Any place we can find HONEST reviews of handicapping methods, techniques, & systems?

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by CappinForGold

By that do you mean there is an archive on this forum I'd have to go to to do such a search, or can I just search under the search function, and the archives will come up with all the other findings? Occasionally I run into a book I enter into the database, but didn't find anything, and performed a google search, and some of these led me to PA, which is how I ended up here in the first place. And, yes, some of this information made it into my comments when it was worthwhile or offered some insight into the "method."

Addressing this part of what you wrote, if you do a search with the search function, that covers the forum as far as it goes back---there is no special "archive". I believe the only limit is you can only get 20 pages of results. So, if you searched for, say, "speed figures", there are probably hundreds of pages of posts about them, and you'd only get the 20 pages of most recent posts (of course that's still plenty of info to look over). However, if you use the "advanced search" feature, you can look for the threads with the most replies, limit what sections of the board you search, etc. It really helps you find the most possible information that addresses what you're looking for.

[RaceBookJoe]

Originally Posted by BlueShoe

There was one long before BM, but unless you are a real oldtimer, it will only be of historical interest. In the 60's and early 70's the late Louis G. Holloway published a monthly racing newsletter that often reviewed racing systems. In that era mail order racing systems that claimed to produce steady long term profits were common, and usually came with a slick promotional pitch. Old LGH was very hard on the offerings of the system sellers, and his reviews often had the sarcastic comment "the advertising is the best part" when debunking them.

LGH came out with a book that had 1000 systems in it, he didnt tell you who wrote them, just gave them stars with 3 stars being the best. Also, he was the first editor of Systems and Methods ( Gamblers Book Club publication ) , and in each issue they reviewed a handful of systems in each issue..both horse and gambling. Instead of stars they rated each system with horseshoes haha.

I would say its next to impossible to find his monthly newsletters, but i have a bunch of them, so you best bet if interested would be to search for his big book of 1000 systems. If you do find some of his old stuff, the most interesting thing you might find is how much study he did not only on systems, but on money management using receding due column with a takeout and multiple column plans....not perfect but interesting. You will also find that he was one of the earlier writers of both using variants and speed figures...funny enough i still start my handicapping process by putting his figures on horses....guess its just a habit. rbj

[llegend39]

Originally Posted by CappinForGold

Hello. Never really used one of these boards before, so heck...I'd appreciate any insight or source on using forums, too. But was just wondering if anyone knows of ANY newsletter, site, or forum where there are honest detailed reviews regularly done of horse racing handicapping methods and systems, whether in book or software format. I am familiar with Phillips Racing Newsletter, but know of no other sources. I saw one decent-looking site in the UK for UK racing, however it only turned out to be a guy who looks at very few systems and only markets affiliate crap via email. Any worthwhile input would be appreciated. For those that enjoy replying to such inquiries with sarcasm or technical criticism, well...please just refrain.

I will add that, in spite of the flaws and problems with Phillips Racing Newsletter, I would still be interested in acquiring past editions of these; primarily to input any worthwhile information into a database of systems and methods I've started. Not sure if I can post my email address here for such an inquiry or not, so I'll refrain from that now. I won't pay much for these and might prefer to work out some form of trade, and that is simply because of the various phases that newsletter has gone through as is evident in the very worthwhile posts around THIS forum. Though I enter their "ratings" in my database, I do not put much stock in them as a true method or system rating tool. However, I sometimes find some worthwhile tidbit to put in my summaries section.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post, and kudos to those who individuals who take the time and energy to keep a forum like this decent, informative, and honest.

Check your inbox for a private message

[Tom]

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/f...5&daysprune=-1

At the bottom of the threads, in the LH corner, main page, there is an option to show thread back X amount of time. This link is to the oldest page of the Handicapping Library....42 pages. Just select "From the beginning."

I do this every so often, because a topic will come up that was discussed previously and I go back to check it out with the new idea or information fresh.


Gee, what a coincidence.....look who started the oldest thread here!

[CappinForGold]

Originally Posted by RaceBookJoe

LGH came out with a book that had 1000 systems in it, he didnt tell you who wrote them, just gave them stars with 3 stars being the best. Also, he was the first editor of Systems and Methods ( Gamblers Book Club publication ) , and in each issue they reviewed a handful of systems in each issue..both horse and gambling. Instead of stars they rated each system with horseshoes haha.

