A New Handicapping Tool

[Rick]

Check it out

http://homebased2.com/atr/at_the_races.htm

Gary and Jack have come out with a new program, AT THE RACES, that hooks to the internet and downloads data from the betting pools and displays them in a, hopefully, useful format.

The program has a 30-day free trial so you can decide if it is worth it.

You really need a monitor set to a 1024x768 or higher screen resolution to be able to view the program screen without having to use the scroll bars. The sample screens are actual size.

I loaded the program and ran it using a cable modem. Someone else will have to try it with a 56K modem and let us know how it works.

I am sure Gary and Jack would love some feedback on the program and how they might be able to make it better.

[fred4now]

Pretty neat program, probably worth the $25. BTW works fine on dial-up also.

[Donnie]

Rick(s)-
Downloaded it at work and looked 'er over real quick....much info in there! After playing with it during the trial period, will probably purchase it...has the dutch/hedge in it that the others have along with some very nice features concerning value bets and such. It may make me decide to just play from home as it appears there is no manual entry...you must be connected to the Net. But with ALL the features, how could you ever enter in all that info?

Thanks for sharing Rick!

[Rick]

Note from the programmer.
If the computer is set to a screen resolution of 800x600
before starting the program, it will work fine. The program automatically
adjusts the size of the main form to the screen size. The reason I did not
send you screen shots at that resolution is that they are not as crisp as at
higher resolutions.

Gary
I stand corrected. Thanks

[Bruce]

(sigh) I presume PC only.
It really sucks having a Mac at work.


bruce

[hurrikane]

Bruce.

A Mac? And at work? Don't let BG find out!! :D

[JimG]

I couldn't get it to work. I downloaded ok. Opened the program but it could find no tracks. I have a cable modem and have no problem that I know of with my internet access. Ideas?

[Rick]

Send Gary an email

garypitz@hotmail.com

The only thing I can think of is maybe you have a proxy server and have to click on the Internet Option button to set it.

[Glen]

Yeah, I have an IMAC at work too. Pretty cool little thing. Bad for a handicapping though...

[pizzaman]

JimG wrote:

"I couldn't get it to work. I downloaded ok. Opened the program but it could find no tracks. I have a cable modem and have no problem that I know of with my internet access. Ideas?"

The problem could be that there were no tracks available when you tried. AT THE RACES works with current tote board data which is usually not available before noon eastern time and ends when the tracks are done.

[JimG]

Pizzaman...thanks for the thought but there were tracks available. Not sure about the proxy server stuff. I use a cable modem with my cable company. I'll check that out. Thanks for the replies.


Jim

[George]

Excellent program and a bargain at the intro price. Will send in my order right after I get back from PRM.

JIMG........will be interested in resolution to your problem as I am going to cable shortly.

[JimG]

It's kinda odd. I have 4 programs that will connect to the net through my cable modem when executed....Internet Explorer, You Bet, Horse Street Handicapper, and At The Races.

I have absolutely no problem with IE or YouBet but cannot directly link to the internet with the other 2 programs. Seems odd to me but I am not a programmer. I am sure the programmer of At the Races will work with me. I'm at work now and will have to wait till I get home to see if he has any fixes in mind. but George, I'll let you know. By the way, when you get the cable modem, you will wonder how you did without it.


Jim

[MikeDee]

If you are using some kind of firewall maybe you need to do something to allow it to access the internet.

I use a DSL it loaded fine for me.

I like the ability to select my own exa combinations and watch the odds on them. Would like the exacta to compute the payoffs on $1 exacta bets instead of $2 exacta bets. A button to select bet amount would be nice and I would like lower min on the total amount to be wagered. The program is well done and is worth the price.

[delmardog]

Mike,

The bet amounts in the little white win and exotic boxes can be changed , if that's what you were asking for . Just click in the box and key in the new amount to use.

john

[JackB]

I am joining this board in the hopes that I can answer usage questions for AT THE RACES in a timely matter so that everyone can get up to speed as soon as possible. Many of you that have downloaded the demo realize that it is much more than just a toteboard capture program. That is perhaps its most mundane feature. The program and all its aspects has a learning curve steeper than first realized.

