My $50,000 Year at the Races

by Andrew Beyer

Book Overview

In 1977, before he was known as the creator of "The Beyer Speed Figure," Andrew Beyer set out on a gambling odyssey, determined to prove himself as a horseplayer. He would marshal all his handicapping... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151636931
• ISBN13: 9780151636938
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 163 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful.

Andrew Beyer, My $50,000 Year at the Races (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1978) Now, I rush to start by saying that while a $50,000 year at the races doesn't look so spectacular when some guy in Phoenix just cashed for $1.7 million on the Derby superfecta (on a quick-pick ticket, no less), remember that you need to figure in 1978 dollars, and this was back in the days when the exacta was the hot new thing, unless you happened to be in Mexico, where they had the Pick Six at Caliente. Most horseplayer were still grinding it out with win bets. And as anyone who's tried to make fifty grand betting $100 a race (or even, as Beyer did in his serious bets in this book, a grand) on win bets will tell you, it's a pretty serious achievement. Andrew Beyer has always been somewhat crass, elitist, and off-putting. These traits don't come out much in his handicapping books, Picking Winners and The Winning Horseplayer, but his editorial columns almost always spark some sort of minor furor among a minority of racing fans. This being a memoir of sorts, you can be sure you're going to get the same attitude here, and you do, in spades. If you don't like Beyer's Washington Post style, you're probably going to want to pass this. Even though this is a memoir, however, Beyer offers a number of common-sense tips that many horseplayers have probably either never learned or forgotten about; for example, the idea of specializing. Beyer shows how to do it while still betting aggressively, putting your cash down on a number of races that would cause most pros to turn somewhat green, and still make money. This is something you need to know, but you're not going to find it in any respectable handicapping tome. A definite must for students of the game. I have long through that handicapping books should be not in the gambling section of the bookstore, but in self-help; stick this one in the inspirational section. ****

The Master Strikes Again

Beyer once again hammers home the fact that he's the Master of Masters, the Seer of Seers, and simply the best handicapper (and author) ever to come down the pike. His witticisms, combined with a rare insight and feel into the game, make this a true joy to read and behold. His love for horse racing comes through on every page, and as we take the trip with him into realizing his lifelong dream (which is many of ours as well, I'd venture), his joy is palpable. Since the time of his writing this tome, of course, the game has become even more difficult for pure Speed Handicappers, due to the immense popularity (and success) of his now world-renowned Beyer Speed Figs, but that just adds to the pleasure. A must for any 'capper, and even for those who just enjoy great writing!

The book for one who wants to live at the windows.

Mr. Beyer takes us thru his year of betting the horses. This is the year he finally realizes his goal of becoming a full time player. I first read this book as a teenager and have been hooked on the game ever since. I might not agree with all his methods of betting but the book is a very enjoyable read.