Do we study form as much as we used to?

Do you guys think new punters study form the same as we used to? i just get a feeling that having to study form is too much like hard work for todays modern society.

When i 1st started punting,when the last race finished at 5pm there was no other betting opportunities.

Your mind was clear of all other distractions and if you had some spare time you picked up the next days cards and spent some time on them.


Today betting opportunities never stop and lets be honest these "new betting opportunities" are far less confusing than looking through hours and hours worth of racing form to the "new style punter"

You want to back the bookings in a match you check up the head to head stats and referee statistics and in seconds you have a guide.

You want to back a Soccer or rugby result all you need to do is check current form and lineups.

Individual sports a player has to under perform to be beaten by a lesser player, these players do get beat but not as often as an odds on racehorse gets turned over..

5 years ago in the UK youngsters that came into our shops never bet racing, they are only interested in the FUN £5 on wayne rooney to score first and Man U to win 2-0 types of bets.

Gambling has changed and it`s booming,mostly numbers and sports,ask any big bookie they take more cash on a POWERBALL result than they do on the Durban July...


The problem with studying form is you also have to do it right,something i never really did in my years of trying!!!!

Agree with you, Bob. I would be interested to see what role age plays in this. While I agree too much going on now that doesn't allow as much focus on a meeting these days, I think lifestyle linked to age would also play a factor. Yes, in the old days I waited for the card, and had at least two days in kzn to prep for meeting. Never looked out of province. At school card hidden in the text book, and varsity the same. It consumed me.

Now, I'm too busy, kids and missus take most time, and work is just that. First few jobs I always found time to study form, drink, party etc.. But could never follow that regimen now.
So I guess on a graph you hold see high level of study in younger people, dips in middle age and then rises again when you are retired??

As you say, when you get home at night.. There's all the UK racing live and ready. No time to sit quietly and study like the old days. Throw in the live IN PLAY one day sport fixtures, golf etc .. Then what.

I always remember the horse that finish the best even if they don't win. If you see a horse go past the winner after the post then back it the next time it runs .

I started out when I was 21yrs old.Back than my 'mentors' told me too take this jock with this trainer.When a '7' comes you gotta take a '5' with it.Studying trainers and jockeys from newspapers.Getting the odd Sporting Post and Computaform from rubbish bins.A year later I could afford to buy SP and the studies began.Back than it was strictly form...Horse A beats horse B by 2Lengths...weight turnaround ect.Took abt 2-3hrs to do a complete card.Today 10yrs later I would say I knew nothing abt horseracing than,I even knew nothing abt racing or form 4-5 yes back.Simply coz the mere study of collateral form does not cut it anymore,haven't done so for a long time now.Along the years in my quest to become Great,as I put it,I have learned several new important things,most by myself and some from the guys on here.Gone are the days I studied a card for 2-3hrs.You would think with all the new things I know now,it would go quicker right?wrong!To completely do a card to the best of the abilities,it takes me between 10-14hrs per card.This includes general form study and research and several other things.It all depends what the individual wants to achieve with his/her form study.If doing it for fun,a quick look might do it for you...if wanting profits,you will make the time.If you like the consistent challenge it represents,than time is of no essence.But as Bob says...its useless to study if you don't know WHAT to look for,but if you take time and research than it will be a pleasure to anyone to take on a challenge on a daily basis.We need to be open to suggestions aswell,never think you know it all...coz we don't...and NEVER WILL!!!!But we can always acquire new knowledge daily...be it from self research or some1 else,just got to be open to receive it.So in the end it comes down to what we want to achieve with our form studies.

Going back to your original question ...if we study form like we used to?
For me personally, I don't and it has been my downfall at times.

Remember and vote in the poll

Used to "study" a lot but in same place as @flydubai in that there are other, greater priorities now...

Focus on a few races...mainly set-weight races and look at speed ratings from a variety of sources...the shorter the distance the more reliable the speed ratings !!

Always do analysis when time allows (late late in the evenings) and current focus that presents a challenge / puzzle worth solving are handicap races...been testing something for a week now and been able to pick at least one winner in handicap races every day for the last week...will starting posting numbers so others can also follow...

Wishing all Clanners all the best in their endeavours...

we needed an option...yes...but not as much as we used too...

Pirhobeta wrote: we needed an option...yes...but not as much as we used too...

What like " occasionally " lol

Bob Brogan wrote:

Pirhobeta wrote: we needed an option...yes...but not as much as we used too...

What like " occasionally " lol

you bloody "english"...

We are all fools to do form studying as most publications have done the donkey work for us already. The morning lines in newspapers and the ratings in Computaform or Sporting Post contains all the information in a pre-calculated format, so no need to study form.

What we need to do is to apply the logic based on things like a stable that is in form or horses running best at a certain time of the year or the thing that we don't have mostly which is the horses well being or race it is being aimed at.

I believe we spend too much time studying form to the point of confusion rather than looking at the most important element which is ability. Consistency in performance versus best performance ability is the true match up in determining a race result and thats the real challenge for us.

Have to love this game though, break a leg guys.

LSU I don't usually disagree with you, but how do you know these publications have studied form correctly ?