Early 2003 - The New Betting/ Racing Titles

EARLY 2003 - THE NEW BETTING/ RACING TITLES
There has rarely been a time when those who enjoy reading about horse racing have been better catered for. Recent months have seen an absolute plethora of top quality titles appearing on the market and now comes another one to fill a gap on the shelves of those who take an interest in the American racing scene and its history. The success of Sea Biscuit will probably prompt more than might otherwise do so to take a look at American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 by Avalyn Hunter which has been published by Kentucky-based Eclipse Press. Hunter became enthused by racing as a result of Secretariat's Triple Crown exploits when she was a mere child. She has since studied pedigrees as a hobby and, extraordinarily for such an accomplished piece of work, this is her first book. Avalyn examines rthe pedigrees of the winners of the five American Classic races since 1914 - the Kentucky Derby; Preakness Stakes; Belmont Stakes; Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks. Maybe these races do not have the tradition behind them of which the English equivalents can boast but they have nonetheless produced some superb horses and fascinating stories. She traces each horse's sire line and female family and takes an insighful look at how the animal has contributed to the Thoroughbred breed. The volume is detailed enough to appeal to pedigree junkies yet anecdotal and informative enough to entertain and educate the more casual reader. If this brief description of the perhaps slightly under-illustrated book has whetted your appetite, then log on to www.eclipsepress.com for more details of the fine publications emanating from the stable.
'Nick tells how he succeeded in taking more than Ł1000 a month from bookmakers' declares the blurb for Nick Mordin's revised book, Betting For A Living, published by Aesculus at Ł12.95. Let's hope too many people don't adopt his ideas, then, or my livelihood could soon be under threat! In paperback for the first time, renowned betting expert Mordin's systems are the result of intensive research and have won him high praise from fellow enthusiasts. The new edition details the exact methods and precise reasons for each bet, for those who prefer to let someone else make the decisions for them. Jimmy Frost entered the record books in 1972 when he became the youngest jockey ever to ride a point to point winner, aged just 13. He went on to make a real name for himself as a jump jockey, enjoying probably his greatest moment when he rode Little Polveir, the 1989 Grand National winner. He was also associated with Morley Street - 'the best horse I ever sat on'. He bowed out in style when his final mojnt, Bohill Lad, duly obliged. Touched By Frost (Ł16.99, Highdown) is an emotion and humour packed autobiography by a man who may not have been one of the greats but was certainly one of those without whom the world of racing would be a diminished place. Helped by Lucy Johnson, he writes frankly and honestly. Geoff Harvey is a respected and always worth reading figure in the betting world and his latest book, Successful Matched Betting (Aesculus, Ł9.95) is an interesting look at the recently arrived world of betting exchanges. We all have our opinions about this style of wagering and Harvey's overview is welcome.

With the Cheltenham Festival on the horizon now is a good time to catch up with McCoy - The Story of the Greatest Jump Jockey Ever Seen (Michael Joseph Ł18.99).Personally I would dispute that tag and refer all quibblers to the collected works of J Francome, but that is splitting hairs, McCoy is certainly up there with the all-time top jocks of either discipline, and his will to win is probably unmatched. He's hot on the trail of his 2000th winner and whether his enthusiasm and drive will falter once he reaches that landmark remains to be seen. The book reveals that last season he broke his leg in two places but strapped it up and carried on regardless - sooner him than me.
Richard Griffiths has produced a painstaking and exhaustive study of the ills and woes which have hit racing of late in his meticulously researched Racing In The Dock which will set you back just Ł16.99, rather less than some of the sums paid for the villainous acts and skulduggerous dealings detailed in this book. A couple of the notable impressions left by the book include the apparent lack of knowledge of the racing and betting worlds by those charged with clearing it of corruption, and the complacency and arrogance of many of those involved within these worlds. High Stakes publish some of the best titles to be found on betting - Betting To Win : A professional guide to profitable betting, by Professor Leighton Vaughan Williams in one such. For twenty five quid he'll acquanit you with his thought provoking, often academically researched techniques and strategies designed to assist the punter to take on the bookie with the odds as close to being in his favour as they can be made. The racing world has been holding its breath, anticipating the arrival of the new Arkle for many years now - he - or she - has yet to arrive, so in the meanwhile, why not take a look back at the original 'himself' - Arkle. Ivor Herbert's classic book has been re-published by Aurum Press at just Ł7.99 and is a richly rewarding read for anyone unfamiliar with the story of the tremendous serial Gold Cup winner - and not bad for those who are well aware of the greatness of the horse. Herbert wrote this book back in 1966 but it retains a freshness and a timeless appeal which will ensure that the modern reader will relive one of the great tales of the turf.