DelmarDog was correct in his reply about adjusting the bet size. It was defaulted to $100 because it is a nice number and since I am a professional I tend to bet more on a race than weekend warriors or casual goers. It is easy to change and can be done while waiting on the phone to place your wager. In fact I plan on espousing a tip of the day regarding the program and will start with that: Namely your hedged/dutched wagers are automatically updated as to the amount wagered and while there is no such thing as a perfect dutch the ability to change the bet amount on the fly can add dollars to your pocket even in the age of late money affecting the odds.
In closing I want to thank KEN and RICKS for giving the program such a prominent place on the website and being so supportive of a program which I believe is the best of it type out there.
Jack Burkholder

[MikeDee]

I didn't explain myself very well, I know you can change the wager amount from 20 to 9999, but a button to use $1 exacta combo versus $2 and see the calculations based on a $1 wager would be nice.

Glad you joined Jack perhaps many of us can learn together how to use the program.

[MikeDee]

When I put in my exa part wheels and back wheels and they show up in green on the exa screen there are a couple that show up in yellow, couldn't find anything on what the yellow means.

[JimG]

Originally posted by George
Excellent program and a bargain at the intro price. Will send in my order right after I get back from PRM.

JIMG........will be interested in resolution to your problem as I am going to cable shortly.


George:

Got it to work with the cable modem. Actually got it fixed myself. My cable modem provider changed about 5 months ago. Even though I have had no problems with the new provider, I realized that my old provider info was still on my harddrive.

I uninstalled that old program and now At The Races works fine with my cable modem.



Jim

[delmardog]

Mike,

The yellow shaded are the high and low pays from the range of exacta you have selected.

john

[George]

JimG.....Thanks for the update.

[pizzaman]

There has been some confusion over the pricing of AT THE RACES after the free 30-day demo period is over. The following is for clarification.

The registered version of this program is available for an introductory price of $25. This price is guaranteed only until September 1, 2002.

You have a choice of whether you want to LEASE or BUY this software. The cost of each is $25.

(1) To LEASE: Register for $25, with annual fees of $25 starting January 1, 2004 to retain the license. Prices guaranteed forever, but only if user registers by September 1, 2002 and retains the license each year. Advantages: You get free version upgrades and technical support for entire period of lease. Disadvantages: Program expires if annual fee is not paid starting January 1, 2004.
(2) To BUY: Register for $25. Advantages: Program never expires; you only pay a fee once. Disadvantages: A charge will be assessed for technical support after 90 days or any version upgrades.

It is highly recommended to LEASE rather than BUY.

The reason that version upgrades are so important is (1) that the location, content and format of the tote board information on the internet is constantly changing; and (2) track takeout percentages are constantly changing.

During the evolution of AT THE RACES, the data routines were revised many times to adjust for the changes of the internet data and track takeout. This is certainly out of our control and requires significant work to keep current. Without upgrades, it is very likely that the present version of AT THE RACES will be unuseable sometime in the future. For this reason, BUYING is not recommended. The ONLY reason it is offered as an option is to satisfy those users who want to "OWN" the program.

Whether leasing or buying, the license to AT THE RACES is for a single computer and is not transferable.

A new version of AT THE RACES will be available for download this weekend (http://homebased2.com/atr/at_the_races.htm). It will include several enhancements including a “visual alarm” when a late scratch is detected, and additional documentation under HELP. This version will be available for both demo and registered users.

[George]

I have no connection with this software in any manner but after playing with it for several days would like like to state it comes under my "must have" list.

Anyone with any interest in toteboard tracking at all should download it and use it. There is much to be learned. Have used bris and winticket tote-watcher for years, but this product reveals many things that can't be seen with those. Ability to auto-save snapshots to excel in last 2 minutes is worth it's weight in gold.

Note to Gary/John........
Would suggest making your "lease" statement early and upfront in all new statements about your product. I was unclear early on whether your price was purchase or lease. Lease approach is fine with me, just was not clear.

Also would suggest you contact Cindy Pierson if you have not already done so and get her to list you in her software section. There is a link to her site on the first page of this bb.

Again, nice job on a very good product :)