Thanks for the update. There're several program features that I think I'll enjoy using.

Interesting, not what I had pictured. Where do the odds or actual odds come from? Is it from the software, live odds or what I think the odds should or will be? Or any of these?
It looks like I could use only the Choice column if I wanted. For example, the 1 and 2 are my contenders to win. 3 and 4 could possibly place. 5 and 6 maybe 3rd and 4th. 7 and 8 are longshots. Something like the following:
1: 1
2: 1
3: 2
4: 2
5: 3
6: 4
7: 8 (or blank)
8: 8 (or blank)

Sounds good. Thanks for the update.

Thanks, maybe for a later date. I'll always remember the look on Steve "The Kid" McQueen's face when Karl "Shooter" Malden was I think dealing bottoms. He wanted to beat "The Man" played by Edward G. Robinson so bad, and on the straight. You didn't know if The Man recognized what was going on, but I think he did. Very good movie.

Interesting story. Not sure if you can say or not, but did your friend and the mechanic run their scam? Instead of a big score, with their talent, seems that they would be able to run small scores over time. Where the friend wins and loses, but over time is up money and splits with the dealer. I would be too nervous to try something like that, especially in the '70's-- sort of like my fingers and my life as you say.

In reference to the 4-deck shoe. I'm guessing to start; each deck is new so the cards are in what I would call a "new deck order". What I've seen is the dealer then spreads the cards face down on the table and then swirls the cards around in a circular motion. Shuffles the cards and then into the shoe.
1. Did the mechanic after several hours of practice figure out how to arrange the cards into the shoe?
Not knowing exactly how you would play each hand-- hit(s), hold(s), split(s), etc-- seems impossible.
2. Was he taking 1 card from the shoe each time or was he able to slide out 2 with just the one hand? Again, watching the shoe closely seems it would be easy to see more than 1 card coming out of the shoe.

Great news! I know you've put in a lot of time and effort into the new software. Look forward to seeing the "really cool stuff".

Thanks Dave, sounds very interesting.

I did a little reading on "Agents" in AI". "Each of the 8 Agents has their own approach to the game". Is each approach somewhat predetermined by the AI programming? Will one Agent look at say Pace Shape while another looks at FTS's? Then each one builds from their experience in their particular approach? One agent may like horse #1, while another may like horses #2 and #3? Very interesting science as it relates to horse race handicapping.
For example-- "Is there a vulnerable favorite in this race? Which horses' figure to improve or digress? Will only some Agents review and respond to the question, while other Agents do not based on their AI approach to handicapping? Thanks.

Is there a vulnerable favorite? I seem to land quite often on the ML or wagering favorite. Knowing that there's a vulnerable favorite, I can then pass the race or look at other entries. Also, does the AI take into consideration the trainer/jockey win and ITM percentage, class rating, earnings per start and the actual horse's win and ITM percentage?

SAR 01SEP2023
R3 - #3 Khali Magic - $20 show - 3rd +6.00
R7 - #8 Expand The Map - $6 place & $20 show - 3rd -$5.00
R8 - #8 Forced Ranking. Ships in from MTH. Hasn't raced in almost a year and 1st gelding. $6 place & $20 show. $2 Exacta Key Box with #1, #2, #4, #7, #9 - 1st +$29.10 & -$20.00
R8 - #8 Improper. Ships in from BEL, 1st gelding, claimed two back and drops. 10-pound bug Bryan Torres makes U.S. debut. Nice story if wins - $4 WPS - Out -$12.00
R9 - #3 King Moonracer - $6 place & $20 show - Out -$26.00
R10 - #9 Deputy Connect - $6 place & $20 show. $2 Exacta Key Box with #3, #7, #10 - 2nd +$10.50 & -$12.00
On the day-- -$29.40

SAR 01SEP2023
Try it again.
R3 - #3 Khali Magic - $20 show
R7 - #8 Expand The Map - $6 place & $20 show
R8 - #8 Forced Ranking. Ships in from MTH. Hasn't raced in almost a year and 1st gelding. $6 place & $20 show. $2 Exacta Key Box with #1, #2, #4, #7, #9
R8 - #8 Improper. Ships in from BEL, 1st gelding, claimed two back and drops. 10-pound bug Bryan Torres makes U.S. debut. Nice story if wins - $4 WPS
R9 - #3 King Moonracer - $6 place & $20 show
R10 - #9 Deputy Connect - $6 place & $20 show. $2 Exacta Key Box with #3, #7, #10
Let's have some fun!!

SAR 31AUG2023
R5 - #13 With Purpose - $20 show - Out
R6 - #16 Tivy - $6 place & $20 show - 2nd +9.00
R10 - #10 Lady Hamilton - $20 show - Out
For the day-- - $31.00

SAR 31AUG2023
R5 - #13 With Purpose - $20 show
R6 - #16 Tivy - $6 place & $20 show
R10 - #10 Lady Hamilton - $20 show

SAR 27AUG2023
R2 - #1 Amanda's Folly - $6 show - No show wagering due to scratches
R3 - #6 Spirit of St Louis - $12 show - 2nd +0.60
R5 - #8 Whatlovelookslike - $12 show - Out
R9 - #1 Weekend Rags - $6 show - Out
R10 - #2 Maker's Candy - $6 show - Out
R11 - #6 Autumn - $12 show - Scratched
Rough day-- -$23.40. Got too aggressive and overconfident. Wagered on too many higher-class races with several good trainers and good trainer/jockey combinations in each race. Good trainers usually send well-meant horses, and if your selection is even a little bit short that day, or encounters trouble-- even place and show wagers are in doubt.

SAR 27AUG2023
R2 - #1 Amanda's Folly - $6 show
R3 - #6 Spirit of St Louis - $12 show
R5 - #8 Whatlovelookslike - $12 show
R9 - #1 Weekend Rags - $6 show
R10 - #2 Maker's Candy - $6 show
R11 - #6 Autumn - $12 show

Yes, but only for a few days. Right now-- I like to track and review different handicapping factors and groupings. Lately-- high trainer win %, high trainer/jockey win %, high earnings per start, high class rating and high horse win and in the money percentages. Have been using Worth's (TIPS) earnings and class calculations. Horses that rank high in these categories do go off at low odds, but seem to consistently finish in the money. In the Saratoga discussion, I put picks last week for Wed, Thu and Fri. Next is trying to determine if vertical or horizontal wagers will work versus simple W/P/S.

1. I take notes by hand. I usually don't sit and wager. I simply jot down picks, wagers and notes on a piece of notebook paper. Move on to other things or fold it up and put it into my backpack. Then review the next day. But I'm a causal horse player.

One more time today. SAR 25AUG2023
R1 - #16 Global Perspective - $12 show - 1st +$1.20
R2 - #3 Vax - $6 place & $20 show - 1st +$7.00
R7 - #3 Headland - $12 place - 2nd - $1.80
R8 - #1A Olkovskha - $6 show - Scratched
On the day-- +$10.00. Wed, Thu, Fri-- +$37.50. No wagers tomorrow-- going to the OTB.

One more time today. SAR 25AUG2023
R1 - #16 Global Perspective - $12 show
R2 - #3 Vax - $6 place & $20 show
R7 - #3 Headland - $12 place
R8 - #1A Olkovskha - $6 show