Calculations Used for the Knife Method of Handicapping
Figure 1 shows a sample race using the Knife Method. This method was designed by a member of our user community and programmed by QuickReckoning.
Figure 1 - The Knife Method
For information on navigating the options on this display, please refer to this section of the user's guide - "Standard Method".
Each column's calculations are described below. Keep in mind that scoring values are affected by the Scoring Method you select.
Speed Button
============
Same as "STANDARD METHOD" speed
calculation.
Break Button
============
Break is calculated by averaging the past races of a dog's past performance. "Troubled" or "Schooling" races are either included or ignored based on whether or not these types of races are included. To compute Break, the software averages the "first call" position for each race. For example, if the dog breaks 1st, 3rd and 5th in
the last three unfiltered races, the average break would be 3 (1+3+5 divided by 3). This average is shown in the BREAK column. For the
RANK value in the Original Scoring Method
each dog is then given a score of 1-8 (1 for the best break average, 8 for the worst).
ESPD Button
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ESPD is calculated the same was as "BREAK" is except that the "eighth" call is used.
LSPD Button
============
LSPD is calculated the same was as ESPD and BREAK except that the stretch call is used.
WPS Button
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The WPS column is calculated by dividing the total number of Win, Place, or Show finishes by the total number of races considered and creating a percentage. If a dog had 3 races and finished 1, 2, or 3 in everyone, then this field would show 100%. Troubled (trouble or not the same distance) and schooling races can be considered or not considered. For total overall ranking, the dogs are rated 1-best to 8-worst based on this column score.
Class
=====
This column tells you whether a dog is dropping in grade for this race or moving up or staying in the same grade. Depending on whether a dog is going up or down in grade will affect the BREAK, ESPD and LSPD columns. How? Each will be multiplied by the factor shown above the GRADE button. The top number shown will be the multiplier if the dog is moving UP in grade, the bottom number is used when a dog is moving DOWN. These values are preset at 1.05 and .90 for UP and DOWN respectively. If you click on the GRADE button, you can turn on or turn off this calculation. You may also turn it off
In this field you'll see either U, D, UU, DD, ??, or a blank space which means dog is currently running in the same class as the race condition indicates. Meanings for each are given below.
U - the dog is moving up in class since his last race. D - the dog is moving down in class since his last race. UU - moving up two grades. DD - moving down two grades. Blank - the dog is running in the same class today as in his previous class. ?? means there is not enough data for this dog to indicate it's class. Also included in this column is the CLASS SCORE for this dog. This value isn't used to compute QuickDog's predicted order of finish except as it affects the other columns as described above.
For a DESCRIPTION OF HOW QUICKDOG DETERMINES the EFFECTIVE GRADE of a DOG, see the
MORGAN METHOD GRADE description.
Starts
======
This column contains the number of starts the dog has had at this track as contained within the program itself. This number can show experience. Based on this number the dog is rated 1-8 (1 best, 8 worst) for the overall RANK.
Best Time
=========
The dog's best time, based on it's history, is shown in this column. Then a rank value is given, 1-best time to 8-worst time.
RANK Average
============
The rank is calculated by averaging all column values multiplied by weighting
factors and should equal a number from 1 to 8. When you scratch a dog the
dog's score will be greater than 8.