web based handicapping site

[digitaljeebus]

Hey guys, I ran across this forum while searching for some track surface descriptions (wtf is 'tf' anyway? why would certain tracks do that to us?? and does anyone else hate the data format brisnet uses as much as i do, or is that just me? ... sorry, that didn't need to be there. anyway ... ) and I thought I'd get your feedback on something. How many of you would be interested in a central data location for handicapping? imagine one website for past performances, power numbers, replays, live video, betting (all of course redirected from their respective domains). we've got some other unique features set up, but I was wondering how useful this particular section of it would be.

currently we're looking at integrating features from the following web sites:

brisbet.com (wagering)
tvg.com (wagering, live video)
xpressbet.com (wagering, live video)
youbet.com (wagering)
racreplays.com (video replays)
nationalturf.com (clockers reports)
in addition to race, entry, past performance, and workout data. I was also debating whether or not to add web services to the list of offered services, since obviously (to me anyway) the horse racing industry's current ability to distribute data leaves a lot to be desired, especially in light of the fact that the technological world moves light years faster than the horse racing industry.

Thanks for your input! If you'd like to be notified of any new developments, please PM me w/ your name and email address.

[kenwoodallpromos]

I do not grace 1st time posters with my personal fellings or opinions when they are only trying to get free PR!

[46zilzal]

too late. Web based handicapping site(s) are already out there

[digitaljeebus]

I do not grace 1st time posters with my personal fellings or opinions when they are only trying to get free PR!

hey, sorry if it seemed like i was trying to get pr, we're waaay far away from anything resembling a release. In fact, since my boss seems more interested in building features for himself rather than for a market, I'm not sure we'll ever be released. I was just curious what people's reaction would be to it, to see if we even have a decent product.

too late. Web based handicapping site(s) are already out there

are there? =/ I've tried searching, but I haven't been handicapping very long, and my boss is useless w/ a computer. could you point me in the direction of some of these? the only ones I've seen involve a ton of pdf files, or ancient vb programs (although my entire scope of online handicapping involves brisnet.com) :)

[Murph]

could you point me in the direction of some of these?

Try http://www.thorostats.com

Murph

[Dave Schwartz]

digitaljeebus,

From your website's FAQs:

How do I get a user name and password?
Ask! Send an email to Scott, and remember to ask nicely!

Now, I could be wrong, but I'd guess there are more than a few people here who might not take too kindly to having to beg you to capture their email addresses.

LOL - What are you guys thinking?

Suddenly I have flashed on Eddie Murphy in the Golden Child: "Givvvve meeeee the kniiiiife..."


Best of luck to you.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

[digitaljeebus]

Try http://www.thorostats.com (http://www.thorostats.com/)


I checked their web site, the only thing they have (like most of the websites or programs I've seen) are tips, picks, and ratings, rather than tools to actually help the handicapper handicap. We're trying to attract new people into the art of handicapping by teaching them slowly, and give the seasoned handicapper new tools, or easier ways to use their old methods - not just hand out tips.

digitaljeebus,
Now, I could be wrong, but I'd guess there are more than a few people here who might not take too kindly to having to beg you to capture their email addresses.

LOL - What are you guys thinking?

Suddenly I have flashed on Eddie Murphy in the Golden Child: "Givvvve meeeee the kniiiiife..."


lol! that was one of our old coder's idea of a joke ... we're trying to keep this closed for now, but for some reason scott (my boss) keeps giving out usernames like candy =/ the email address is still part of his old company, instead of this one ... hehe, i told you we're light years from production, I've just realized lately that a business plan isn't going to come from anyone else in this company but me, so I'm trying to find out what the technologically friendly portion of the handicapping audience wants in a software application, so we actually have a void to fill, rather than just duplicating what's out there.

sorry if this comes off as trying to generate interest in our product, we really don't have a product, all i want to know is if there is a need for this type of tool. I 've been trying to find a decent handicapping forum, and this is the best one I've seen yet. I thought I'd take advantage of the fact that there is a community of people willing to use software to make their lives easier, and see what I could do to simplify them even further.

btw, I got rid of anything on the website that might make someone think that they can somehow gain access to it, thanks for pointing that out for me =)

[xtb]

So you're a self proclaimed newbie who wants to teach other newbies and help seasoned handicappers? btw, tf = track frozen

[digitaljeebus]

at what point did I say I was trying to teach anyone anything? my boss is the seasoned handicapper, but let's face it, most people have their own set ways of handicapping, their own methods, their own magic numbers or whatever. We're not trying to introduce any new ones. All we want is to make things easier. Keep track of notes that people may currently have written in a notebook or in some excel spreadsheet. Make it easier to compare information on past performances. Allow people to make their own decisions, then send a bet to their favorite wagering site with one click. I mean, these aren't revolutionary ideas, just time savers, but looking around at the 'competition' (of which there really isn't any, just a myriad of tipsters), most people have really dropped the ball on creating features based on what users want. Although, judging from the feedback I've received so far, gamblers are amazingly defensive and protective of their 'strategies' or 'methods', and have no desire, and really no imagination, to actually make the process easier, or to give other people the information they require to make their lives easier.


