The Odds Must Be Crazy: Beating the Races with the Man Who Revolutionized Handicapping

by Richard Steier, Len Friedman, Len Ragozine, et al.

Everyday, savvy horseplayers spend $35 or more on Len Ragozin's handicapping charts -- the sheets. A lifelong Communist and. a Harvard graduate, Ragozin has honed his system to a high art over the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316604976
• ISBN13: 9780316604970
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great mix of handicapping information with fun stories!

This is a great collection of handicapping information from an angle unlike most other handicapping books. Len also does a nice job of mixing his life experiences and track stories in along side making it a fun read. It may look outdated but the information is absolutely relevant at the track today!

The "Sheets"

This is one of a few "must have" books for the serious handicapper. It explains the development of the racehorse in terms of speed. Rags has developed several angles that are now common racetrack jargon, such as the "bounce" and "looping back around" to a better back number. He explains several patterns of two year olds, then the three year olds, and finally older horses. Whether you buy the "sheets" or are a small better that uses the 50 cent track program, you will learn alot. Its a facinating read and I highly recommend it.

This book should definitely improve your handicapping.

You don't need to purchase The Sheets to benefit from Len Ragozin's insight. You may, as some have, find a way to incorporate his theories into your personal methodology. Understanding thoroughbred form cycles is critical to successful wagering and this book shows the way. But you will have to work a little to master the concepts he presents. Until Ragozin wrote this book I was mystified by the unpredictable declines and sudden rises in the performances of young horses. Now some of my best bets come in three year old races. And I don't subscribe to the expensive figures.What I have learned is worth many times the purchase price.

An absolute "must" for anyone serious about horse racing

While Len Ragozin may, in part, be promoting his Sheet service, he does begin to impart very important information about the sport, handicapping, and some of the aspects of the game that necessitated the development of his number system. He actually does disclose how to develop the numbers, the problem is, partly, in getting the raw data that goes into them. Ultimately, it is the analysis of the numbers and the patterns combined with sound money management that offers the promise of success at the windows. Read the book. Adapt the handicapping principles to the information available from the Daily Racing Form, if you wish. One thing I think you will find is that Len Ragozin wants to share his knowledge and wisdom. The data, however, is for sale.

The best handicapping book

You can see the author's brilliant ideas such as parimutual game charateristics, physics(wind), mathematical concept(large sampling), horse's develoing and declining physical conditions.