!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! TURF.v93-1.00 Thoroughbred Handicapping System ! ! Copyright (c) 1994 by H. Andrew Solomon ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INTRODUCTION Welcome to the TURF.v93 Thoroughbred Handicapping System! This is the TURF.v93 READ.ME file. It contains important information about the TURF.v93 Thoroughbred Handicapping System. Read this file in its entirety before proceeding. If you would like to print this file, type: COPY READ.ME PRN: at the DOS prompt. ABOUT THE TURF.v93 PROGRAM The TURF.v93 Thoroughbred Handicapping System is a powerful and highly advanced, highly sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, thoroughbred race handicapping system. It combines sound, well-established race handicapping principles with scientific statistical analysis methodology, applied to years' worth of actual race data, to create a handicapping tool which can be used at race tracks, from Belmont Park to the county fair, at OTB or anywhere thoroughbreds are racing and a Daily Racing Form or similar publication is available. It includes a full-screen data entry system, with on-line, context-sensitive help, and a rating capability which will help even the novice race-goer predict the outcome of thoroughbred races. ABOUT THE AUTHOR The author is a professional Software Engineer (a fancy name for Computer Programmer) who has been programming computers since before PCs even existed. His first handicapping program was written on punch cards in a batch job entry mainframe environment. He has worked for years as a defense contractor, writing programs for highly sophisticated, high-tech defense and intelligence projects. His experience in handicapping horse and dog races dates back even further than that, having patronized and collected race data for many years from a variety of tracks as diverse as Garden State and Atlantic City to Churchill Downs and Keeneland to Turf Paradise and the county fairs of Arizona, as well as Greyhound tracks in both Florida and Arizona and Jai-Alai frontons in Florida. He has combined his many years of experience in high-tech computer programming and scientific statistical analysis methodology with sound, well-established handicapping principles to create this powerful, yet easy-to-use, automated handicapping system. ABOUT VERSION 1.00 Don't be misled by the version number; this is not a new program. This is the same program the author has been using as his personal handicapping system for years. It has been debugged, tested and put to use in the real world, i.e. at the race track. Real money has been wagered based on the predictions from this program. You too can be confident that with the TURF.v93 system as your handicapping tool, your hard-earned money is not being thrown away. You will have a definite edge over all the other bettors who are still wagering "by the seat of their pants" or using old- fashioned handicapping methods to support their selections. And just in case you're one of those people who might wonder why, if this system is so good, would the author decide to sell it to others and not keep all the valuable information provided by it to himself? A good question! It just so happens that, at the time of this writing, the author lives in a small town in Arizona which doesn't have a race track. The nearest racing is a long drive away and the author can't get there as often as he might like. His misfortune; your gain. ABOUT RACE HANDICAPPING Having said all that about the power of the TURF.v93 system to predict races, a reality check is in order. No handi- capping system, including TURF.v93, is magic. This is not a crystal ball which can peer into the future and guarantee its user great wealth from race wagers. What the TURF.v93 system is, in fact, is a powerful predictor of the PROBABLE outcome of races. It examines multiple factors regarding the race being run, the entries in the race and the recent past performance history of those entries, and weighs those factors to compute the PROBABILITY of each entry winning the race. Remember that some races cannot be handicapped. Some races are won by animals that seem to have no business running, let alone winning. Some runners that seem to be head and shoulders above the rest of the field - a "lock" - don't come in. Some wagers that actually do win don't pay enough even to cover the amount of the wager. There is no substitute for sound human judgement. Don't throw money around like you expect to win every race you handicap or profit on a wager which is a bad investment. Pick and choose your wagers wisely. Remember, the ultimate goal of race handicapping is not to be able to brag about how many winners you can predict, but to profit on the wisdom of your selections over the selections of the other bettors. The TURF.v93 system is a powerful tool which can provide the confidence for its users to do that, but the sound human judgement part is left to each user to exercise. WARRANTY This program is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The author cannot be responsible for any damage or