I have returned to again advise punters not to back favourites. For those newer posters go back a few months for several long discussions on my postings. Yesterday I had my best day ever, may they keep the inner greyhound track going forever. To all the doubting Thomases who said that you can't win if you don't study the form, have a look at yesterday results, Randwick in particular.
Good punting to all.

[ This Message was edited by: quapi on 2001-10-21 22:44 ]

I find the 'forget form' comments interesting. As I'm only new to the regular betting game (4 months), I don't know a lot but I have learnt that by studying the past, looking for reasons for wins and loses, helps you 'predict' the future. There are no sure bets but I think you should use all information available to pick your horses. I think ignoring any legitimate information is a mistake. This weekend I posted my tips and all 4 of my number one horses got up - not at big odd though. I didn't know which horses were fav. when I did my analysis. Last week was better with Osca Warrior getting up - I picked him on form but the market didn't so he paid around $9 for the win.

I know betting is a combination of art and science, but I don't think you can ignore some of the science..

cheers,

mac

Hmmm, I didn't say master 'going backwards', I did say study history. I do agree to some extent on Marks comments on not backing the favs. What I am looking for is a value bet. For example Carael Boy was the fav in race 6 at the farm today. However he paid over $5 for the win, not a lot but my system still pointed to anything above around $4 as being good value. So I backed it. It was Carael Boy's 5th win on the trot, not bad form. VERY often favs are poor value and Marks comment holds true.

I suppose I look at form because I'm approaching betting from a satistical perspective. Looking at last few runs, jockey, barrier, quality of previous runs, etc. I could use the horses star sign instead, but they all have the same birthday don't they? :wink:

happy holidays

P.S. Obviously my system doesn't make me rich or else I wouldn't be posting this right?

Mac, Don't listen to people who claim form study is only for losers. Many people say that because they are unable to come anywhere near getting a grasp of all the intricacies of form study, plus it involves a lot of time. It takes me many hours every week.
Would you believe anyone who told you that you don't need to know anything about the companies you invest or speculate in on the Stock Exchange - "Form study is for losers on the Stock Exchange. When there's a big takeover play the company making the takeover doesn't want to know anything about the company they are bidding for. Form study is for losers." It must be the silly season. It is not even worth your time listening to.

We all know everyone needs to feel wanted, loved and important. Would posting comments like "I'm a winner. I don't study form. Form study is for losers," help make anyone feel a bit better? If it does it is good therapy.
"I'm a champion soccer player. I don't practise. Practise is for losers."
I hear some deep sounds. Who's that over there? Ho ho ho ho ho. So Santa is going to give every winner who knows that form study is for "losers" a free winner with their first non form study bet after Christmas.
I'm not going to post or even read any more comments in this thread. I'm too busy spending many hours studying form. I wish you all a good Christmas.
The Catparrot

As the original poster, I never said form study is for losers. Just because I don't study form and win does not mean that you cannot win doing the form. Unfortunately after years of form study of all sorts I admitted to myself that I could not consistently win. I do however, consistently win by using maths without any form study at all. For the last time, bet when the odds are in your favour. Look at the place %, when bookies are betting each/way & have only 250% on the board I say thank you very much. Also I'm glad the stock market has been mentioned as this is my other source of income. I have invested in companies that I know nothing about simply because they meet the criteria I have set down. Who cares what they do or who runs them so long as the price heads in the right direction, in the short term, which may well be down just as much as up.
Good punting, and may the Commonwealth Bank keep going up & Qantas keep going down.

What You got aginst backing favourites .... As they win most of the time, possibly the key is to select which ones will win or place and which one's will not !!! I personally do very well at this kind of selection :smile:

Thanks guys for the encouragement, I'm blushing! Actually, the more I know, the more I know I don't know. Know what I mean ? All I know is how to TRY and predict form, then look for value bets. My main problems are a good betting strategy, and a way of cutting my analysis time so I can cover more races.

Others who have non-form based systems that are making money obviously know a LOT more than me.

cheers...

" ****************" was a good example of a non form study method.

darky.

if you guys are looking at the same forms im seeing. i dont see how you guys can spend all day on forms that leave out 3/4 of the important info. i look at the forms and all i see is a finish time and where the horses ended up at the finish. some tracks are differnet but most of all they are brutal. i wanna see where the horse was placed throughout the race. i mean this is the stuff i ve found. im from the states so i might not know all the form site.

if there are some forms out there that are good that i havent maybe seen please let me know.

thanks