Just a thought.

[digitaljeebus]

So you're a self proclaimed newbie who wants to teach other newbies and help seasoned handicappers? btw, tf = track frozen

and thanks for the 'tf' definition, I've been searching for that for .. easily a year now! =) if you ever need any help, or some little tool coded for you, let me know =)

[xtb]

... but I haven't been handicapping very long, and my boss is useless w/ a computer. could you point me in the direction of some of these? the only ones I've seen involve a ton of pdf files, or ancient vb programs (although my entire scope of online handicapping involves brisnet.com) :)



We're trying to attract new people into the art of handicapping by teaching them slowly, and give the seasoned handicapper new tools, or easier ways to use their old methods - not just hand out tips.


I apologize if I'm misinterpreting your posts, I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from.

[digitaljeebus]

sorry, that last post had the royal 'we', as in my erstwhile company (my boss, specifically, he's the old handicapper who i'm getting experience from), I'm mostly analyzing the things that my boss has taught me, and my boss' friends, and trying to digitize them so that I can create some type of simple tutorials to teach users things they should know. Right now I'm just trying to make sure that all the different terms (furlong, length, turn, stretch, bug boy, sire, dam, win, place, show) are either self-explanatory, or easily defined by clicking on them. The biggest problem, that I've seen so far, is that the only source of information people have to go off of is, essentially, the daily racing form (or your localized version of it) and there's nothing simple teaching people what the numbers mean, or which ones are important, or why. That's the first learning hurdle we're trying to get over, but past that, I'm not really sure where to go, and simply defining terms and pointing out important information does not a life changing program make. =)

[xtb]

It seems then, that you may be trying to create something like this.

http://turfpedia.com/index.html

[Murph]

I checked their web site, the only thing they have (like most of the websites or programs I've seen) are tips, picks, and ratings, rather than tools to actually help the handicapper handicap. We're trying to attract new people into the art of handicapping by teaching them slowly, and give the seasoned handicapper new tools, or easier ways to use their old methods - not just hand out tips. There is a bit more on thorostats than just some picks and ratings. The program performance database is a serachable record of the selections AND their result for the past three years and growing.

Can you point me to any public selector who will share his long term record with the users of their product? I have not found one besides ours yet. I am looking.

Each race selection page is served with convienent links to a toteboard, charts and entries, the program performance for the race class and a quick card of just the selections for that day. I have always felt the FREE par time and class charts provided exceptional value to handicappers seeking additional information.

If our type of handicapping does not suit your style, I understand. I just wanted to point out to everyone that there is more available than just the selections.
Murph

[betovernetcapper]

Maybe what you guys should create is some kind of toolbar. It could provide access to various sites and you could call it The PA Toolbar.

[digitaljeebus]

It seems then, that you may be trying to create something like this.

http://turfpedia.com/index.html

partially what they have, but w/ more hand holding (i think). Something dynamic where a new user could pick a race, and the website would point out important pieces of information, explain why they're important, and then allow the user to make a (hopefully) well informed decision.


There is a bit more on thorostats than just some picks and ratings. The program performance database is a serachable record of the selections AND their result for the past three years and growing.


I apologize, I didn't know I was talking to one of the operators (?) of thorostats.com. You do have an impressive amount of statistical data, but in order to really turn users into 'professional' handicappers, you'd need more than simply your website. In otherwords, it's a great addition to something like the daily racing form, or something for individuals to use on a casual basis, but to really feel like they know what they're doing (in our opinion) we think you have to get the user closer to the data and the decision making process. I'm not knocking your software at all; on the contrary, you guys have a very impressive and professional website (something i've found is a rarity in this industry) and does provide added value to the handicapper, even for free. It's just not something that can replace the way most people currently handicap (or better, the way that people currently view handicapping; we see the industry as stagnating, and it needs some kind of new jolt to bring new users into the fold).


Maybe what you guys should create is some kind of toolbar. It could provide access to various sites and you could call it The PA Toolbar.


hehe, I just downloaded the toolbar, and while it linked a whole slew of websites I'd never seen before, it doesn't do anything new, just makes the current breed of online handicapper's job a tad bit more streamlined. I'm trying to stream line a good chunk of it a good bit more, i.e. remove the need to login, remove the need to surf through the webpage to get to the video / track / horse that you want. I guess we'll see how useful that ends up being.


btw, tf = track frozen


I just remembered, fr = frozen as well doesn't it? do tf and fr mean the same thing, but ft=dirt and tf=turf? it adds up in our database, i just wanted to double check w/ you guys :)

[the_fat_man]

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and

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[Riley_Racer]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

and

yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

I mean, REAL friends?

Regards,
Riley

[digitaljeebus]

thanks, I thought it was only me who saw him as a jackass =)