Step into the world of horse racing with the insight of someone who has lived it from the inside out. In DoubleHandful, former racehorse trainer...

Step into the world of horse racing with the insight of someone who has lived it from the inside out.

In DoubleHandful, former racehorse trainer Ian Wood pulls back the curtain on one of the world’s most misunderstood sports and explains it in a way that is practical, engaging, and refreshingly honest.

This is a true guide to understanding racing properly – how the sport works, why it captivates millions, and what really happens behind the scenes from the gallops to the weighing room. Whether you are a racegoer, owner, punter, student, or simply curious about the sport, this book gives you the knowledge that racing insiders often take for granted.

Learn how to read a racecard with confidence, understand jockey allowances, race tactics, betting terminology, ownership, syndicates, welfare, breeding, and the countless details that shape every race day. Discover how horses are prepared, how trainers think, what stable staff do, and even why certain horses thrive under specific conditions while others do not.

Written in a clear A–Z format, this is the guide readers will return to again and again – whether before a day at the races or while watching from home. Thoughtful, experienced, and deeply rooted in the traditions of British racing, DoubleHandful brings the sport to life stride by stride.