Key Races

[Pizzaman]

I have posted code to extract Key Race data - how horses who ran against todays horse in his last race finished in their next start - using the HX4 data export. This data can be useful in determining the impact of a horses's last race. For more info see http://www.homebased2.com/forums/showthread.php?p=57566#post57566

The KeyRace software can be downloaded at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/keyrace.zip and docs at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/Key_Race.pdf These links have also been added to the HTR software download page at http://www.homebased2.com/km/htr3.htm

[dehere]

Gary,

Any button that mentions deleting everything in my c:/htr folder scares the hell out of me. After playing with it it appears that the delete function doesn't touch sub-folders so that eases my mind a bit - still, maybe it would be a good idea to have this program do its thing in a folder other than the main htr folder?

A question for you. I have not done an HX4 export for my 2006 folder and am about to start one so that I can use your new program. Should this be an ALL_HX4 file or one for each track?

I guess I asked too soon - it appears that I need both an ALL_HX4 file and individual files for each track. Sorry for getting ahead of myself.

[Pizzaman]

Sorry about the confusion.

You do no need a c:\HX4\hx4_2006\ALL_HX4.TXT file or a c:\HX4\hx4_2007\ALL_HX4.TXT file when you initially create the KeyRaceData.txt file under the STARTUP tab. In fact, having an ALL_HX4.txt file in those directories will result in the STARTUP process taking twice as long as it will look at the race results twice.

However, the c:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT file is the file that is used when updating the results in the KeyRaceData.txt file in the UPDATE tab and when outputing the key race strings for today's races int the GET TODAY"S KEY RACE DATA tab.

The DELETE FILES IN C:\HTR buttons do not delete any sub folders or any files in any subfolders. Also, using these buttons are not necessary to create the HX4 export files - rather they are just how I empty the directory inorder to be certain that when I create HX4 export files in the C:\HTR directory that they contain the data that I need and no more. As far as the KeyRace program is concerned, you could just as well do the HX4 export in another folder and then copy the HX4 files to the c:\HTR directory.

[dehere]

Gary, I guess everyone else is having no problem with this program. I've managed to create the Keyracedata.txt file in HX4 with no problem. My file is only about 678 KB, but that is probably because I did not do an export on all tracks for the past year.

Then I think I've followed all other directions to get the c:\HTR folder set up with today's files. The problem comes when I click on the button in the "Get today's Key race data" tab for Step 4. When I do so an "abort" button comes up but nothing shows up in the progress screen. Eventually the abort button goes away and the processing seems to be over, but no "keys_11_Jan_07.txt" file is in the HX4 folder.

So, the question is, what the heck am I doing wrong?

An additional note - When I look at my "keyracedata.txt" file I notice bunches of "0"'s in the data for various tracks. I don't see any zeros in the key race printouts that you have provided, nor can I figure out what a zero might refer to for a horse's next race. I've included an excerpt from my key race data text file for ZIA to show you what I mean. Hopefully, this might help in figuring out what is going wrong.

[HBee]

Hi Gary,

I must be making the same mistake as Henry because my results are the same as his. :o I probably missed a step somewhere along the way.

Thanks for a tremendous handicapping aid.

Herman

[Pizzaman]

V1.01 of the KeyRace program and a new doc file (dated January 12) have been uploaded to http://www.homebased2.com/km/htr3.htm

The '0's in your KeyRaceData file indicate that the finish position was not in the data. You probably had exported races without results - the updated docs include further detail on the options that must be chosen in the HTR2 export screen when creating the HX4 exports.

Please email me at garypitz@hotmail.com with your phone number and a good time to talk about the Key Race output.

[Zaf]

Thanks for posting the daily outputs, It is really appreciated ! When I try to run the program it always hangs here : now reading C:\HTR\ALL_HX4.txt, in the Get Today's Key Race Data Screen.

[dehere]

Ditto - I downloaded the new program and am getting that "hang" as well. I am re-exporting all file and will run through the process again to see if that helps.

[Pizzaman]

I think I just figured out why it was working on my computer and not others. You can download V1.02 at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/keyrace.exe

[dehere]

Hey, I just gotta drop a post here to thank Gary for working out the problem I was having. I really appreciate the help and patience to get this thing working for me. Once more I am so impressed with everyone's willingness to share what in most any other place would be proprietary programs. Gary, you're a champ!

[HBee]

Thanks, Gary.

That last update did it.:D

Herman

[Zaf]

Thanks Gary, works now for me also ! I have been trying for years to find an efficient method to track Key Races and now I think I found it !

I was looking at the output you posted today and in the 2nd at AQU (MSW) :

4x..1.178 2 AQU-2 #5 Foolish Bid

Was the only horse exiting a race where 2 others had already gone on to win. $22.60 was a very fair price for that K4, McGaughey runner.

Thanks for sharing your great work with all of us. :)

[CMarvin]

Well Gary, I also failed to get it to work on the last step. Hoped v1.02 would be the end of problems ... but ... on my WindowsXP, Dell 9200, plenty of disc, etc. and after rebooting, and with either shortcut or direct .exe click, and in either HTR or Desktop for the .exe, I get the following error message:

"exacta has encountered a problem and needs to close ..." and then it wants to send info to Microsoft.

