Selecting Among the QuickHorse Handicapping Methods

This Tutorial may take several minutes to download if you are using a Modem.  Please be patient, go make a sandwich or get a cup of coffee.  There are a lot of screen shots in the tutorial so it will take time to download.

For purposes of this discussion we shall again return to our PIM 20020518 program which is a 13 race program.  The user should then select the "METHOD" Menu Bar item. 

Figure 1 - Selecting a Method

This tutorial explains how to select your Custom Handicapping Methods which were created by the Method Builder (See "Builder" tutorial).  To select the Standard Handicapping Method, the user simply selects "Standard" from the Menu Bar pull down menu.  However, to load a custom handicapping method, you should select "Custom".  When you do, QuickHorse looks to see if you already have a custom method selected, and if so, QuickHorse displays that method.  If no custom method has been previously selected, then you will be prompted as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 - Selecting your "Default Custom Method"

You may now select, from the list shown, the Method you wish to have displayed when you click on the Custom Menu item.  From then on, until you exit QuickHorse, this Method will be displayed unless you change it.  For now, select "MET01 SAMPLE METHOD 1 - DEVELOPED BY JAI".  Note - these handicapping method are shown as examples only and have not been developed to select winning horses.  You should develop your own methods.

Figure 3 - The selected Method is Displayed complete with any "incomplete Columns" (in red)

The method selected is displayed and the horses are handicapped based on this method.  It may now be BACKTESTed or SUPERTUNEd, etc.  Just like the Standard Method.  Note the column values appearing in a RED COLOR.  This indicates an incomplete Column Calculation which should prompt the user to go back and look at those columns in order to find out why they are incomplete.  

Now, again select the "Method" Menu Bar item, then select the Standard Method.  Once again the Standard Method will be displayed.  Then select "Method" again, and reselect the "Custom" Method.  You WILL NOT be prompted to select a Custom method.  Instead QuickHorse will reload the Custom Method previously selected.  Using the quick "toggling" of the methods you can quickly find out whether your new method performs as well as the Standard Method.  And that's the whole point of QuickHorse...finding better methods!!

But, suppose you have developed more than one additional handicapping method.  Perhaps you have one for TURF and one for DIRT.  To select a different "default Method" for display, click on the button labeled "SELECT ANOTHER METHOD" as shown pointed to by the arrow in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4 - Selecting a Different Default Method

You are immediately given the list of Method on your computer so that you can choose a new one for display.  Go ahead and click on a different method.  Then notice that the "Method Toggling Process" described earlier in this tutorial (using the Method Menu Bar item), toggles between Standard and the NEW Method you've selected.

Regarding tuning any method - each method has its own set of Weighting Factors and Filters so changing one Method's data, WILL NOT change another methods data.  So, each method is entirely unique!!   Which is exactly what you want! 

Finally, if you wish to exchange handicapping methods with other QuickHorse users, simply send them BOTH your COLUMN files and your METHOD files.  These files are in the \jaihorse\methods folder and \jaihorse\columns folder. However, keep in mind, that if your partner has files there with the same names as you do, then your files will overwrite his/her files.  

As always we invite your questions and comments via email - jai@gorge.net


Copyright 2002 JONSOG associates, Inc. PO Box 911, Lyle, WA 98635  Last Updated on - 08/06/2002