loss, indirect or consequential, resulting from the use of this program. BACKING UP THE TURF.v93 MASTER DISK Please be sure to make a backup copy of the master disk before proceeding with installation. This is your safety net in case anything should ever happen to your original disk. In case of an accident, you'll be glad you have it. To make a backup copy: >Type: DISKCOPY A: A: and press ENTER. Follow the prompts, inserting the TURF.v93 master disk when the SOURCE disk is requested and your backup disk when the TARGET disk is requested. When the copy is completed, press "N" for "No More Copies". (If you have two floppy disk drives you may be able to substitute the command: DISKCOPY A: B: for the above.) See your DOS manual for more details on the DISKCOPY command. INSTALLING THE TURF.v93 PROGRAM The TURF.v93 master disk contains the following files: TURFV93.EXE - the automated installation program, READ.ME - a quick-start, informative introduction to the TURF.v93 system (this file), and README.BAT - a simple listing utility to assist in the reading of the READ.ME file. If you have the ShareWare distribution disk for the TURF.v93 system, your master disk should also contain the files: REGISTER.DOC - the program registration form, UPGRADE.DOC - the version upgrade registration form, and VENDOR.DOC - the program distribution information file. The following is the recommended procedure for installing your TURF.v93 system on a hard drive; you may need to taylor it somewhat to your particular needs: >At the DOS prompt, create a subdirectory called TURF. To do this, type: MD \TURF and press ENTER. >Go to the subdirectory you just created by typing: CD \TURF and pressing ENTER. >Insert the TURF.v93 master disk in drive A and type: A:TURFV93 and press ENTER. (If you use drive B for your installation disk, substitute "B:" for "A:") >When the installation is complete, your TURF directory will contain at least the following files: TURF.EXE - the TURF.v93 program executable file, TURF.HLP - an on-line help file, TURF.TRK - a directory of American thoroughbred race tracks, READ.ME - a quick-start, informative introduction to the TURF.v93 system (this file), README.BAT - a simple listing utility to assist in the reading of the READ.ME file, and TURF.DOC - the TURF.v93 operations manual. If you have the ShareWare version of the TURF.v93 system, your TURF directory will also contain the files: REGISTER.DOC - the program registration form, UPGRADE.DOC - the version upgrade registration form, and VENDOR.DOC - the program distribution information file. If you have the enhanced TURF(Plus).v93 system version, your TURF directory will also contain the files: TURFREVU.EXE - the TURF_REVIEW program executable file, TURFREVU.DOC - the TURF_REVIEW operations manual, HOL34160.08 - a sample Race Data File, SAMPLE.DIR - a sample Race Data Directory File, SHOWDATE.EXE - the SHOW_DATE utility for translating encoded dates, and SHOWDATE.DOC - the SHOW_DATE utility operations manual. Your TURF.v93 system is now ready for use. Store your original disk in a safe, clean place. CONFIGURING YOUR SYSTEM Depending on how your system is configured for video display, you may need to install the video driver ANSI.SYS. You will know if your system requires ANSI.SYS if, when you start the program, you get "garbage" (actually "Escape sequences") all over your screen instead of neat, organized display. The basic procedure for installing ANSI.SYS is to include the following command in your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=ANSI.SYS You may need to include a "path" to ANSI.SYS if your system can't otherwise find it. See your DOS manual for more details on the installation of ANSI.SYS. RUNNING THE PROGRAM Start the program from the TURF subdirectory. If you are not certain which directory you are in currently, type: CD \TURF and press ENTER. Now simply type: TURF and press ENTER. (The program assumes, by default, it is talking to a color monitor. If you have a monochrome monitor, or you expe- rience display problems, replace the "TURF" command with: TURF /NC and the program will proceed on the assumption it is now talking to a monochrome monitor.) GETTING ON-LINE HELP Typing "?" at any time during the running of the program accesses the context-sensitive on-line help utility. The current data entry field is explained in full at the touch of a keystroke. Press the ENTER key to page through the help screens for the current topic and then to return to the current data entry screen. (The help function may be aborted by pressing the ESCAPE key.) Typing "?" a second time accesses the general program operation help screen. This screen summarizes the special key functions available for data entry and editting. If you are a first-time user of the TURF.v93 program, it would be a good idea to take the time to invoke the HELP utility for each entry, or until you are comfortable with the data entry system. SHAREWARE If you have a registered version of TURF.v93, you may skip these sections of the documentation. This information is directed at those users who are using the