The error signature is:

"AppName: keyrace.exe AppVer: 1.0.0.0 ModName: msvbvm60.dll
ModVer: 6.0.89.64 Offset: 000265e7"

Don't know if that means anything. So the KeyRace software now doesn't open at all ... although with v1.01 it did. Any suggestions? Sorry for yet another problem for you on top of your generosity. Charlie

[Pizzaman]

Charlie,

Wish I had a simple solution. The changes from V1.01 to 1.02 were changes to how the files were input and would not likely be the cause of this error.

The problem could very well be something unrelated to the KeyRace software - if you google "has encountered a problem and needs to close", you will find that there are 1,860,000 results with many traced to corrupted files. Figuring out the problem is a trial and error process. Try running the full install of ATRpro ( http://homebased2.com/atr/atrpro_dnl.htm) to replace your existing files. Try running a virus scan and/or program like Windows Defender.

Gary

[CMarvin]

Gary (ignore recent private message) and Rick, my problem has changed in that now, after reinstalling ATRPro, rebooting, and running my McAfee virus, I still cannot open the KeyRace program. What I get is now a simple:

"KeyRace.exe - Application Error "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate the application."

Takes 2 clicks, actually. Any ideas?

Gary, please check more recent private message. Thanks, Charlie

[Pizzaman]

Charlie,

For some reason, your installation has blocked the execution of the keyrace program. Try: control panel, then system - advanced - performance - Data Execution Prevention (DEP) - and then add keyrace.exe to files that are exempt from DEP.

The link I used to get this info is:
http://ambientweather.wikispaces.com/The+application+failed+to+initialize+properly+(0XC 0000005).+Click+OK+to+terminate+the+application

Gary

[dehere]

Gary - the new version of Key Race is exactly what I was looking for. I have incorporated it into my "Entries" printout so its right there next to each entry in the daily report. Thanks a bunch.

[CMarvin]

Gary (ignore recent private message) and Rick, my problem has changed in that now, after reinstalling ATRPro, rebooting, and running my McAfee virus, I still cannot open the KeyRace program. What I get is now a simple:

"KeyRace.exe - Application Error "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate the application."

Takes 2 clicks, actually. Any ideas?

Gary, please check more recent private message. Thanks, Charlie

Getting really desperate now!! Worked the DEP from many angles, deleted the 64Mb Adobe Reader 7.0.9, deleted the keyrace.exe and reloaded it ... all restarting each time, and still that darn 0xc0000005 message. Any other thoughts?

[CMarvin]

Also, my HTR works, as does the HX4g program. Thanks, Charlie

[CMarvin]

As does ATRPro

[Rick]

Check out this http://www.writingup.com/stevemdfp/bill_gates_is_the_devil_0xc0000005

I am still looking for anything that sounds good.

[Rick]

More discussion:

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=d22e0a01984f9cd5f6616781c07e48 45&topic=23589.msg194337

[dehere]

That's gotta be frustrating as hell CMarvin. This is probably a dumb suggestion but its worked for me in the past. How about using the System Restore function to go back to a time before you installed the updated Key Race program? Maybe that would get rid of all of the registry changes and let you start anew.

[CMarvin]

Thanks Ricks and dehere, I'm travelling today, but continue to hope for the best from your suggestions. Thanks again, Charlie

[Pizzaman]

A new version of the KeyRace software has been posted at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/keyrace.exe

V1.05 allows users to change the designation of the c:\HTR directory to any other directory on the C: drive.

Also added is a Track Profile feature that generates and displays 2-Furlong, Fraction 1, and Post Position summary info for day's races in your HX4 database. The information is displayed in a cryptic format that may take some time to get used to but contains much useful information. Information on the Track Profile feature is described starting on slide 14 at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/Key_Race.pdf

[njcurveball]

Nice job Pizzaman!

Thanks for your efforts!!!


Jim

[dehere]

Pizzaman - as we update our files every day (or so) with results data, is there a protection built into the Keyrace program that precludes redundancy? In other words, the use of primary keys in access enables us to make sure that we don't update the same data twice so that the same race may appear more than once in our tables and reports. Is there something similar in your key race program? Or do we need to make sure going in that we don't duplicate data?

[Pizzaman]

Dehere -

Redundancy - having the same race multiple times in the HX4 database or updating the key race data file with the same results multiple times - should not be a problem with the extracting and displaying of the key race info. Such redundancy would simply write over existing data with identical data.

However, redundancy in the HX4 database could affect the Track Profile function (slide 14 at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/Key_Race.pdf). Having the same day info repeated 'back to back' in the HX4 database files would result in multiple counting of the same 2 Furlong, Fr1, and post position results.

[Pizzaman]

A new version of the KeyRace software has been posted at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/keyrace.exe

New to Version 1.08 is the Jockey Screen that creates an index of jockeys (or trainers) at today’s race tracks, listed by number of mounts or alphabetically. I saw a similar jockey listing in the track program at Saratoga and found info, like knowing which jockeys are in town for a single mount, worthwhile. Also added is a feature to find any horses entered in more than one track today.

Information on the new features are described starting on slide 22 at http://www.homebased2.com/atr/dnl/Key_Race.pdf