Introduction 1Part 1: And They're Off! Horse Racing and the Betting Scene 5Chapter 1: Playing the Ponies for Pleasure and Profit 7Chapter 2: All Horse Races Are Not Created Equal 15Chapter 3: Getting a Handle on Parimutuel Wagering 29Chapter 4: The Skinny on Betting 39Chapter 5: Visiting the Racetrack 55Part 2: How the Players and Factors Impact the Race 71Chapter 6: Studying Horses in the Paddock and During the Post-Parade 73Chapter 7: Riders up: The Importance of a Jockey 81Chapter 8: Trainers and Owners: Calling the Shots 93Chapter 9: Knowing the Track Surface and Conditions 103Chapter 10: Zeroing In on Equipment Changes 119Part 3: Gaining a Competitive Edge 131Chapter 11: The Daily Racing Form: America's Turf Authority 133Chapter 12: Trying Your Hand at Handicapping 147Chapter 13: Planning Your Wagers 169Chapter 14: Making the Most of Your Bankroll 175Part 4: Risky Business: Tackling More Advanced Bets 185Chapter 15: Betting Exotic Wagers 187Chapter 16: Getting Into Sophisticated Handicapping 209Chapter 17: Handicapping Tournaments 227Chapter 18: The Race for the Triple Crown 237Part 5: Playing Different Ponies and Different Venues 249Chapter 19: Harness Racing: It Will Drive You Wild 251Chapter 20: American Quarter Horse Racing: Don't Blink, or You'll Miss It 267Chapter 21: Visiting Your Local OTB: Off-Track Betting 273Chapter 22: Betting From Home 281Chapter 23: Viva Las Vegas 295Part 6: The Part of Tens 307Chapter 24: Ten Best Racetracks to Visit 309Chapter 25: Ten Best Track Announcers of All Time 317Chapter 26: Ten Best Horse-Racing Movies 323Appendix: A Glossary of Horse Racing Lingo 329Index 339
Richard Eng has been involved in thoroughbred horse racing for more than 40 years. Eng was a former researcher/writer for ABC Sports when they televised the Triple Crown races (The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, and The Belmont Stakes). He retired from the Las Vegas Review-Journal after a 20 year career as the turf editor and handicapper for the newspaper. He also authored the first edition of Betting On Horse Racing For Dummies.