The Book: Finding the Hidden Horse

Tips, tricks, angles and secrets learned in a lifetime of thoroughbred handicapping

I understand the Phillips Racing Newsletter is reviewing this book in their November issue. Cool. It’s available at Amazon for $20, but readers of the Newsletter and friends of the Fat Cowboy can have the .pdf version for just $10.

Here’s what the book is about:

Uncle Will is a crusty old-world Scot who emigrated from Scotland more than sixty years ago and was a competent jockey on the New York circuit for many years. Now – in his long eighties – he spends his days handicapping, with a good measure of golf thrown in. He scorns easy answers, quick fixes, and lazy handicappers. His bible is the past performances, from whence all knowledge springeth.

In this book he reluctantly instructs his great nephew in the art and science of handicapping, betting, maintaining control of your emotions, and how to succeed at life in general.

The “lessons” can benefit any kind of handicapper, from neophyte to professional; they cover all aspects of the game, and introduce a number of new (but proven) concepts, particularly Predictable Patterns of Performance (PPOP). As “Uncle Will” says, it’s like having a videotape of the race before it’s run.

The last part of the book (A Day in the Life) is a study of all the races run over five major circuits on a single day, with Uncle Will’s principles put into action. Unfortunately, the forms from those races were destroyed in a house fire. I’m talking to DRFs about finding copies for me.

finding the hidden horse