You can get a good direct connection to
Amwager's servers and a CRW API programming interface for the asking.
Go here to set up an Amwager account:
https://pro.amwager.com/#/aff/6
Or if you already have an account - and the idea of last minute access to pool data and programmatic creation and submission of batched wagers (e.g. several hundred) makes sense for your level of interest in the game and you have or can hire the programming skills - then contact Jason at Amwager (
Gorrex here at PA) and ask for access to their API.
I don't think they impose a minimum handle requirement.
Submitting wagers directly by API is a little faster than first creating a file then manually uploading the file. I think access to an
ADW's API is a little slower than direct access to a
tote hub's API (by milliseconds, not several seconds), but think: watching the video, first horse enters the gate, your software says 'PLAY' (bets make sense according to odds mix of your contenders and various pool bets), you hit the button, wagers are there a second later with a confirmation code. This is a late as
anyone (IMO) has access to tote data before wager cutoff.
I have been working on Hong Kong over the past year using Amwager's API and video feed (from Roberts Communication). The pool info refreshes on the order of each
10 seconds or less near post time. Each race day, I calibrate the time stamp on the HKJC video feed to my computer clock (after re-synching it to the MS time server). Usually I lag them by between 8 and 10 seconds, so this tells me I can comfortably submit wagers when the first horse enters the gate, and I am rarely shut out when I wait this long (though I do try to get bets down earlier, though as late as possible).
Among the reasons I like Hong Kong is that they spend a lot of time on horse physicality and race day temperament and video seems to linger sufficiently on horses at various pre-race points that if you know what you're looking for (or want to accept the commentators opinions) you can check the physicality box, however that may be important to your decision process.
Your mileage may vary for North American tracks: different video lag, spotty physicality inspection opportunities (though Woodbine does seem to have good video of the saddling enclosures and post parades). But it sure seems to me that you get the same late pool data, refreshed frequently and in real-time. Compared to Amwager, Twinspires is a joke.
Amwager doesn't do Churchill Downs tracks (CD, FG, AP, HOO, a few others). I know of a few other direct connect API's from other ADWs but as Jeff mentions, they all seem to require significant handle for access.
I have been happy with Amwager, though the API access is not for casual players. However, is it NOT out of reach to anyone here (nor are the Amwager rebates). There is no excuse not to use the same tools or access the same late data as the 'big boys'. You still need a functional handicapping and wager structuring model.
If you live in a state or country from which you cannot actually BET via Amwager, they will none-the-less set up a FREE account for you to at least access their tote and video system (and API) though not place wagers. Just use the
link provided above. Jason/'Gorrex' is VERY helpful and responsive - can't speak more highly of him!
Ted
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