Horse racing has been popular since the advent of man and the horse. If one thinks of Roman times he will remember horsedrawn chariots racing at breakneck speed. In modern times, however, harness racing has been a newcomer, attain­ing popularity in the 1800's and reaching its present peak in the United States between 1940 and 1960. Thoroughbred racing replaced harness racing in the late 1800's and early 1900's as the most popular horse racing sport and still is con­sidered by many to be more exciting and interesting than harness racing.

However, the advent of night harness racing, such as is held in most of the United States, has skyrocketed this sport into popularity as an evening's entertainment. Some of the harness racing plants are as beautiful as any sports arenas in the United States; the sheer architectural beauty of Yonkers, Roosevelt and Monticello Raceways has brought out many curious and has added millions of ardent fans in recent years.

A real boost was given to harness racing with the inven­tion of the Phillips Starting Gate, which allows a running start. This invention has not only produced the perfect "start," but has increased public interest. Today harness racing is competing with thoroughbred racing as the most popular "horse sport." The near future might see harness racing reigning as the leader in mutuel handles, attendance and public interest.

This book is, to my knowledge, the first handicapper's guide on trotters and pacers which has ever been written in the United States. It is an analysis of the problems con­fronting the handicapper, and attempts to assist him in the formidable problem of ascertaining winners.

I have no succinct system, mathematical, subjective or otherwise, and disavow the use of any system in picking winners. No matter what the system is, it will be inclined to be inflexible. No system that I know of can be applied to all situations and differing circumstances. The important thing here is to remember that every race is different. The circumstances, present in each race, while they may repeat similarly in the future, are still of differing nature—and must be. Hence, what is called for is a particular thread of judg­ment which runs through harness racing in general; an application or a particular point of view that one may use to raise himself above the mass of bettors.

It is reasonable then to try to find out why the public generally bets wrong. Part of the answer lies in their reliance on factors which outwardly seem to affect the running of the race but which actually do not. One of these factors is the element of time. The public reasoning seems to be that a horse who came in second last week in 2:04 should be able to beat a horse who last week won in 2:05.2. Why? Simply because he is "one and a fraction of a second faster"? This kind of reasoning would be true if the competition consisted of two locomotives being driven down a straight stretch of railroad track, over a specified distance. Since this is not the case, however, the public is usually surprised when the favorite that they have made 6/5 by post time, loses the race.

"He was the fastest horse and should have won' But he was "faster" they say. If the fastest horse always won the race, then the favorite should win 95% of the time. Why, then, doesn't that happen?

In harness racing there are many factors to be considered which have nothing to do with speed. It is surprising that the average fan should even consider speed as being as im­portant as he does. Items such as the post position, the com­petition, the driver, how the particular horse runs, etc., are all involved in the running of a particular race.

This writer believes that if you, the handicapper, will study the race, the driver, and think along the line of How will the race be run?, then you will have solved 85% of the problem. If you stop to think that a particular race is an uneven mixture of horses, some of which are: front runners, stretch runners, and even runners, then the formidable nature of the task becomes clear.

If you, as the reader, can add to your knowledge of the problem through this book, then your reading time will not have been wasted. Furthermore, if you sincerely consider the proposals herein listed, you might see that, not only is it possible to pick winners, but profits can result if intelligent handicapping and restraint is your method.

My own experience is that the general public is much too reliant on public handicappers, favorites, popular drivers, post positions and speed, per se, to be successful in their handicapping.

My thanks are extended to Alvin Rosenblatt, Alan Heller and David Sherman, for their comments, suggestions and proofreading, which they performed in preparation and in editing of this volume. My special thanks go to M. I. "Doc" Robins, of Westbury, New York, who gave me permission to reprint past performances, charts and other information from his excellent programs.

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