- Hardcover: 262 pages
- Publisher: Daily Racing Form (Dec 18 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1932910883
- ISBN-13: 978-1932910889
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 16.2 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 612 g
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#447,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #90 in Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Gambling > Horse Racing
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing is a fascinating listing of the history of horseracing's most memorable moments. Every aspect of the game is covered in this unique collection. Whether it's legendary handicapper Pittsburgh Phil, top sire Storm Cat, or the renowned 1978 Belmont Stakes with Alydar and Affirmed the racing aficionado will have hundreds of entertaining racing data and anecdotes at his or her fingertips to feast upon.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great from cover to cover, Feb 11 2007
By Elizabeth A. Koch "Beth" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing (Hardcover)
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written, well informed, captivating!, Mar 16 2007
By Karen Svea Johnson - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing (Hardcover)
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!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A New Addition to the Horseplayer's Canon, Jan 23 2007
By Bill Feingold "Bill Feingold" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing (Hardcover)
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.
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