Hi Bluetown!
Sorry to butt in but this statement is just nonsense!
There is nothing in a database containing horse data that would make it unique.
As a matter of fact the fields are far easier to identify,and always the same type. Ie. just an example the name of Horse, venue etc is always a string, while the time ran is always single.
The approach taken by the poster by going to Excel then to Access then back again is very awkward to say the least.
Re. Acces not being the best, sorry it is the most suitable to use with Excel being from the same stable so to speak and sharing the same VBA language.
As to programming, again there is nothing in horseracing data that would make it specially hard to use.
Good luck with it.