Spot Play Question

[Cliff]

Guys,

When checking for spot plays don't you have to export via HTR4MSAC or HTR4MSA (without results) ?

In so doing, don't you overwrite the xxx_MSAC.TXT or xxx_MSA.TXT file that the export program writes to automatically?

So, how do you handle the export once the results are available without continuously overwriting the .TXT files?

Thanks,
Cliff

[fred4now]

Cliff, I do my daily plays in a separte folder with a copy of HTR or Impact or database, whatever you use. It makes a all_msa but only in that folder. At end of day I just delete them all. When I update with results I do it in default C:\HTR so it adds to my all_msa. Hope that was clear.

[Carl]

Cliff,

I just use the "All" file (the track by day files just sit there in HTR gathering dust, and do any sorts I want to do by track at the Access db level).

I am following a system Mike D. taught me. Goes on kind of a weekly schedule.
1) Download race files (Impact and HTR and trainer stats) into a db called "tomorrow's plays" on a daily basis. In this file the tables for each of the files are linked.
2) Delete all information in this db's tables at the end of the race day. On good days, I delete mid-day a few times to add files after scratches. In any case, whole file is empty at end of day to be re-filled the next. I also empty the "All" file at this time.
3) Spot plays are queried out of this table. I have a query for "all spot plays" and one for each spot play individually.
4) Once a week, I download race files with results added into a monthly table for all tracks. After I do this I delete the tracks from the exporter. I download all three to a monthly file at this time, then merge tables (make table) so I have all the files in one table with results. Actually, I only join Impact and HTR, keep trainer stats separate to link as needed.
5) When a month is done, I close that file and start a new one. When three months are up, I do up a quarter year. I like looking at races by quarter year.

later,
Carl

[MikeDee]

The only difference between the way Carl is doing it and the way I do it is at the end of the week when I do my weekly update I append the weekly data into individual tables that I keep by track. I only keep the data for tracks that are running and I am following in my db.

At the beginning of a meet I copy all of the data for a track from my storage to my db and put it into a table for that track. During the meet on a weekly basis I append the new data to it . At the end of the meet I delete the track table from my db.

Whenever I want to analyze a track I just use an append query and append the data for the track from the track table to the daily table. Now I can use any query that works on my daily table to look at the data for the track I am reviewing. When done I just delete the content of the daily table just like at the end of a race day. All of the tracks data is still intact in the track table.

Just like Carl I bring in todays tracks without results into daily table and run my spot plays to find my contenders. You may have to delete the contents of your daily table many times and bring it in again as you get scratch info from the tracks. This will be necessary if your spot plays depend on the rankings of the factors, as they change with scratches. When you are done just delete the contents of the daily table and you are ready to tomorrow.

IMPORTANT - Keep in mind that the htr4msac program does not overwrite the msac or impact ".txt" files it appends data to them. So before your re-run the extract programs be sure to delete the ".txt" files

[Cliff]

Ok,


Thanks guys. I had even considered exporting without results using old version HTR4MSA and exporting with results using newer version HTR4MSAC. Apparently there are several ways to skin this cat. How did you come up with your spot plays? Trial and error, visual comparisons, sharing amongst each other, or......?

Thanks much,
Cliff

[MikeDee]

Cliff you don't need to use the old version just the new one. If you do the export and the results and charts are not present the program just puts zeros in the results and chart related fields.

[Carl]

Cliff,

As to your question of "how do you guys develop your spot plays"?

1) I was very lucky in that Glen started using access a little before I did and he was able to help me through the beginning learning curve (which I think is the steepest part). For a month or so we compared potential spot plays daily, as our db's were a little different. It was very interesting. I couldn't have asked for a bettor initial tutor. And Mike D. has been great since, leading me into areas of access I didn't know existed. (I'm still afraid of VB, but it will I suspect come in time.) I don't think I could have learned this stuff without the their help. And Donnies manual has been great too, as have Rick's tips/templates and the easy of Ken's downloads.
2) Developing spot plays is what I live for in access. I spend hours fiddling with nuances of same. I move one number up or down, add another number, etc. I really enjoy it. I feel like rather than handicapping a race, I am handicapping other handicappers perception of a race. And to me, that is where it is at (IF the purpose of this game is to show a profit).
3) Unless one does have this "obsession" with developing spot plays, I don't think there is all that much reason to use access and a db. While it is nice as a confirmation factor, the amount of time involved learning, training and feeding "the beast" will I think quickly wear out anyone not committed to using it as a predictive factor.

My take at least.

later,
Carl