Harness SnapShot DD (Data Download) is a Windows 98SE through Windows 7 compatible software handicapping application. It will run on any machine that can run 98SE through Windows 7 (including Apple Macintosh capable machines).

It uses Past Performance EXE data files from TrackMaster as INPUT to the progam.

Harness Helper was first introduced in 1986 as a DOS-only application. Starting with version 6.0 the application was transposed to run under the Windows operating system. Currently Harness Helper (manual input) stands at version 8.1 (still available here).

Harness SnapShot MA is the Manual Input version of SnapShot. Information on the manual input version is available here.

SnapShot has minimal user control. It is the proverbial BLACK BOX. SnapShot is a "Single Purpose", "Self Absorbed" digging machine that does not need help to be effective.

And, that is exactly what we intend it to be. Not because we think the user is not capable but simply because there is no NEED to interfer with (or taint) the actual selection process. The user can control the Days Ago Raced, Minimal Odds and Selection Difficulty Settings.

SnapShot does not look at a horses past performance as do most conventional methods. Instead, it DIGS through the data file looking for the REASONS a horse has been rated at 5/1 or higher odds on the Morning Line. You could accurately say it is looking for negatives instead of positives.

If it can't FIND a reason for an odds rating of 5/1 or higher it begins an elimination process TRYING to POSE its' own (negative) REASON (or reasons) to show the horse as a NON-Contender.

Failing to PIN a REASON (or reasons) to dump the horse as a SERIOUS contender, it then compiles a horses' merits, arriving at a FORM RATING.

FORM meaning Shape, Fitness, Current Ability, Sharpness ...take your pick. In other words, is this horse IN or COMING INTO condition to be a SERIOUS THREAT in THIS or THE NEXT race.

Arriving at a Form Rating IS fairly conventional. This can best be explained by showing what SnapShot WILL and WILL NOT look at in compiling a Form Rating.

The Form handicapping engine in SnapShot WILL:

• - look at the past races a horse has run (CutOff Date determined by the user)
• - look at EACH QUARTER the horse has run in EACH race
• - compare EACH 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Final QUARTER against ALL other 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Final QUARTERS
• - analyze EACH 1st QUARTER to EACH 2nd QUARTER
• - analyze EACH 2nd QUARTER to EACH 3rd QUARTER
• - analyze EACH 3rd QUARTER to EACH Head of the STRETCH
• - analyze the EACH STRETCH run to the EACH FINISH
• - analyze EACH 1st HALF against EACH 2nd HALF
• - consider (analyses) track size differences (1/2 - 5/8 - 3/4 - 7/8 - 1 - 1-1/4)

The Form handicapping engine in SnapShot DOES NOT CARE about:

• - Class
• - Final Times
• - horse, driver or trainer money/win percentages

Taking into consideration the portions of a past race and then equating them to a whole race and then comparing races against races -- results in a very good picture of a horses past performance without regard for Class, Speed or Percentages. And, if the horse has been PROGESSING or REGRESSING over the specified time period.

Further, taking this analysis based on the premise that the horse is NOT WORTHY of an odds factor less than 5/1 makes for an interesting -- and possibly lucrative -- scenario.

New to version 1.06 is the Odds Setting Feature. This allows the user to determine the cut-off at which the Early Morning will qualify the horse for selction or not. For examplre, if the Minimal Odds are set to 7/1 then no horse below 7/1 on the Morning Odds will looked at by SnapShot.

The Program Number of the horse is now displayed on the Ratings Screen.

Version 1.06 has improved formulation that increases the accuracy.

The Ratings Screen has undergone some cosmetic changes. The Screen now includes a Help Button that brings up a much clearer explanation of the (green) highlighting aspects.

The new highlighting includes a 'third' degree of readiness. The Form Number ONLY highlighting, whole line highlighting has been joined by whole line highlighting with underlined horse name.

The immediate on-screen help has been eliminated to allow a tidier display (see Screen Shots).