks. But, if you want to get serious about playing the horses, consider using this book as a starting point.
Rating:
Summary: Dated, but worth mining through...
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Once the best...Still the best
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: The best handicapping book I've read. The beauty is the organization, how Ainsle teaches you a systematic, organized method. There's a lot of leeway for putting your own system together, but it's the mindset, the step by step way he approaches things that's so valuable. I haven't seen that anywhere. Most books teach you things of value, but not how to step by step go through the past performances, decide if the distance is right for this horse, figure out if the horse is in condition, in the right class etc. After reading this book I can actually sit down with a program, figure out which races are playable and which aren't, and hit about 40% winners. I would highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Complete but needs to updated
Review: The book covers eveything but tends to be complicated at times. The author provides so much info, it becomes almost impossible to remember all of it without reading the book several times. ( I read it at least 4 times ). Also, some of the information is quite outdated and might not be useful at this time. Overall this is a very good book , but needs to be revised.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughbred Racing 101
Review: This was the first book on this subject that I have read and I bought it again for someone else. If you are just getting started this is an excellent place to begin.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughbred Racing 101
Review: This was the first book on this subject that I have read and I bought it again for someone else. If you are just getting started this is an excellent place to begin.
Rating:
Summary: Ainsle hits a home run for the knowledgeable handicapper
Review: Tom Ainsle covers a lot of topics on Horse Racing and he explains then in good detail and with a wealth of personal knowledge.This book may be a few years older then many others, but it is still a very important one on the subject of handicapping. Tom did a great job and if your serious about picking horses, this one should be in your library. Best Regards to all, MC - TheStickRules.Com
Rating:
Summary: Complete Information
Review: Very Useful book for the beginner, it sorts with every aspect of horseracing with great detail,it explains what pace, speed class, jockeys, trainer angles, distance etc. etc. are all about, glossary is huge and the best, but beware of the principles at the end of the book: they are not to be used as isolated facts that will help you win, they are just a guide,they are best used when combined with other handicapping aspects.
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