My RDSS Experience!

[Maxspa]

All,
The initial setup with Trackmaster and RDSS went smoothly. Another session or two with the software re: getting familiar with the process and I
was able to begin handicapping a Belmont Card. Being a former Sartin user and having gone to a couple of Las Vegas seminars in the 90's, I was quite impressed with the software development. The choices one has to evaluate a race are many and credit must be given to Ted, Bill and Richie for both their knowledge and computer skills.
Successful handicapping is always the goal no matter what level the person is at. When one begins using a new program, there is a lot of fundamental learning that must take place before you can meet your goals.
The one advantage that users have is to utilize the learning opportunities on this web site. I've gone over Ted's, Bill's and Richie's handicapping approaches several times to become familiar with and incorporate some of the ideas presented into my approach.
I'm a 3x5 card guy and I've gone through several cards taking notes and then reviewing them. I have used a card for each race making sure that I have included the important data. When the race is completed I go back and circle the horses number in that racing category. This step I feel gives me confidence in using areas of the program are stronger than others at my track.
The area of difficulty for me is picking pacelines. It seemed easy when I
looked at the experts choices on the videos. It's been a while since I've picked pacelines and with daily practice I know it will get better. Review after the races have been run, helps as well.
Belmont has been my track of choice for this work in progress. The rainy weather has resulted in races coming off the turf with lots of scratches. So to evaluate one's progress accurately you have to take into account this variable as well.
This handicapping software process has been an enjoyable challenge! I have the patience not to bet my selections because I know it will affect the
necessary learning that has to take place first. That way there is no pressure to force selections. Saratoga will be on the docket soon enough!
Remember, this is one handicapper's opinion! It may help some users and some it may not. Let's hear some other suggestions!
Maxspa

[mikesal57]

First of all welcome to Pace and Cap...(your first post )

second..dont be focused on one track..I live in New York and thought the world of our 3 tracks...but for well over 30 years I've been a loser

I almost gave up completely until I found this site last year..

RDSS and The Hat's Match-Up, taught by Richie P, has turned things around for me..I wont say that I'm winning tons of money but I've been holding my head above water for the past several months. I've hit horses with 40-30-20-1 odds on several occasions that I've wouldn't have even looked at before.

I have gone over postings and asked questions like u wouldn't believe, but all the guys here didnt hesitate to steer me in the right direction..I truly love them all....you will too...just give them a chance..

New York tracks have been and still is my down fall...but tracks like Arlington, Hollywood,Hawthorne and Florida's tracks have been very good to me.. so use RDSS on several different tracks..

lastly...read,read,read...practice,practice,practice ..theres several posts on picking pace lines here

good luck Maxspa

mike

[Maxspa]

Mikesal,
Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas! Yes, one gets better by being aware of others accomplishments and particularly the suggestions by people who have tested ideas to share. For now I've made a committment to work on New York Tracks because I'm originally from Saratoga and plan to be back there in August. After that I will try your suggestion to include other venues.
Maxspa

[RichieP]

Hi Max
Hey first off welcome!

When I first hooked up with Hat on the phone asking him to teach me his matchup he kinda interviewed me a couple of times on the phone first.

He wanted to know my beliefs/strengths/weaknesses as I perceived them. He focused on strengths of mine and developed a "style" to teach that fit me the individual.

It is this learning a new way or method that enables me to give you the following feedback Max:
Watch all the videos and look at the screenshots of members on the site here. Take it all in and see what different folks do.

Then sit back and identify YOUR strengths and comfort levels working races. Once you do then you might take a little something from different folks approaches that seem a nice "fit" to what you are comfortable doing. Hopefully it taps up your game and makes you a better player/capper.

Most important is to develop a style of play that you are most comfortable with and that can not come from copying someone else's style because in the end capping/wagering for profit is a very LONELY and personal journey. So much so that Hat constantly told me when I was playing non stop to make sure that OTHER parts of my life involved relating with people and community. This was to offset the MANY lonely hours spent alone capping races.

I wish you the best Max and from years of reading your posts on PA I feel I know you a bit though we have never met. You are a true class act and a serious POSITIVE addition to Pace and Cap.

Come heck or high water I am getting my butt to Saratoga for P&C day this year. Can't wait to meet the fellas/gals!

[pktruckdriver]

Hey Max

I too am new here and let me tell you I am very impressed and extremely happy with all that goes no here.

Welcome and enjoy.

Good luck


Patrick

[Maxspa]

Richie,
Some excellent ideas on how to approach handicapping. I believe that handicapping is part psychological along with a great deal of hard work. However,that being said one has to have the correct tools to be successful as well. This program has some of the tools necessary and also people willing to demonstrate how they are used. How many software programs could one buy with just a sheet of instructions on how to install the program and then you were on your own?
Some Jim Bradshaw Comments
At the Tom Brohamer roast, I had the pleasure of listening to Jim Bradshaw breakdown the running of a race. He was the fastest and the most accurate of anyone I had ever come into contact with. He mentioned that he was a college track coach and used some of the race basics in his handicapping techniques. Jim also doffed his Black hat and displayed a full head of hair much to the surprise of the seminar participants. Later I purchased A Odds Gold from him and had trouble installing the program. I contacted Jim and he was a very patient individual and also very helpful. He truly will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure to meet him.
Maxspa
P.S. What has happened to Randy Kovacs?

[So Cal Al]

TED
Speaking of ROI........................most of my betting is done through Youbet.com. which has just set up something called "My ROI". Basically. it takes all my wagers for a selected period of time and does a ROI based upon a myriad of different factors, including track, surface, class, wager type. etc. In effect, it will be doing all my record keeping (and more) for me. I thought that yo.u and the other forum members should be given a heads up.
Al

[Ted Craven]

Al,

I have seen pictures of Youbet's My ROI tool and it is intriguing, but alas I cannot have an account with Youbet (or TwinSpires) - denied to Canadians. I do have Premier Turf Club, BetAmerica and HPI wagering accounts.

I would LOVE to have access to a Youbet (and TwinSpires) account It would definitely have an effect on RDSS' capabilities...

Ted

[Maxspa]

All,
After the first week at Belmont, It was necessary to make some changes in paceline selections. Week 2 was handicapped with the new paceline selection process and it was not profitable. In fact Friday and Saturday
selections contained 0fers! This left me discouraged somewhat with the feeling that this week was really lousy until I checked the weekly totals.
They were not great! However, they were better than the first week!
Psychologically because of the Friday + Saturday Ofers, if I hadn't kept records, I would have thought just the opposite would have been the case!
More important, I know that the new paceline selection process should be kept for additional testing.
PATIENCE is CRUCIAL to developing a winning approach! I hope this post helps others as well.
Maxspa

[Ted Craven]

Max,

Care to summarize the difference in your PL selection strategy, Week 1 vs Week 2?

Ted