Pedigree Handicapping Paperback – November 2, 2004

My husband really enjoys and uses these tips. He has handicapped races for a long time using other information, run times, training etc. He has found new info here. Which made it a great birthday gift to a man who has high standards and reads a ton about the horsies!

This book is a joy to read. I was looking for this book for many years. Thank you Amazon.

Its ok for beginners

Stich is a fantastic mind on pedigrees and analysis. However, this book doesn't quite live up to the potential that it should for a few reasons:(1) Spending a chapter or two on a primer as to why certain lines (Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer) do better than others (Man O'War, etc.) would give the reader a real foundation for the information contained inside. The book becomes a list of "here's who's good for x, y, and z", without any history or exposition to back it up.(2) There's a fair amount of material in the book (including an entire chapter) that's pure regurgitated material from her Racing Form columns. They're useful material, but nothing really new if you've followed racing at all.(3) The chapter on pedigree in the Derby doesn't really work because she boldly declares which horses did or did not have the pedigree to win the Derby, with no explanation attached. Yes, this would've made for a longer book, but it would've been more informative than by simply putting together a laundry list of horses that did and did not make the grade. (She also admits herself that Derby pedigree analysis may be useless at this point, which makes one wonder what the entire point was.)So yes, there's a lot of good info in the book, but it could've been much, much better. Color me disappointed.

This is a rare book for immediate guidance on Pedigree Handicapping. This book is another tool to beat the masses at the betting window. Lauren Stich has done a thorough job in the pedigree field and has even listed numerous horses to watch for today's bettor. One down side of this book is the immediate usage for betting with her current horse listings (how long before they become out-of-date?). But that is the name of the game!You will be seeing me at the track carrying this book (now becoming a dog-eared copy!) to assist in my handicapping.I was told by one handicapper that I was a "closet pedigree handicapper." Now, I'm out of the closet thanks to this book.

A tad outdated. But points you in the right direction. Recommend.

This interesting book has great merit as a handicapping tool. Written in clear concise language, the author shares her extensive knowledge of horse pedigrees with the reader. She explains the influence of the pedigree (especially the sire, the dam, and the dam's sire) on racing performance, including stamina, speed, and the secret of the "hidden turf" factor.Whether you bet frequently, or only occasionally on popular races such as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup, this book is a valuable resource and MUST READ for every horseplayer and aspiring horseplayer. Bravo to Ms. Stich for creating such a detailed reference guide! Her passion for racing is quite apparent and admirable.Arlene Millmanauthor of "Boomerang - A Miracle Trilogy"

Gives clear examples of how to use pedigrees to select winners at the race track.