Robert Saunders Dowst

Robert Saunders Dowst was an American author born in 1890 and died in 1959. Reliable catalog and library sources connect him with two notably different lines of work: an early book on writing craft, The Technique of Fiction Writing (1921), and a long run of books on horse-racing analysis and betting.

A Dartmouth Alumni Magazine notice published after his death described him as a Dartmouth graduate from the class of 1912 and said he built a prolific freelance career in turf writing, earning a wide reputation for his expertise in handicapping racehorses. That same source notes that Playing the Races, first published in 1934, went through many editions, showing how strongly his racing advice connected with readers.

For audiobook listeners, Dowst is especially interesting because he moved between instruction and enthusiasm: on one side, teaching the structure of fiction in a straightforward, useful way; on the other, writing lively, practical books for racing fans. No suitable verified portrait image was found from the sources reviewed, so a profile image is not included.