Handicapping Software for Beginner

[sq764]

Although I think there are some advantages to using software (mainly quick calculations), I do not think there is anything out there that 'does it for you'..

With that being said, a guy who is very new to handicapping was asking me if there was software out there that could basically provide you the picks to make and turn a profit. I explained that there is always some subjectiveness and decision-making with any software or picks or systems.

What would everyone suggest for a beginner?


Scott

[mhrussell]

I would recommend the same as I did for "Sparky" a few of months ago...
1. Read Ansile's "Complete Guide to Thoroughbred Racing" and Mark Cramer's "Value Handicapping"
2. Understand the basic mathematics of the game, the nature of betting for value and why you MUST get good prices on your horses.
3. Get Pizzolla's book "Handicapping Magic" and the companion "Magician" software. Read and understand the principles in the book (need to read carefully at least 2 times )
4. Play around with the software until you get a feel for the numbers.
5. If something doesn't make basic sense to you, don't be afraid to go out and write some software tool of your own. You can learn a lot that way (I sure did).

Relax. It's a horse race and the outcome is inherently random. Don't get upset if you or the software doesn't get a race right. Be patient, have a sufficient size bankroll for each bet type you play (Win, Exacta, trifecta or whatever) and enjoy and embrace the mystery and uncertainty of it all. It's great!

Regards,

[Bob Harris]

While I generally will dismiss handicappers who are seeking the software "holy grail" as lazy and greedy (I love the handicapping process and don't understand how anyone can truly enjoy the game when using someone else's picks), I will admit that I often think we do things backwards when introducing our friends to racing.

The most important thing about handicapping is eliminating bad bets!! This is without a doubt the one skill all winning players have and unfortunately is one of the last skills that all of us have undertaken to master.

That being said, if your friend is neither lazy or greedy (in which case none of this will matter anyway), using a software program which generates selections AND a betting line will allow him to focus 100% of his attention on learning to weed out the good wagers from the bad. As time goes on, he can start branching out and learn the basics of handicapping so that the game becomes even more enjoyable.

I personally know of only two programs which fit the above description but there certainly may be others which the board can suggest: The Expert Handicapper and The Sharper Handicapper, both available from www.itsdata.com, come with documentation explaining to the user which races and wagers are shaky and which ones are more solid.

There is a player here in Reno, Steve Fierro, who generates a betting line for his customers and has guidlines and analysis to steer you away from bad wagers. He has been one of my best friends for years and is truly an artist at win wagering. He is more than happy to work personally with his customers over the phone, so if your buddy prefers the consultation approach, that would also be another option for him. He can reach him at steve@racedayusa.com

Bob

[Richard]

If you like the handicapping process,I would recommend either 5in1V2 or EASY CAPPER from Cynthia Publishing Co.(www.cynpub.com).The Track Modeler feature is very good(better with EASY CAPPER)for keeping up with what's winning at your track of choice.And you are in no way excused from being able to pick contenders and pacelines on your own.

[Slider]

Let's see a software program that will provide the picks and turn a profit is what a raw beginner wants. Humm.
I will share the findings I got with the ones I have used that give selections.

There is some software that provides picks and short term profits (sometimes) like neurax from BRIS. Focus 2000 will provide picks along with when and how to bet them, but I did not get a long term profit from all the races. Playing certain factors of the advanced programs will provide selections and grind out some profits if the playable races only are bet. But a raw beginner does not know what races are playable or not playable.
I have seen selections in HTR but do not know if they will turn a profit because I have not tracked them.

I am sorry but my answer is NO. I do not know of any software that will turn out a profit over the long run that give selections that a raw beginner could use. Now if you were asking about an experienced handicapper who is willing to work my answer would be YES.

[ranchwest]

Anything that can be gleaned from Past Performances is available to a computer and therefore I think that a computer can do at least as good and often a much, much better job of analyzing PPs than a person can. Of course, this assumes that the computer has to be programmed well.

Trying to pick every race is a road to ruin, at least for me. I've found that there are some races that the computer doesn't give me any good indicators about any horse in the race and in those races I have a lot of difficulty picking a winner subjectively, too. There are a lot of races in this category.

Still, I think the strongest handicapping tools are not in the PPs. Trip handicapping, key races and simple observation are some of the things that come to mind.

At one time, I had some friends who would look for a particular set of owners. If they were at the track, they were there for a picture. If they weren't there, there would be no picture. That was the easiest handicapping I ever saw.

[GR1@HTR]

I don't think there are too many simple programs out there. And if they are too simple then IMHO they would be worthless from a handicapping perspective. The best programs are the ones that require user input. Even as simple as Handicapping Magic is, it does require a complex theory user input to make it work the way is it supposed to. My best answer for a program that provides picks would be something that has a nueral network background. I have seen Nuerax from bris, looked at handi2K website and HSH. But the nuerual programs also need the user to spend lots of time and research to provide a comfortable conclusion. In matter of fact a serious player player I know says sometimes he spends sometimes spends from 700AM to 900PM working on his own neural network study daily. And he hasn't even placed a bet on it yet. Just research. My answer for the newbie would be if he is looking for quick fun picks to find a good tipsheet and play with that...

[sq764]

The one thing a computer can do that humans cannot is be totally unbiased.. Not sure about everyone else, but if I get stuck on a horse that I like, I will twist the #'s around until it seems logical to bet him. When all the while, the bottom line is that he was too slow or had slow works or too much time off, etc.. And the computer will show this plain as day.

[Lefty]

I have to agree with Slider: Simple and profitable? Nope, any such prgm wouldn't stay profitable very long because its picks would be overbet. Before buying software read every handicapping book you can lay hands on. My favs are Pace Makes The Race, Modern Pace Handicapping and Common Sense Handicapping.
Even complex prgms can be used simply at first whi;e you study the complexities: HSH for instance you could play two best odds top 3 of Composite screen or just play the Powerline selections. HTR you could play P-Scan for instance. Both of these prgms offer so much more but you could start simple and delve as deep into the prgms as you want.
Another pretty simple prgm is Hor$ense by Joe Mainardi.
Uses either Bris or TSN files. Another is A+
That should get you started.