Past Performances

[JimG]

Good morning HTR cappers!

I am curious concerning the use or non-use of past performances with the HTR program. In your experience have you found using the past performances with the program to be helpful and how? Or do you prefer to use HTR standalone? If so, why and what are your favorite parts of the program?

Jim

[Carl]

Good morning Jim.

The only thing I use HTR for is the access downloads. I download the IMPACT and HTR factors available to me every day, run a set of queries to find my plays for today, then download all the races with results/charts once a week into a db for study and creation/refinement of spot plays.

I haven't even looked at the new PP's yet, no interest in them. I am happy with my little niche of HTR. Unlimited downloads of all tracks and nifty neat ways to process the information for $119 a month. Works for me, and if I ever get stuck on "how too or what does this mean" I can post here and get an answer. Or I can e-mail Ken and get a response back within 24 hours if not sooner. I consider that to be "great tech support", and that is important to me too.

Horseplayers are funny, no doubt about it. (If I ever forget, I need only look in a mirror to remind myself. Hehe.)

later,
Carl

[MikeDee]

I don't look at PP either. If I had to llok at them I would give this game up. I do like the PRAT PER mode. And I will look at this to either confirm and reject contenders

[JimG]

Mike, Carl:

I find both of your replies very interesting. The fact that neither of you look at past performances. I have been using computers in conjunction with horse racing since the mid 90's with mixed success. I still have not been able to divorce myself from traditional past performances. In other words I may go to the OTB..or bet through YouBet and I'll have the past performances, along with whatever software I'm using at the time (either All-Ways, HSH, HTR, or Capsheet) and play the races.

I have been contemplating leaving off the past performances (at times I feel on information overload) and play using just software and my understanding of same. That's why I am interested in what others are doing. Thanks for the replies and I hope others weigh in with their thoughts on the subject.

Jim

[Gambler844]

Whenever I loose a race I like to know why. Did I choose the wrong paceline, was it the jockey change etc. Without I past performance like Bris , DRF, It Data, I cant do this. Is there a better way to determine why I lost? If so let me know. Also I guess wanting a past performance like Bris etc is a personal preference. If many others offer it why doesnt HTR have it as one of their options for those who would like one?

[MikeDee]

Jim
I assume that you change your selections at the track or OTB based on what you see in the PP's. Overall does this help or hurt? If this is working for you then go with it


Gambler
sounds like you really prefer handicapping with PP's. The new program curently under beta test called HTR 2001 will have PP data as one of the options and you can view it in one of the screens. If you are interested I'ld suggest that you email and Ken to see when a demo might be available for new customers to try of the new program

[Gambler844]

Thanks Mike Dee

[JimG]

Mike:

Good question. Actually I sometimes use the past performances to take me off a favorite that software may prefer, however if a longshot pops up on the software dujour, I play it regardless of what it looks like in the past performances. After all, if it looked good in the past performances, it wouldn't be a longshot <g>. The reason I was contemplating a change is to take more fuller advantage of simulcasting. My current methods take quite a bit of time.

Jim

[Glen]

Sometimes I use the PP, sometimes I don't. If time permits, I perfer to use PP in conjuction with other HTR screens. It is more fun and I get a better idea and complete picture of how the race will be run. But there is also a time trade off as well. If you are going to specialize in a track, then the PP might be a good thing. If you are looking to play multiple or all tracks then stay away from the PP.

[Ron]

I've not used a DRF for over a year and a half and have done much better without it.

Prior to that I've relied on the DRF for over 15 years.

At first it was difficult to let go of an old habit that I was comfortable with,
but once I began to out preform my other method of winning, It was no longer
an issue

Yes, there is a trade off. I've missed some good winners that I would have had
if I looked at the form, but for every one of them , I've found two others that
I would never have had if I looked at the form.

Ron