Where can I get data?
 

So where can I download racing data containing results?

And where can I download racing form prior to the race running?

http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/

Most of the bookie sites have good results, but if you are after past results http://www.tabonline.com.au/2010/11/01/mtgraces.html just change the date to what you want, better than the new site.

So I really have to subscribe somewhere to get any electronic data downloads?

I pay less than $350 a year for a fast daily download, but as far as I'm aware the same data is available from Cyberhorse free of charge but a bit of effort is required on your part.

If you have Excel or other programming experience you can automate it.

I do have pretty good excel skills (working in finance and payroll and project management most of my life).

I went to that site but could not find any free downloads at all.

Got a link?

No files but you could use excel and import external data.

Sorry I may be new to this but I really can't see how it can be done.

"please explain!"

Go to the site 'http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/index.php/Form/view-form.html' and the current day's race-form stares right at you.

The crudest and simplest way is click on "form" this brings up the first race, select the race text, or conversely "select all" (you don't get much rubbish, just some extra lines) and paste it into your notepad.


Then you have to do some parsing to make it into an Excel or database file. Most of us written our own parsing routine, to do it by hand is out of the question for this amount of data.

I don't know what it looks like imported straight into Excel? You can always try I suppose.

Shaun is a dab hand at Excel, he may help you if you ask nicely.

Good luck

Thanks mate. I was hoping it wasn't what you explained. I am good with excel but "parsing"? got no idea.

I will see what I can do with it.

This sheet contains just about everything i have learned in excel for extracting form and prices, if you have good knowledge of excel you should have no trouble following it.

If you have an earlier version than 2007 you may have trouble selecting the meetings the only option i can give you is shown in the second file where i use a copy paste to get the meeting name where i want it.