Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher

by Steven Crist

Book Overview

Whether you're a casual fan tuning in to the Kentucky Derby or a dedicated horseplayer trying to turn a profit, says the author, racing and betting today are completely different than they were in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 097264010X
• ISBN13: 9780972640107
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Daily Racing Form
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Broken Down Horse Player

Great read for anyone even casually interest in playing the ponies. Horse racing is the only betting opportunity were all of the answers are given to you in the Daily Racing Form, before you make a bet. All one has to do is factor in what's important and throw out what's not. That is the trick. Crist has a great conversational writing style and makes it a fun read.

And the future is----

Crist took the racing form into the present & future. It was in the hands of guys frozen with a 1930s outlook (sorry Saul Rosen et al)and Crist pumped his energy and intelligence into a moribund product. Congratulations Steve.

Well Written Memoir from a Fascinating Person

Unfortunately, horse racing continues to decline in popularity and rarely gets mainstream attention. If it did, this book might be a bestseller. Steve Crist is one of the best horse racing handicappers in the world but will be mainly revered by most horse racing fans as the man who had the guts to take on the Racing Form a number of years ago and then to come in and save the publication from its decline.During what has been a short career, Crist has went to lead horse racing writer at the New York Times,editor of the Racing Times, served on a statewide commission regarding horse racing and now is the publisher of the Daily Racing Form. All of this is recounted in the book with prose that is easy to read and very informative.The only minor quibble I would have with the book is that Crist spends very little time discussing the craft of betting on horses. He spends a few pages talking about the Pick Six, an exotic wager that he has hit many time, but doesn't explain his strategy in all that much detail. In some ways I don't blame him, but I sense that I could learn a lot from him which is why this book is worth buying.

Racing's Renaissance Man

Incredible autobiographical tale for anyone interested in horses, gambling, big business, big government or the impact one person can make. Crist's careers to date have included New York Times reporter, founder of Racing Times, political consultant, full-time gambler (Mr. Pick Six), New York Racing Association executive and now Chairman of the Daily Racing Form (after a leading a $40 million charge to buy the publication while living on credit cards). An amazing resume for anyone, especially one who has yet to celebrate his 50th birthday.Unlike many me-me-me tomes, Crist is scant with the usual laborious personal details (we know nothing about his favorite color or childhood pets). He takes a journalistic perspective as he recounts his high stakes business dealings with the late Robert Maxwell and former New York governor Mario Cuomo. He reports his successes and failures with equal detail.The editor of the Harvard Lampoon and president of the Signet Society before redefining racing journalism and many parts of the game, Crist's writing is smart and lively.You'll enjoy this book whether you are an industry insider or have watched the Derby on television once.

More fun the I expected

I bought this book for background on a paper I was writing on horse racing, but read it cover to cover. Nobody knows or explains racing from a player's perspective better than Steven Crist. A great read from a guy who has been there, done it and tells a great story."