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There are many great racing books coming up in the other thread, but there are also a few dog logs that we might enjoy naming and shaming.
My nomination is Days Like These by Jamie Reid – the most derivative racing-themed arse gravy I’ve ever read. Reid actually won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year prize for Doped: The Real Life Story of the 1960s Racehorse Doping Gang, but this one is a stinker.
I propose Julian Wilson’s autobiography Some You Win.
If I want to read about someone’s prolific sex life I’d much prefer to re-read Fanny Hill.
lol Soldier.
For me it would have to be “Better Than Sex” by Mick Fitzgerald. Always liked him as a jockey, but by the time I read it, he was already developing himself as a pretty inept pundit. That, along with the fact that despite his “better than sex” remark having definitely not crept into the public consciousness, he and his colleagues seem to be believe it one of the most famous quotes of all time. The only racing autobiography I couldn’t finish.
Also, any of The Grand National books by the late Aintree “expert” Reg Green. They were always hard work.
The Reg Green books were only use as a record of the results really. That’s all I ever use the one I’ve got for anyway.
The Julian Wilson book was reviewed by a racing magazine and the reviewer stated that it should have come with this warning on the cover:-
“Please do not attempt to drive or operate heavy machinery after reading this book”
I didn’t bother buying it.
I tried The Byerly Turk after reading great reviews on Amazon but although the research and detail was tremendous I lost interest as it dragged along at the pace of a glacier and it just never seemed to be reaching the parts that actually interested me about the story.
For me it was the Dryerly Turk.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I propose Julian Wilson’s autobiography Some You Win.
If I want to read about someone’s prolific sex life I’d much prefer to re-read Fanny Hill.
Would agree with that, absolute tripe.
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways“How I broke the bookies- my guide to tipping favourites” By goreisking could be a strong contender.
There was a book on Dawn Run in the late 80s, by Anne Holland; such a fascinating subject, but it was absolute shite, like it was written by a three-year-old (human)
Alex Bird book by a distance.
Was that The Life And Secrets Of A Professional Punter – Alex Bird with Terry Manners?
One of the first gambling books I read, can’t remember much about it other than not backing one who **** loosly in the paddock (that’s horses not jockeys)… Might have been got at!
Value Is EverythingNick Mordin’s book Betting For A Living.
Six months profit proves nothing and poor conclusions.Value Is Everything“Better Than Sex” by Mick Fitzgerald
I would suggest smashing your head against a brick wall is better than having sex with Mick
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Goodness there are so many in this category!
I do agree that Julian Wilson’s biography should be in there, a thoroughly unpleasant man comes across, in a badly written book.
All of Reg Green’s, badly written and somewhat boring.
The Henry Cecil biography by Brough Scott was a very disappointing book and badly produced. Brough Scott is a very poor writer and I am rather amazed he has been so successful.
I read something by Susan Montgomery once, it was really bad with so many mistakes.Most racing books, like sporting books in general, are pretty dire, tough reads even for die-hard fans.
Autobigraphies are mainly ghost-written by racing hacks of no great literary abilities, and biographies tend to be more like hagiographies with anything controversial carefully sidestepped.
My three against the field that I posted on the best books thread – Seabiscuit, Men and Horses I have known, Sods I have cut on the turf – were all written by the people whose names appear on the dustjackets.
Most racing books, like sporting books in general, are pretty dire, tough reads even for die-hard fans.
Autobigraphies are mainly ghost-written by racing hacks of no great literary abilities, and biographies tend to be more like hagiographies with anything controversial carefully sidestepped.
My three against the field that I posted on the best books thread – Seabiscuit, Men and Horses I have known, Sods I have cut on the turf – were all written by the people whose names appear on the dustjackets.
Scott Brough was very snooty in Henry Cecil’s book. Maybe he was just channeling the attitudes of the racing people. Far more interesting in waffling on by the high society and pointless moments in history .Often, as entertaining as some of his antidotes were, it felt like the book was about the author and his experiences rather than Cecil. It does not really talk about how Cecil was so successful, suppose no trainer wants to give away their secrets – to be fair he was busy with his horses – and maybe it is hard to describe. Cecil was right, it was pretty boring. A lot of fawning over Frankel. Whatever people think of Tom Queally, he is barely mentioned in the book unlike some of the other jockeys who had a chapter or two named after them. Tom did help Cecil win over 20 group 1’s, would have been a few more had he more experierance and confidence eg 1000 Guineas on Jacqueline’s Request, Coronation on Midday. Only a glancing reference to Middday’s win at the Breeders Cup, Cecil’s first win there.
Also introduced new concepts and ideas to people who were still using the fineform rating formula and gave punters the strange idea that with a bit of investigation and research this game of ours could be beatable. For everything Mordin is accused of i will always cherish the days of Aesculus Press where the names of Mordin, Potts and Cotton became lifelong “friends” Those were exciting times to be a punter and the idea generation that these books spawned was for many punters life-changing.
Also introduced new concepts and ideas to people who were still using the fineform rating formula and gave punters the strange idea that with a bit of investigation and research this game of ours could be beatable. For everything Mordin is accused of i will always cherish the days of Aesculus Press where the names of Mordin, Potts and Cotton became lifelong “friends” Those were exciting times to be a punter and the idea generation that these books spawned was for many punters life-changing.
Nick Mordin’s book Betting For A Living.
Six months profit proves nothing and poor conclusions.
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