A quote from Stephen King's The Shining (1980). A great film with an excellent cast. Directed by Stanley Kubrick I know some of you wordsmiths are thinking: ''Stephen King didn't coin the phrase.'' It is a proverb which goes back to 1659. And means (surprise surprise) without time off work, a person becomes both bored and boring.
Getting ready for the start of the new Flat turf season, I am slowly becoming Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) not because I'm a caretaker of an old haunted hotel, an alcoholic or an aspiring writer. Thankfully, it isn't snowing, although that would give me a bit of time on my side.
I've been analysing two-year-old horse trainer data. It is a slog. I can spend a few days getting to grips with any given soul. I've been wrestling with Roger Varian this week. The thing about data analysis is that the only good part is when it's done. Then all the assumptions can be understood a little better. I consider them as helping point me in the right direction. Nothing is carved in stone. However, these findings are very interesting. Now, I'm not going into detail about each and every aspect of the research of information gleaned because I've been working like an Oscar winner and I don't particularly want to just give my hard work away unless someone has something to give in return. It's a funny old world, hey. Else, you have a merry line of ''takers'' who not only take your knowledge for free but at the same time take the PISS.
Anyway, I'm a very generous person so if those words seem a bit Jack Blunt (rather than Torrence or Nicholson) you are welcome to contact me if you want to swap info (joking).
So I have been working on the horse trainer stats. I have always used this information and it has definitely proved positive. This year, I am going even more in depth and it will be interesting to see how this pans out when working with betting opportunities. Time will tell. I have little doubt it will be helpful but the proof is in the eating. Just imagine the data is a blackberry crumble with custard.
The Flat turf season isn't far away. I see the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster is for the 30th March or around that time. The first two-year-old race should be the Brocklesby Stakes. Well, unless we have something on the all-weather. We will have to see. I'm not keen on the all-weather diluting the Brocklesby Stakes. I am hopeful it will be the first two-year-old contest.
Anyway, enough about statistics for one day, I'm going to pour myself a drink, put my feet up and have a good read.