Quote:
Originally Posted by steveb
there was at least 8 starters in every race.
the only way you can confidently account for field size if you don't have enough is to standardise or normalise them.
your last sentence does not make sense because lengths come from time, so there would be very strong correlation between the two.
as an indication of that correl, here is something i do every time i add data as a check.
i make 2 files every meeting, here is one that does each race correlation between margin and time.
this enables me to pick up errors....not that it ever happens in hk but it certainly does most other joints.
date/track/racetype/correlation between time&margin/conversion factor
conversion factor is always .16 but because the margin are in increments of .25 then never perfect, but it's the margin that's wrong not the time.
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When I was making my own speed and pace figures I would convert beaten lengths to time and rate the horses on that. I also found that the conversion factor of .16 worked very well for U.S. races too. Of course the this can vary somewhat depending on the speed of the horses at that point of call and a more precise time could be arrived at by using the horse's velocity at that sectional. Not sure if it's worth the extra effort but it can be done.
Interesting that you found the same conversion factor in Hong Kong racing but not surprising.