limited-use, trial version of the system. Your version of the TURF.v93 Thoroughbred Handicapping System is user-supported software, or ShareWare. That is, it is not free software. It is copyright (c) 1994 and the intellectual property of its author. Non-registered users are granted a limited license to use the TURF.v93 system on a trial basis for the purpose of determining whether it is a suitable product for their needs. Use of the TURF.v93 system, except for this limited purpose, requires registration. Use of non-registered copies of TURF.v93 by anyone is strictly forbidden. All users are free to copy and distribute the trial version of the TURF.v93 system for the trial use of others subject to a few restrictions: >TURF.v93 must be copied in unmodified form, complete with all licensing and registration information. >No fee, beyond a nominal handling charge, is charged for its use, copying or distribution. Distributors should read the file VENDOR.DOC for more details. REGISTRATION A TURF.v93 registration provides the user license to use the system on a regular basis. Not only does this registration fulfill a legal obligation for users who wish continued use of the product, but it supports the ShareWare system of user- supported software. Without user support for products, the authors of this and other programs cannot afford to upgrade and enhance their programs, not to mention create new programs for public use. Beyond issues of legality and clear conscience, however, there are further benefits to registering the TURF.v93 program. >You will be eligible for technical support. If you have any questions regarding the operation of the TURF.v93 system, feel free to write. (Sorry, mail support only. This staff of one couldn't possibly afford the time to provide phone support and still program the computer, not to mention go to work and occasionaly spend time with the kids.) Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. >You will be able to upgrade to an enhanced version of the TURF.v93 system - TURF(Plus).v93. For just a few extra dollars, you will be sent this enhanced version which con- tains increased capability over the trial version. (Rest assured the trial version is in no way a "crippled" version of TURF.v93; the identical full-screen data entry system, on-line help facility and scientific race prediction formulas are available in each. TURF(Plus).v93 is simply a superset of the trial version.) TURF(Plus).v93 will, first of all, bypass those introductory and sign-off screens which, after you've read them once or twice, you really don't need to see again. More importantly though, the enhanced version contains a data save/restore function which will permit you to save all the race data you've entered into the system. The trial version does not save your data. With the TURF(Plus).v93 enhanced system: >>You can store files containing all the races you'll ever handicap. With these files, you can review race predic- tions after the race has been run. You can update your original data entries (for instance, to revise "added weight", a value not available until post time) and rerun your predictions to monitor the effect. You can store with your race data, the results of the races you've handicapped, including pari-mutual prices. And you won't have to retype the entire race data to do all this because the data restore function will reload the race for you. With the addition of the TURF_REVIEW program, described below, you can even keep a running accounting of how your program is doing, race after race, day after day, year after year. >>You will be sent an additional program called TURF_REVIEW. TURF_REVIEW keeps a running account of how your handicapping system is doing. You can review 1 race or hundreds of races just by entering the name of a Race Data File, which has been saved by your enhanced TURF(Plus).v93 program, or a directory of Race Data Files. You will then see a composite tally of how many winners your program has picked, as well as how many places or shows, how many Quinellas, Exactas or Trifectas, and even how successful it has been picking by a variety of boxing and wheeling strategies. This could be a valuable quide to how you might wish to bet on future races. >>You will be sent an additional utility program called SHOWDATE which converts dates to and from the unique, 5-digit date code used in the naming of Race Data Files. >>You will be sent full, printable documentation on both the TURF(Plus).v93 and TURF_REVIEW programs. A registration form is included with the TURF.v93 package for your convenience. Please print the file REGISTER.DOC by typing: COPY REGISTER.DOC PRN: at the DOS prompt. Fill in the form and send with required registration fee to: Second Career Software P.O. Box 283 Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-0283 Please write all information clearly. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! Thank you for trying the TURF.v93 Thoroughbred Handicapping ! ! System. May all your trips to the race track be profitable ! ! from now on. ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!