I would say its next to impossible to find his monthly newsletters, but i have a bunch of them, so you best bet if interested would be to search for his big book of 1000 systems. If you do find some of his old stuff, the most interesting thing you might find is how much study he did not only on systems, but on money management using receding due column with a takeout and multiple column plans....not perfect but interesting. You will also find that he was one of the earlier writers of both using variants and speed figures...funny enough i still start my handicapping process by putting his figures on horses....guess its just a habit. rbj

Thanks, Joe. This is the sort of info I was looking for. I don't want to get bogged down with a bunch of this stuff...it just became a sort of interesting hobby. I've gotten some good ideas from this posting, and appreciate all the help everyone has offered, or will continue to offer. I would enter the system names in my database, and look up the author or publishers later for a book like this, so I'm gonna have to search for this one. And heck yeah, I want to see all the work he did with due columns. I know due column wagering is dangerous, but never really saw concrete figures related to horse racing to demonstrate this. Also, would be interesting just to see the other methods out there for this type of wagering.

Thanks again. The stuff I was looking for here.

Al

[CappinForGold]

Castaway01 & Tom: Thanks for the forum use assistance. Much appreciated and will save a lot of search hassles down the road. This is the first forum I've belonged to, and may likely be the only one. So, takes some getting used to.

[RaceBookJoe]

Originally Posted by CappinForGold

Thanks, Joe. This is the sort of info I was looking for. I don't want to get bogged down with a bunch of this stuff...it just became a sort of interesting hobby. I've gotten some good ideas from this posting, and appreciate all the help everyone has offered, or will continue to offer. I would enter the system names in my database, and look up the author or publishers later for a book like this, so I'm gonna have to search for this one. And heck yeah, I want to see all the work he did with due columns. I know due column wagering is dangerous, but never really saw concrete figures related to horse racing to demonstrate this. Also, would be interesting just to see the other methods out there for this type of wagering.

Thanks again. The stuff I was looking for here.

Al

LGH kind of gives you the hints to his 'receding due + takeout' in one of the chapters of his book "Full Time Gambler"..which is still available. I used the plan through the 70's and 80's all the time, and when am in the mood to hit the casinos an dplay craps or baccarat I still use it, but not as much on horses anymore. I have adapted it a bit for stock options trading and use it on certain strategies. If you have any questions on his stuff just let me know. rbj

[Enigma]

I would like to correct some of the information given so far. Barry Meadow did not check the validation of any of the methods, the work was done by Jim Bayle of SPORT STAT based in Las Vegas. Jim produced a soft cover book evaluating 50 Spot Plays and methods. The best performer in Meadow's Racing Monthly was "Hurrel Research Project" it produced a High Win Percentage + a Small Loss, probably a decent method to play for the rebates today.

A few years back I did advertising packages for a system mill in Reno, the golden rule was to show a profit of no less than 80.0% anything less would not sell. The gullible racing public are continually searching for the infallible system and the system mills churn out such promises each and every day.

[BMeadow]

Enigma wrote, "I would like to correct some of the information given so far. Barry Meadow did not check the validation of any of the methods, the work was done by Jim Bayle of SPORT STAT based in Las Vegas. Jim produced a soft cover book evaluating 50 Spot Plays and methods."

The tests in Meadow's Racing Monthly were done on large databases not only by Jim Bayle, but also by Jim Cramer of Handicappers Data Warehouse and Bob Purdy of Synergism. We tested more than 30 of the most popular commercial system on these databases. Many of the tests consisted of 20,000 plays or more--the only objective, unbiased tests using large numbers that I have ever seen (before or since).

Not a single one of the systems came close to matching the claims in the sales letters.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by Enigma

I would like to correct some of the information given so far. Barry Meadow did not check the validation of any of the methods, the work was done by Jim Bayle of SPORT STAT based in Las Vegas. Jim produced a soft cover book evaluating 50 Spot Plays and methods. The best performer in Meadow's Racing Monthly was "Hurrel Research Project" it produced a High Win Percentage + a Small Loss, probably a decent method to play for the rebates today.

A few years back I did advertising packages for a system mill in Reno, the golden rule was to show a profit of no less than 80.0% anything less would not sell. The gullible racing public are continually searching for the infallible system and the system mills churn out such promises each and every day.

Does anyone have a copy of the "Hurrel Research Project" that they would be willing to share. I know it doesn't work and probably doesn't even do as well today as it did back then, but from academic stand point it might be interesting to look at something came close once upon a time.

[speculus]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Does anyone have a copy of the "Hurrel Research Project" that they would be willing to share. I know it doesn't work and probably doesn't even do as well today as it did back then, but from academic stand point it might be interesting to look at something came close once upon a time.

Found this in internet search. See if it is of any help.

The issue of May 1998 should be of interest to you as it mentions the Hurrell Research Project.

http://www.trpublishing.com/p0000058.htm

[speculus]

Originally Posted by Enigma

.....The best performer in Meadow's Racing Monthly was "Hurrel Research Project" it produced a High Win Percentage + a Small Loss, .....

Barry just informed me that the Hurrell system picked 31.6% winners, surely that is not "High Win Percentage", is it?