My first post here.
Does anyone know how to get *reliable* info. regarding the *precise* height (plus maybe other accurate physical measurements as well) of every runner, in every horse race that's run on every race track in Australia?
Surely somewhere there must be some type of register with this info.
How would one best access this information?
Thanks.

Thought I'd bump this question back to page one to see if anyone has any information about this.

Hey Guitar Jim . Welcome aboard . To my knowledge no such data base is available on the thouroughbreds. More to the point however, why do you enquire ? In over 30 years of horse racing I am yet to see any correlation of long term success being based soley on physical size. Distance horses by example are invariably lean and sallow looking whereas sprinters and milers are generally compact and muscled powerhouses. Anyway, look forward to hearing your reasoning and your being part of this forum long term.

John

If no such data base exists then how can anyone know whether at least "some aspects" of horse size, used in certain ways, regarding "certain types of events" have no impact? If this information is not available, surely a conclusion then, regarding size, can only be drawn on one's broad opinion based on one's personal view and casual observations...... and that would be hardly mathematical, hardly scientific and most probably not accurate.
Lets look at the various systems and methods usually propogated....... they all use EXACTLY the same types of data bases based on distance, weight, jockey, venue, prizemoney plus dozens if not hundreds/thousands of other factors. ALL this information is readily available if one searches it out. The various betting methods merely sift the exact same data in slightly different ways. Everyone's using the *same information* so it's no wonder that most schooled punters struggle eternally to just break even, and the tiny amount of highly successful ones (*permanently* successful that is..... being in profit for a day, a week, a month or a year or 2 or 3 doesn't count and means nothing when you eventually fall behind) scrape by with just several percent profit on turnover resulting from an immense commitment and diligent hard work.
There must be contributing factors to winners that people *don't* consider......... there wouldn't be many of them obviously, I think the well's pretty dry in that area. But I bet there's still a few areas that have an impact that punters in general never consider.
If a punter uses information, *good* information that is, that nobody else is using, then that punter has achieved an advantage over everyone else.
Sifting through the same old information that punters have used for decades and decades .... and even centuries, is for the birds.
I believe one needs to find an advantage, and if everyone uses the same information then they have no *genuine* permanent advantage.
Hope this makes sense.

Interestig idea, Jim. I've never heard of it being done but it wouldn't be too hard as the horses could be measured/weighed in the saddling area prior to each race and this info merely transposed into the PP. I wouldn't mind knowing if a horse has lost weight or grown some. Our former trainer had a horse who was the biggest on the grounds at Delaware Park here in the Middle Eastern united States. FRED BEAR CLAW was 18 hands and was quite talented once beating a Kentucky Derby placer(Free House) for the third spot in the Pimlico Special.

I have to totally agree about everyone having the same info and that is why I come to foreign message boards and read as much as possible about the game. Not only do I enjoy it, hopefully it will pay off. In the case of Aussie racing simulcast in America, how can it not. I feel like I have a huge advantage over, well, the entire country as how many of them are really doing their homework. This makes Oz racing more than just a late-night novelty like it is for most over here, it is actually the best informed play of the day for me sometimes.

Good point saratoga samchaz . In theory , an interesting point raised also by Jim . Of note however is that the whole issue with a 'unique' and new means of asessing anything is that it is unique and new.

As the masses slowly learn to deal with any new idea they soon too also become fashionable . Although potentially the best predictive tool in the game they will also become far less profitable as they become more fashionable.

With respect to Jim's idea, the same has been tried at the greys and , initaiily, there was great value to be found. This has since long past however as the generall massess have caught on with the idea. Not that this helps though if they carry more than their natural composition of fluids .

As for the current great run you sound like you are having samchaz, the same too once existed here in Aust when we our totalisators began covering New Zealand races. As the 'trend' caught on the value dropped as more and more people were applying their skills to a new betting medium.

In effect, I suppose, if you truly want to assess the size and weight of runners in a race, probabaly the only true way to reliable assess the effect of such a concept is by being on course . There a trained idea can witness first hand if a horse is carrying too much condition or is starting to train off.

Such is the nature of this great game i suppose. All the more better for probing discussions such as this .

Happy Punting Guys.

John.

hey jim jon and san,,,,,,i love new angles,its a chance to fish from the other side of the river (AND THAT ALLWAYS LOOKS BETTER)but i wish i could get my hands on pre race blood counts.....now that would be a great arrow for the quiver but i think ive got about as much chance as you with your weights jim and thats f#@# all and none....have a great weekend..........
............... cheers........... gaz..............

John, interesting to hear that you witnessed the same values with the NZ simulcasts. The one drawback to Aussie racing in US is the mutuel pools are small. This can play for or against, depending on the situation. It is not possible to make a large win play without affecting the odds dramatically, but sometimes the exacta's + tri's are way overpriced. Tonight I got back $65 (for $2) on Headturner/Airstream in 6th at Werribee. I have to believe that was much higher than in OZ, I figured it to be about 30 (40 tops). The intangibles are what seem to always get me and they are much more prevalent in the Aus racing. The Turf Clubs have a habit of closing at will and this makes it difficult to wager on the best part of the card. I don't think the average American racing fan will go to the trouble of focusing on foreign racing. Their loss. The whole game of parimutuel wagering is based on knowing more than the other punter and most people playing Aus in US are just left over from a long day and night of racing and are just taking stabs (no problem with that but in the long run an educated wager is going to have the +ROI.) I think the late night timing of the Aus races keeps most people from giving it a serious go. I imagine eventually articles will be written in turf mags about the value in foreign tracks and turn a lot of people on to it, but for now I'll ride out a good thing. Actually, Australian racing has been shown here for a long time. They used to do Hong Kong also but I don't think they do that anymore. Too many Sunday Silence's anyway! LOL!