Is this you Barny? If so, nice legs. ;)

Although that umbrella looks a bit big for your glass.

lol ..... bewdiful !!!!!!!

Ha, Very clever.

And nor should they Star. There's dozens and dozens even hundreds of potential variables you could measure, most of which aren't independant so in using them your in fact doubling up on your measurements. Barny is alluding to this I think. Of those left many won't have much effect when you calculate their likelihood ratios. With the greatest respect to Vortech, I strongly doubt there are 75 independant variables that make a measurable difference. I suspect Shaun is about right.

Exactly what I wuz trying to say AngryPixie, thanks. I underlined a comment in your quote which I think is important !!

Thanks again.

Garyf, by assessing the top 5 starting prices you have approx 76 to 80% of the winners. Not a bad short list. Removes around 60% of other horses.
Obviously starting price is assessed around much statistical ratings.
What other variables listed above in weight, class and speed do you think are not assessed in the starting price?

The original question was this..

" What elements of racing don't ratings examine"

You forgot to mention statistical ratings which was my 4th set.
Let's list some variables here.

How much energy has the horse lost in being floated,
To the track especially long trips on hot days.

Is the horse feeling 100% for today's race,
Horses can't talk unless you're backing "MR ED".
EG Black Caviar.

Will the jockey give the horse every chance or,
Will it be a slaughter job. etc etc.

So what % of the 76-80% you qouted would account for,
The above scenarios do you think?.

I would think these would be some of the elements,
Ratings don't examine in answer to the original question.

These would be the 4th set that you forgot to mention.
In my post "STATISTICAL RATINGS" which can be made up of the,
Individuals own preference.

Cheers.

Thanks Garyf,

Some of your suggestions are very helpful.

REgards

Actually speaking there Vortech this part concerning,
A horse travelling from one place to another was someting,
I had never considered.

Last year a ratings service ran some contest that i won can't remember,
Exactly what it was but the prize was a free copy of Edition=2,
Trevor Johns book racing my perfect investment.

Chapter=5 page=19 is the heading,
"Have horse will travel" talks about,
Trainers who float there horses long distances,
In search of a race to win.

It poses the question why would a trainer in this day and age,
With float costs etc travel way out of there territory to win.

He goes on to explain that a few years ago in February,
Race 4-12 a horse called plan ahead was entered in a 3yo quality.
He said in fact it was just a race, just a normal 3yo race, pure and simple.

Plan Ahead was the only horse the trainer was bringing from Stawell
Around 505 km away and a 1,000 km round trip.
The horse was 5th up from a spell and in his last 3 runs had suffered bad luck in the run including 2 runs with severe interference.

He says so based on that little pen picture what price would you be happy with.

It won and paid $67.00 doesn't say what tote or bookies.

There are others examples as well.

Got me thinking both ways as my previous post.

Now look what i have done another "BARNY" post,
About to appear re his ideas think outside the square,
Can see what he is trying to say not sure if he uses this?.

I use this in one of many non-conforming filters you could say.

Let me say this you have to spend money to make money,
Even though this book i won i have spent plenty over the years,
Buying systems books and subscribing to paid rating,
Services to get where i am today.

Rules from systems books and experience is what i use Gleaned from all that money spent over the years.

And i will continue to do it.

Cheers.

Ok my programmer is hard at work with some ideas ready to roll next week.

I've used the Career performance assessment based on weight/class algorithms from R&S, the speed maps, the don scott method and some statistcal data from bet selector.

Been able to backtest for only a month which gave around a 17% POT.

Would love to have a little more reliable data but its just to expensive to purchase and very time consuming. If I can hit 5 to 10% POT for around 20 bets a week I'll be very happy.

Once its all automatic I'll send through my selections.

Big thanks to garyf.

I just wish I could use Bet Selector to more of an advantage.