yak merchant
05-09-2002, 02:18 AM
I'm sure you guys have already discussed this one to death, but here it goes:
I'm starting the long journey of writing a program (for my own use, not to sell). Not new to horses, nor to writing software programs for gambling (been working on a college basketball program for the last two years). However I've never really gotten serious with the ponies, but now I need a new project.
This is by far the most advanced forum I've found on the subject so I'm hoping to contribute/learn. I'm almost finished with the first part which was to grap all of the semi-real-time odds off the Racing Channel every minute for select tracks. And parse them and dump them into a SQL server database for later analysis with OLAP cubes.
Now here's where I'm lost. I want to start building a database with Past Performances/Charts. Actually probably charts mainly because I want to roll my own speed and pace numbers. Now this is where I'm looking for suggestions. Here are some of the questions I have.
What are the differences between all the different past performance files? ie DRF, EQ, etc.
Are there differences in the Chart Files?
Has anyone ever attempted to parse the charts from Equibase's HTML files?
Is Handicappers Data Warehouse the only place that offers a subscription for data?
If so do they screw the files up so bad you can't use them for your own use?
Etc, Etc, Etc?
Look forward to hearing any insights you have on the subject.
Thanks in advance.
Yak Merchant
I'm starting the long journey of writing a program (for my own use, not to sell). Not new to horses, nor to writing software programs for gambling (been working on a college basketball program for the last two years). However I've never really gotten serious with the ponies, but now I need a new project.
This is by far the most advanced forum I've found on the subject so I'm hoping to contribute/learn. I'm almost finished with the first part which was to grap all of the semi-real-time odds off the Racing Channel every minute for select tracks. And parse them and dump them into a SQL server database for later analysis with OLAP cubes.
Now here's where I'm lost. I want to start building a database with Past Performances/Charts. Actually probably charts mainly because I want to roll my own speed and pace numbers. Now this is where I'm looking for suggestions. Here are some of the questions I have.
What are the differences between all the different past performance files? ie DRF, EQ, etc.
Are there differences in the Chart Files?
Has anyone ever attempted to parse the charts from Equibase's HTML files?
Is Handicappers Data Warehouse the only place that offers a subscription for data?
If so do they screw the files up so bad you can't use them for your own use?
Etc, Etc, Etc?
Look forward to hearing any insights you have on the subject.
Thanks in advance.
Yak Merchant