HOW TO MURDER YOUR BOOKMAKER: The Art of Winning Off-Track Bets

Not as cocky as the title might lead you to believe. From the beginning the author says this is not a how-to-beat-the-horses manual; nor is there any way around the fact that ""the most important thing in betting -- the payoff -- has been rigged in a bookie's favor."" Now if you still want some action and you're prepared to put a lot of time into the nags, Brinton will provide a tote bag of tips or ""tricks"" whereby the bookmaker's edge can be reduced. Essentially he's a betting conservative who relies strictly on the ""percentage game"" which mathematically charts averages versus probabilities. He advises, for instance, maintaining a daily wager log so you can compute and study your own betting averages; playing steadily with a reasonable goal and loss limit combination carefully adhered to; supplementing past-performance handicapping with such racing information as which horse is running where. There's also a formidable don't list: don't bet yesterday's winner (he repeats only 10% of the time); don't bet future book; don't look for the thoroughbred with the ""bargain price"" but the one with the ""bargain chance""; don't play long shots; etc. Brinton is of course talking mainly to the confirmed or professional player who's at the gate every day ready to put down more than $2 -- ""Step out in force. If you have big money, flaunt it. If you don't have it, save some up."" Finally, he doesn't think much of legalized OTB operations, saying that current state laws are ""calculated to make fair game of the bettors"" instead of ""making the betting game fair."" Our tote board indicates this should run well everywhere except on Howie the Horse's track.