Just wanted to bump the thread.

Steven- I read the book some 25 years ago. I enjoyed reading everything Mark Cramer wrote. Like the old Cramer-Olmstead reports!!!
But I'm sorry to say I cant recall the contents of the book clearly. I can say that I enjoyed all his stuff. I will look through my library to see if I still have a copy laying around

Steven, I looked for my copy of Kinky Handicapping and I can not locate it. Seems many things got misplaced as a result of a move.

Tony, spring cleaning can be such an adventure. lol

Thanks Tony. I appreciate your efforts.

Good idea Conley!! I know I have a copy of kinky handicapping but I cant find it.

I found my copy.
The premise of the book is that various handicapping situations are described by "Kinky" comparisons.
Some of the chapter titles are:

The Inaccurate Conception-Will the horse that was the fastest be the fastest.

Can there be intense action without love? -The tote board in lesser-of-evils races

Menage A Trois - How to manage when there is more than one overlay scenario for the same race

Secret Affairs - The obscure trainer mutuel fund

All in all, a good book with lot of good ideas, even years later.

Thanks Tom. That’s most interesting and thank you for the info.

kinkier handicapping by mark cramer. 1996 11 chapters. interviews a variety of handicapping individuals from chess masters (edgar polania) and people from other walks of life who handicap the ponies. for example: edgar looks for something different-anything-like layoffs or some kind of pattern match from a winning effort.. If nothing different he assumes that he will not outhandicap the public and goes on to the next race. If something is different he checks the trainer patterns. Edgar says: (page 57) I don't follow the same rules every day. The rule is that there are no rules. If I'm bound by rules I can't be creative.

Maybe I should also add--mark cramer once asked his readers if any of us know anyone who handicaps horses on a regular basis (not necessarily every day but regularly) who has ever been diagnosed with some kind of dementia. I have also asked the same question of OTB people and others- I don't know of any and Mark never printed of any that did. If he did I am not aware of them.

Maybe I should also add--mark cramer once asked his readers if any of us know anyone who handicaps horses on a regular basis (not necessarily every day but regularly) who has ever been diagnosed with some kind of dementia. I have also asked the same question of OTB people and others- I don't know of any and Mark never printed of any that did. If he did I am not aware of them. — donald altemose

It definitely keeps your mind active, which fights off dementia.

Anti-dementia is something I take very seriously.
Several years ago, I discovered that I'd lost 15 points off my IQ score.

When I spoke to my primary care doctor, she gave me the standard answer: "As you age, it is reasonable that your intellect will wain a bit."

I didn't like that answer, so I did some research and found an understanding of WHY - and many were easily fixed. Sleep meds were the big one.

Eventually I not only recovered the 15 points I'd lost but gained even beyond my starting point!

along with what you said I am wondering about "concentration". and if/how that interacts with it. I have a mild issue with that. It is not always what it should be. I am 83

along with what you said I am wondering about "concentration". and if/how that interacts with it. I have a mild issue with that. It is not always what it should be. I am 83 — donald altemose

I remember you.
This is a favorite personal topic of mine and I study it very seriously.