Are Changes to Races Reflected in Database?

Question

Hello,

I am interested in purchasing the historic database and subscription but I wanted to check something first.

Does the data for each race reflect the final state of the race just before it starts off? For example, does it cope if a horse is removed from the race or if there is a jockey change?

I have been collecting horse racing data from the Betfair API-NG for the past two months but I have only just learned that the metadata for each runner in the race does not dynmically update from when it is initially published. This means I can not tell when a Jockey has been changed.

For example Betfair API states that the Jockey for the 2.55pm at York on 17th May 2017 was W. Buick when it was actually run by L. Dettori... very annoying. What does this database say?

Also, does the historic race data include teh Actual SP rather than just the forecasted one?

Thanks

Raymond

Answer 1

Apologies, the date is 18th May, 2017 (not 17th) and it was run at 2.55pm at York.

Answer 2

Hi Raymond

I am very new to smartform myself ( just a few days ) but I will have a stab at an answer for you.

SP - yes smartform historic runner data does indeed contain actual sp as well as press association forecast SP.

As for late changes such as W Buick getting replaced by Detorri on The Black Princess at York 2.55 May 18th

well yes and no.

There are two key tables for runners which I myself think of as

#1 declarations

#2 post race results

The declarations ( daily_runners) table carries Buick as the jockey

The results table ( historic_runners ) however carries the correct jockey data.

So it looks like an issue to be wary of and hopefully fix / improve upon.

Picture for example a worst case scenario of a bot based on smartform provided runner data.

An inexperienced jockey gets replaced by a top jockey.

The bot blind to this key change sets of laying to maximum liabilities .

That could create a serious bank balance ouch scenario.

One that should not have happened in an ideal world.

How Often Does It Happen?

I am just learning sql and queries so I will throw that question out to others who are more clued up than me.

But the answer is probably findable within smartform by looking for instances where there is a different jockey

on the same horse when daily_runners table is compared against the historic_runners table.

How To Fix / Improve ?

I don't know is my simple answer but I guess it would be rooted in locating a  source of such key change info

and constructing code to check it and pull it into your own database somehow.

A future ideal for smartform users may perhaps be such data being available via smartform.

Picture for example an optional to use much more frequently cronned late updates style script.

That would help reduce worry levels about making silly bot bets based on incorrect data that the rest of the market is more up to date about. Who would fancy playing poker if others were permitted to see the flop but you were not.

But that said instances may be quite rare?

As well as losing cash one did not intend to lose one may also win cash one did not intend to win.

But my own vote would be for having easy access to late update facts and data changes if at all possible.

Comments

Just a bit of an update on this rough one of "late changes".

I contacted britishhorseracing to try and deterimine if they had any official spot where such changes were noted.

They replied.

===============================
Jockey changes should appear in the pdfs which are linked to each of the fixtures on our stewards reports pages:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/race-info/stewards-reports/

 

These pdfs are pulled together dynamically so they update throughout the day.

 

However, strangely, there is a slight technical issue at the moment which means that, bizarrely, jockey changes are not appearing. However, we expect this to be fixed pretty quickly.

 

I hope that helps.

================================


My own guy call reading between the lines is that they have a central db of data which they update during the day. The pdfs use this data source and so update when the db does.

I have put forward to them the idea that they should also provide output in say xml format.

It should be easy if the core database is already there.

XML format would then provide a much easier way for "computers" to go seek news of important change.

The pdfs are more so for real human eyes.
They are probably not 100% impossible to parse if one was a technical genius but a better world all round if
the source of the data is outputting it willfully in standardised format for robotic consumption.

Will the racing authorities pay any heed to my ideas?
More chance perhaps if a few others who believe it a good idea contact them and ask for the same thing.

Answer 3

You basically get one update per day. The update happens overnight and provides results from the previous day's races (including actual SPs) and declared runners for the following day's races.

You don't get live updates during on the day of the race, so there are certain things that pre-race data won't reflect (e.g. late going or jockey changes, jockey carrying overweight, etc.).