[Tim Y]

First and foremost, REMEMBER this is a game of GAMBLING, not handicapping.

Establish a protocol for evaluating the final contenders in terms of their CLOSING ODDS (that represents the public's evaluation of the probability of winning) versus YOUR evaluation.

If your data shows that a contender should be around 5/2 ( a probability of 28.6%) and the odds board has it a 7/5 (41.6% probability), you are chasing a negative return. IF, on the other hand your data suggest that a 2/1 horse (33% probability) is now going off at 4/1 (20% probability), there will be more money in the pool to return to your wager.

Once contenders are selected, LET THE PROBABILITIES YOU HAVE BE COMPARED TO WHAT THE CROWD HAS before deciding on any wager. Recall if you are a two horse bettor, it will take an enormous hit rate to overcome short odds.

NOW onto the early/late numbers