Hi Sparky,


Depends on how much you are prepared to spend. I say this with all due respect, if you are scraping websites to get free form then you are always domed to slow painfull process. Any program writen will be subject to web site changes and become useles the minute the site changes even a little bit.

My advice is purchase form ...... there are several providers and at least one is very reasonably priced. Then you have a chance to base your program on an import module, to create your own database and then automate from there onwards.

Scratchings are accesable quite legaly through NSW TAB under their licences when you are a user of their account as long as its for own personal usage, as are results that you can archive for testing.

With these tools you'll be then able to download form, update your database, run the scratchngs, run the program to automate your ratings in all states in matter of minutes.

Oh yes, ther is one further hurdle, how much money do you have to spend on a programer ? I would think that even if you use the indian IT sweat shop you will be up for thousands , many of them. On top of which you'll have to in detail explain to someone who has no idea about racing all the stuff you need.

I suppose take it one step further and automate the betting as well while you in the candy store.

Im not taking the pi..s out of you, I have done it, all except the first part I use a program to create the database and then I raid it for info but its the only part I have to complete the others are done. Took me over 2 years to get it all together, however I learned to programe and did it my self so Im not suggesting that a pro will take as long , however there isnt a clean cut line. Once the program is finnished to your specs rest asured that you'll be dishing out even more to cover the many unexpected things that pop up in the first 6 months of the programs life ...... not program errors but situations that the program was not writen for like misspeled horse name or race class and such. This will be not in the original specs and be charged extra for, you'll also not be able to use the program in the meanwhile.

If you are realy interested in doing this, learn to program your self. Buy a few books and start slowly, you already have knowlege of macrows the next step isnt as hard. It will take time but you already have a leg up on most people and me when I started you alreday have a system that works.

You will then have the ability to create your own destiny, change and adapt the program to your changing needs, NOT BE dependant on anyone or anyones program. You'll know what does what , why and where. Im sure that there are several skilled people here that can write something for you, me included, but you are still at their wimm. It takes an inteligen person to put a worth while method together, extend further and become self relient for its automatic performance.

Good luck

Michal