Which Racing Resources Do You Read And Take Notice Of?

M

Maruco

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
4,787
Location
The Shire
I'm conscious that I tend to be in my own bubble when it comes to horse racing and finding winners. I do my own analysis and stats and largely rely on them as well as my own raceform reading. Rarely do I take any notice of what others think and say. It generally serves me well to be that way as it keeps the clutter out of my head, but I'm conscious that I do sometimes miss angles that I should consider, and I can be bit one dimensional with my approach.

There are plenty of very interesting alternative approaches, angles, and key information out there being written by a plethora of racing experts, journo's, trainers, jockeys, owners, and internet contributors out there, and I'm interested to know which articles you guys read, which websites you visit, what resources you use, and who is likely to influence you and also who isn't. Essentially what do you guys regard as being the most valuable sources of information and why?

Also, given the Cheltenham Preview Night circuit is just about to kick off, which panellists are you likely to take notice of and why? In my experience they're good fun and 90% of what's said is noise and filler, but each year there are some gems. Generally they tend to be in the handicaps, but it can be interesting to get an alternative view of some of the under the radar less exposed novices too. So which panellists are you going to take notice of and perhaps be influenced by when you're betting?
 
I subscribe to the iPad RP newspaper app and read the race analysis of every race each day during my daily commute. I also use the app's tracker.

I also subscribe to RUK so while I don't have the time or inclination to studiously review each race every day, I will watch the replays of what I consider to be key races + any that have caught my eye during the aforementioned RP result review (regardless of the grade etc. for these races).

As above but use ATR for Irish races.

I pay very little attention to any pundits but, more for enjoyment than anything, I listen to RP and TFF podcasts during my walk or tube from the station to the office.

I tried Timeform a few years back but found it gave me very little.

Without wishing to sound crass, my occupation rewards me more financially than I could ever hope to obtain from professional betting so I use my own methods (gathered from over 30 years of experience - the first 20 most likely being regular losing years but no records were kept) rather than reading others' approaches because I will hopefully always treat it as my hobby.
 
My views and methods are pretty much the same as yours, Maruco. I've been to a few preview nights and they're largely a load of utter pish, sometimes with good banter, occasionally the odd bit of good info is released. Best for going with a couple of mates and having a few pints while exchanging dismissive banter.

I used to subscribe to Raceform but ended up getting pissed off with it not arriving by the weekend and they went from quality fine paper to thick cheap stuff, making the Flat book very hefty as the season wore on. Not did it cover Irish racing. I then experimented with the Weekender pullouts and discovered I could pick it up early on a Wednesday morning at my local newsagent, would have access to the Irish form and at the same time would be saving myself a small fortune.

Sure the tabloid-size pullout build up to a big pile (which annoys the bejaysus out of Mrs O) but I've found a way of managing it all in comfort. As you know, I do my own ratings but I also like being able to compare them with RPRs and ORs, both of which I can get in the Weekender, and I'm fortunate enough to have contacts who don't mind sharing their Timeform stuff with me although I'm not particularly interested in their ratings and haven't been since 1989/90 when I subscribed to the black book for a short while only for it to cost me very dearly.

I am fascinated by sectionals and dosage so am indebted to people like EC1 and SteveM for their contributions and insight. I'm much happier with my own form ratings and time ratings than with anybody else's.

I buy the Weekender and tend to read the first few pages with my tea on a Wednesday morning. I ignore the AW articles, training centre reports, Wed-Sat tipping pages and form pages as well as items by Ken Pitterson, Peter Naughton (how did he ever get a job in racing journalism is beyond me) and the Irish contributors.

I no longer visit other racing forums as they tend to have an inordinately high volume of ego-wars.

I'm more likely to be influenced by people on here than by anyone in a commercial capacity but ultimately I feel happiest relying on my own studies even though I'm having my worst NH season for a long time.
 
I've learned more about racing here, than anywhere else.

losing money is the most expensive lesson you'll get in life, learned that the hard way in the early years.

I love Irishracing for track reaction, no one else seems to do it.

Keep a horse tracker, keep it updated with regular thoughts and if you have a good eye, winners will come
 
Best resource is your eyes/videos followed by debate whether it be with your friends or posting on here.

Honesty is a must if you gamble to survive rather than a hobby..

By that I mean you have to look at what you are doing. If you spend endless hours on stats and ratings and are not making a very good living out of racing then you need to stop what your doing and use a pin.

I spend 5 minutes reading form 20 minutes discussing it after 50 minutes looking at the videos before making a final decision.
 
Racing Uk and ATR for watching replays

Timeform for making notes on my trackers

But honestly my best resource is the notepads I have that keep track of every bet I make and also contain win and loss stats on various kinds of races

at various prices. By utilising that stat sheet I can pinpoint historically where I thrive and where i'm poor.
 
Tanlic said:
By that I mean you have to look at what you are doing. If you spend endless hours on stats and ratings and are not making a very good living out of racing then you need to stop what your doing and use a pin.
Click to expand...
Very interesting.
Horse racing is not an exact science therefore no method or means to back winners is either.
Spending hours watching a backlog of racing replays would send me stir fry crazy. I do watch replays in moderation,if I think I need to.
 
Last edited:
Tanlic said:
Best resource is your eyes/videos followed by debate whether it be with your friends or posting on here.

Honesty is a must if you gamble to survive rather than a hobby..

By that I mean you have to look at what you are doing. If you spend endless hours on stats and ratings and are not making a very good living out of racing then you need to stop what your doing and use a pin.

I spend 5 minutes reading form 20 minutes discussing it after 50 minutes looking at the videos before making a final decision.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think it is important to work to your strengths. I don't really have an eye for video analysis and much prefer to rely on my number-crunching. I think it has to be helpful if you're getting reliable inside information but people who aren't that privileged have to find other ways of sussing the game out.
 
I buy the Racing Research Flat Annual every year, published by John Whitley. This year's edition arrived recently. No "opinions" at all, just numbers crunched out by his computer. It's very good.
 
gus said:
I buy the Racing Research Flat Annual every year, published by John Whitley. This year's edition arrived recently. No "opinions" at all, just numbers crunched out by his computer. It's very good.
Click to expand...

I'm always on the lookout for material to aid my betting on the level, Assuming the book is a nombers based analysis of the previous season, In what way does it help you?
 
fonz said:
I'm always on the lookout for material to aid my betting on the level, Assuming the book is a nombers based analysis of the previous season, In what way does it help you?
Click to expand...

Effect of the draw analysed statistically.

Jockey ratings which stand some previous assumptions on their head.

Most of all, computerised assessments of a mass of individual performances based on form and time. If it does nothing else, it makes you realise how subjective your own assessments are. I do my own time ratings on the Flat and I've always been aware that I tend towards over-optimism when it suits me. This tells me just how over-optimistic I can be on occasions. I don't think it's wrong to take such a view of a particular race or horse but it certainly keeps your feet on the ground.
 
Back
Top