Creating a program!?

Question

I am wanting to create a program which would read and analyze horse racing form from a website.

This would be a program which would automatically take the form of the days races, analyze the form and provide a percentage chance of each horse to win that race.

Bearing in mind the factor which determine a winner in a horse race, previous results, weight, going, trainer and jockey form, course selection, etc.

Of course there are more factors but, this is the most reliable data.

So, the program would create a record of its findings, then relate them to the actual result.

There should also be information stored in the program about courses, previous winners etc.

There is a very slight problem. i do not know which language would be best for creating this as i have very limited programming knowledge.

Also if anyone wants to help me, IM Me!

Answer 1

Not sure how to actually implement this but I can tell you now you will have to utilise XML to get the data you need, simply reading a website is not viable [pssible but not viable]

The best recommendation I can make would be to use Yahoo Pipes:

http://pipes.yahoo.com/

You can create an aplication that will draw in data from betting sites and racing sites as well as news stories related to horse racing and possibly information on the horse breeder etc if your willing to put the time and effort in.

I would help if I weren't bogged down with programming coursework at the moment :(

Answer 2

Of course, the best way to create computer programs easily is Borland Delphi (I personally prefer the 7th version). But, as far as I know, it is not popular in the USA, so you will probably choose Visual C++ or Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or, if it exists, later. There are also another tools, but they are not considered to be safe and omfortable for programmers.

Speaking about the program you want to write, I should mention, that I'm not a professional in Internet-programming - so I can help you parsing the HTML-document, if you have any problems, or something like that. The only help you can get from me about working with the Internet is that I ask your questions at a forum, where there are a lot of specialists, but not more.

And, by the way, you need having at least beginner's level of programmer's knowledge, I mean you must at least know, how do programs work and how are they written, what ways are used for solving this or that task and so on.

Good luck!!! If you have any questions, my mailbox is always open!!!

Answer 3

Maybe check some of the already made programs out there ...There must be a bunch..

I seen some at the track..Let me know if you make something...