1st 20 race contest cycle

[Ted Craven]

Froggy, Bud, Mufasa,

There were a lot of folks using RDSS, Spec160, Val4 and earlier versions of Sartin's software this past weekend, and even just considering the Pacific Classic (let alone all the other contest races this year) there is STILL such a diversity of interpretations of the same available readouts that I personally have little fear for the general aggregate mutuels. Froggy, even on straight Win betting, you could give back a hefty portion of your ROI and still be doubling your money.

I see the demands for rigourous application of one's own methodology being such that only a small percentage of any software users will make the consistent effort to apply it, and that will further safeguard mutuels. It's like being a brain surgeon, or concert pianist, or a monk - it's so much damned work you can only do it if you're in love, or obsessed (or have high alimony payments.)

Even the most brilliant among us will screw up regularly enough to keep the game interesting for the rest of us. A very good friend of mine, and excellent user of Spec, RDSS and all previous Sartin programs, performed a brilliant analysis of the Pacific Classic - and expertly eliminated the winner. He wrote me: "I love this game!! It's the only one where you can be so smart you're stupid!"

Reports of the sport's demise are overrated, just yet.

Ted