Product Description

Who are the best horses, jockeys, trainers and horseplayers of modern times? What were the sport's biggest mistakes, most shocking upsets and most important handicapping contributions? Author Steve Davidowitz, who has seen and known them all, answers these provocative questions and hundreds more, but that's just the beginning of the opinions and observations in The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing.

Davidowitz, a veteran reporter, columnist and handicapper who has worked and gambled at dozens of American racetracks, is a passionate lover of the racing game--and an equally passionate critic of its shortcomings. In addition to starting and settling arguments about the sport's most talented people and racehorses, Davidowitz takes aim at its rascals and reprobates and at an industry that too often fails to address and resolve its issues.

The result is a provocative and pointed collection of top-10 lists and essays that touch on every aspect of the racing game: horses, jockeys, trainers, owners, breeders, gamblers, stallions, broodmares, as well as its best and worst moments and practices.

Whether you are a novice seeking to expand his knowledge of a complex sport and its history or a railbird with opinions as strong as the author's, The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing is sure to educate, entertain and inspire you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237251 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 362 pages

From the Publisher
Who are the best horses, jockeys, trainers and horseplayers of modern times? What were the sport's biggest mistakes, most shocking upsets and most important handicapping contributions? Author Steve Davidowitz, who has seen and known them all, answers these provocative questions and hundreds more, but that's just the beginning of the opinions and observations in The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing

From the Back Cover
PRAISE FOR THE BEST AND WORST OF THOROUGHBRED RACING

"Who's the best trainer of modern times? The fastest sprinters? The best jockey? After four decades as an astute handicapper and journalist, Steve Davidowitz has an answer to all of these questions--and many more. The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing is surely to provoke lively debate among racing fans everywhere." Andrew Beyer Washington Post columnist

"I gotta book right here... As if horseplayers didn't have enough to argue about every day at the track, now comes along Steve Davidowitz with the champion argument-starter of all time. He gives us a book full of facts and opinions and full of run." Frank Deford Sports Illustrated

About the Author
Steve Davidowitz has been a professional handicapper, reporter, editor, consultant, and columnist for more than three decades. He is the author of the influential and best-selling handicapping book Betting Thoroughbreds, which he updated a few years ago to cover modern handicapping situations and a variety of advanced exotic wagering strategies. A highly touted baseball star at Rutgers University who lost a potential pitching career due to a freak boating mishap, Davidowitz has a wide-ranging background that includes solo travel to Cuba as a teenager; scuba diving in the Caribbean; playing folk guitar in the clubs of New Orleans; and photographic magazine covers and exhibitions of his work. As a single parent, Steve also raised his son, Brad, now a corporate program analyst in Minneapolis, married with two children. Davidowitz says he "began to major in horse-racing studies at Ruthers University, Garden State Park Division," when a New Brunswick, New Jersey, bookmaker gave him a copy of the 1959 American Racing Manual. Some 40 years later, Davidowitz would help Daily Racing Form bring the prestigious annual back to print as the ARM's editor from 2000-2003. An active horseplayer who manages a pick-six syndicate, Steve has contributed articles to The New York Times and been a featured columnist and/or racing editor for Turf and Sport Digest magazine, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Oakland Tribune, The Philadelphia Journal, The Racing Times, the St. Petersburg Times, and the Houston Post, among other publications. Today, Davidowitz writes handicapping columns for DRF Simulcast Weekly, trackmaster.com, and other outlets on the Internet. In addition to his horse-race writings and commentaries, Davidowitz is the co-author of They Can't Hide Us Anymore with singer/songwriter Richie Havens. He now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Customer Reviews

Great from cover to cover
I enjoyed "The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing" enormously. I disagreed with some of the author's choices (which is to be expected for any list-type book) but that's the fun - it will definitely spark a good debate. Steve Davidowitz doesn't pull any punches when he's critical of something, either. I think even the most casual racing fan would enjoy this book - it's a great read cover-to-cover, but it's also the kind of book you can pick up and grab little bites of.

There are loads of interesting stories: how some aspects of the heroic struggle to save Barbaro were built on knowledge gained from the tragedy of Ruffian back in 1975; the highs and lows of Sunny's Halo; and the iron will of Personal Ensign. I loved the author's story about Ruffian in the 1974 Spinaway at Saratoga - Davidowitz watched her act like a "nut case" all the way to the gate, and he thought "Ruffian - what a phony!" and bet a lot of money on the horse who eventually finished second to her - by 12-3/4 lengths!

Of course, you'll read about the big names: Laffit Pincay Jr, Jerry Bailey, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Native Dancer, and even Barbaro - but perhaps the most fun were the sections entitled "Before My Time", "Best Rivalries" and even "The Biggest Dud At Stud". At the end of the book, the author closes with a section called "Ideas and Issues" which contains some real thought-provoking topics such as drugs and the fragility of the modern Thoroughbred.

I highly recommend this extremely interesting and well-written book.

Well written, well informed, captivating!
If you're the type of reader that loves a personal approach to rigorous analysis, you'll want to read The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing, by Steve Davidowitz. I reviewed the volume for The Racing Journal [...], and enjoyed the assignment immensely!

Davidowitz backs up his opinions with the experience of more than three decades of professional handicapping, race reporting and editing, and equine consulting. The author of Betting Thoroughbreds and former editor of The American Racing Manual brings his personal experience and broad research background to this 300-plus page exposition.

The first chapter grabs your attention right away - and might provoke an argument or two among race fans. "Stunners: The Greatest Upsets and worst DQs of Modern Times" counts down from number 10 to number one, entitled "THE GREATEST UPSET OF MEDERN TIMES: The least-appreciated, most astounding upset of them all." His headings aren't usually that long and adamant, so you know you'd better hunker down and pay attention for the next eight pages of explanation and storytelling...

Davidowitz doesn't apply a strict formula to his listings. Some reveal the top -or bottom - 10 events or individuals. Some are limited to three, others run to a dozen or more. The final chapter, "The Very Best of All Time of Any Age or Sex," is a relatively unadorned list of 20.

Now, I'm not going to ruin the fun by revealing any of Davidowitz's picks. Find a volume for yourself, pencil notes in the margins, and share his opinions - and your own - with other friends who are racing fans!

A New Addition to the Horseplayer's Canon
Steve Davidowitz has written a highly personal and thoroughly enjoyable recap of his life as a racing fan and writer. The book, fortunately, is 90% about the best and 10% about the worst, although Davidowitz doesn't pull punches in the spots where he is critical.

There are several unique stories--my favorites had to do with jockey Steve Cauthen and "supertrainer" Oscar Barrera--that by themselves were worth the price of the book. Reading this book is like talking horses with a great new friend.

As you read the book, you'll doubtless disagree with some of Davidowitz' rankings, but that's the whole idea. The book will make a particularly good companion on a flight to see a special racing event.