Best Bets vs Race Book

[Harris 10]

I'm heading to the track on the weekend and was wondering what people prefer buying, a copy of Best Bets or a Race Book?
Personally I always purchased the race book but in recent years have turned to Best Bets as I believe it provides more info.
Is it time to make the race book redundant and replace by selling Best Bets on course?

 

[KardiniaPark]

Best bets is much easier to read being in colour.

 

[Syd Kennets]

They sell both at Flemington but you can't get a best bets at Caulfield, and I've no idea of the closest place you can grab on near the Heath. Best Bet...is to grab one on the Friday and make sure it comes with you on Saturday.

 

[iluvparis]

Best Bets has the colors of every horse for every race in the main 4 states - the racebook doesn't. It also has a much better form set up than the racebook. In short - it is no contest.

 

[Matty_G]

I normally buy the Winning Post & the racebook, but end up throwing the WP out after race 2 or 3 because it's annoying to carry.
Might try just getting Best Bets this week. Seems like the logical idea.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Sportsman

 

[Off Tap]

Best Bets, they have the section Betting By The Stars. C'mon lucky number 8, I'm going to punish the bookies this week, Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[footyman]

The racebook is tired...it hasn't changed in years. The form lacks detail - in fact its on par with whats on the wall in your local TAB. The tips are crap and page after page of black and white text is boring.

At least Best Bets provides the colours, some additional info (positioning in running) and better tips.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Sportsman

This.

 

[KardiniaPark]

Has anyone tried the downloadable version of Best Bets?

It seems its not available until 9am the day before a race. The full colour version is available in newsagents before then!. I guess its handy for meetings other than saturdays...

 

[Philzsay]

Has anyone tried the downloadable version of Best Bets?

It seems its not available until 9am the day before a race. The full colour version is available in newsagents before then!. I guess its handy for meetings other than saturdays...

The online Racebooks for Saturday's meetings are usually on the website Thursday afternoon - Most of this Saturday's meetings are up already.

 

[Harris 10]

Sportsman

Why Sportsman over the Winning Post?

 

[Ron The Bear]

Why Sportsman over the Winning Post?

Habit as much as anything. Sportsman's unofficial tag of "the punter's bible" influenced me to buy it when I began punting.

Colourful it ain't, but for sheer volume of hard core racing form per square inch, it can't be beaten...full details of last 9 starts, plus previous wins and barrier trial results give the punter a decent line on horses they're unfamilar with. Stewards' reports are invaluable if you follow racing from week to week. Breeders' guide a good read if you're into that side of it. To me, other publications seemed lightweight in comparison; you won't find ambivalent comments on a horse's chances such as "Disappointed last start but could get into the money without surprising". In fact you won't find comments at all.

Haven't looked at Winning Post for many years, but it used to be very similar to the free form that is now displayed in TAB's. I really have no idea what it's like now.

Only punt socially these days so I don't know whether they still publish The Wizard? It was a Sydney publication which was often difficult to get hold of in Melbourne, but had a very original format and often contained fascinating statistics-based articles in its centre pages.

 

[Pres]

Has anyone tried the downloadable version of Best Bets?

Exactly the same offering other than Steve Moran does not always do the Vic tips for anything other than Sat metro meetings and there are usually no comments under each runner's form.

Works best if you have a colour printer with a duplexing unit to get the true racebook style look.

 

[Off Tap]

Habit as much as anything. Sportsman's unofficial tag of "the punter's bible" influenced me to buy it when I began punting.

Colourful it ain't, but for sheer volume of hard core racing form per square inch, it can't be beaten...full details of last 9 starts, plus previous wins and barrier trial results give the punter a decent line on horses they're unfamilar with. Stewards' reports are invaluable if you follow racing from week to week. Breeders' guide a good read if you're into that side of it. To me, other publications seemed lightweight in comparison; you won't find ambivalent comments on a horse's chances such as "Disappointed last start but could get into the money without surprising". In fact you won't find comments at all.

Haven't looked at Winning Post for many years, but it used to be very similar to the free form that is now displayed in TAB's. I really have no idea what it's like now.

Only punt socially these days so I don't know whether they still publish The Wizard? It was a Sydney publication which was often difficult to get hold of in Melbourne, but had a very original format and often contained fascinating statistics-based articles in its centre pages.

The Wizard is available through everyrace.com.au only.

I get it every week and swear by the ratings they use.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

The Sportsman is by far superior if you simply want information with which to form your own opinion, rather than get tips from others. I agree that the Winning Post is too similar to the charts they have in the TAB.

 

[Hoffy95]

Best Bets easily if you're grabbing it on the day and haven't got time to do the form thoroughly.

Sportsman if you have time to read.