I've just completed reading A Bloody Good Winner by Dave Nevison. He is a professional horse player, having made his living at that risky business for several years. It's an autobiography, and quite entertaining. There is quite a bit of English slang in it which can be understood if you infer the meaning from the context, and several of the betting aspects are quite foreign to me, as the Brits bet in a manner quite different than here in North America. Nevertheless, it's a very good read, if your tastes run in that direction. The activity is not much different than that of a commodities trader, something Nevison had done for some time as well.

I generally enjoy real life accounts like this of people who are not afraid to risk all, and back their opinions up in a way that matters. In the horseracing world, only Steven Crist's Betting on Myself comes close to this book, although there are other accounts of trying to make it as a pro, but usually written by people who are not intent on making a living at it. I have met a few people who do make a very good living at this endeavour, and they have all been quite intelligent, interesting people. I had the opportunity to join a dinner table with Tom Brohamer (Modern Pace Handicapping) several years ago. He had left a secure, well paying job to take up betting on horses in Southern California on a full time basis, and reported that his income, while not as stable, was on a par with his former job. The difference was that he was enjoying himself a whole lot more.