Peoples Thoughts, Formulator 4.0

[Tom]

HDW trainer data is very clean.
They scrub it, pat it dry, powder it, and then just a dab of colonge.
There might be a moisturizer in there somewhere too, but I am not sure.

[garyoz]

Gary........ from what I read, I can get all that same info out of Equisim.

I have had Equisim for several months and it is an excellent program and great value. I am not an expert on it and don't really want to say anything negative about it However, IMO, it is more a program designed to pick winners than F4. F4 is much easier to use and easy to integrate into your handicapping. It is much more comprehensive such as being able to clickthrough to the lifetime PP's for any race that appears in the trainer's database. Also it allows you to run the equivalent of cross tabs on inquiries concerning a much wider range of variables. Ralph, I'd suggest you download the program and check out a few sample files.

Also F4 has other functions carried over from F3 plus jockey and chart integration. Overall, I think the program is much better and more useful than overall thread would suggest.

[LOU M.]

I use HTR and it's easily capable of everything your doing with F4.Actually it goes way beyond. Not to say F4 wouldn't be useful for a player who plays a track or two once or twice a week that doesn't want to get involved with a database.A drawback of F4 however is when you find patterns that are profitable. Even if you save them in the notes you would have to manually search for every pattern every day. With HTR once a pattern has been uncovered you can create a report that will tell you when and where that spot play is happening. All you need to do is place the bet.Just some thoughts.
Lou M.

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by BillW
Ralph,

The only reason for the question is that Bris (drf files) are notoriously careless about standardizing on trainer names. TSN (Equibase) appears to be much cleaner (but still pretty bad). If you bring charts into the picture, more variations on the name can appear. The only way to get accurate statistics is to scrub the database. (I know, or buy HDW files ... not an option here).
Bill

I am with you bill........

[Handle]

The BRIS and TSN data has no (or very, very little) problems with keeping the names of the connections the same. It it were otherwise you would see multiple entries for the same trainer name in EquiSim's Connection Analysis screen droplist for trainers -- and you don't. At least, not with a db built with BRIS __OR__ TSN data files. It is a shame, however, that BRIS and TSN don't use the same format for the names.

[Marc At DRF]

Just Ralph expressed interest in Formulator, as to whether it can do more than his current software. I'm not going to suggest it can, because I'm not sure, but I wanted to recount a post I made here right before I left for KY, for Derby week/weekend. Please note the details about workout patterns, that I integrated into the trainer pattern search:

"...When looking to toss faves or underlays, it's just a great research tool.

I'm digging the "workout" functionality, available within the trainer pattern tool. Holthus has a 2-yr-old first time starter running at Churchill tomorrow. Expensive colt, only shows two works. DRF shows good numbers with First time starters for Holthus.

I click on his name and first I select 2-yr-olds and first time starters. First I see that he does way, way worse with 2-yr-old first time starters, as compared to older first time starters, over the last 5 years.

Then I add in the "winners" button, to isolate his winners within this category, to examine them. So now I see that Holthus has had 6 2-yr-olds who are first time starters who have won, in the last 5 years. But my question is: Does he ever win with these types in the Spring? And with an abbreviated work pattern? I click on "View TP PPs," and the PPs for those 6 debut winning 2-yr-olds pops up on the screen. 4 of them are fall horses with extended work patterns showing before their first start. One other is a summer debut, again with an extended work pattern. There's only one Spring debut winner-- and yes, he does show only 2 works, but this was in a maiden claimer. So, what Holthus is doing tomorrow, he has only done it once successfully in 5 years, and in a cheaper class. If he's a short price, this horse is a bet against for me tomorrow."

Update: The horse in question, Runaway Jewel, finished a distant sixth as the 9/5 co-favorite.