Minnow Bear Computers

Michael E. Nunamaker's selection service performance statistics

This section details how Michael Nunamaker's selections have performed over a sample of over 50,000 races. Performance is broken down into several major categories and several minor categories as well. All results are presented on win wagers only on top selections on all horses in the specified category.
When looking at performance statistics, the question always arises "how good are these?" Surprisingly, there is very little data published on public handicappers. My personal theory is that they either don't posses the skills or time to produce performance statistics or they are afraid to do so. That's not the case here. I have the capability to produce these summaries as well as confidence that these are very good selections. For example, the winning percentage of the top selection is standing at 29.36% as of May 2, 1996. In his book Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, Dave Feldman says that the selections of good public handicappers is between 25% and 29%. By his yardstick, these selections are off the scale!
Another yardstick is a review of Southern California public handicappers published in the March 1996 issue of the Phillips Racing Newsletter. The tracked 19 handicappers on the Southern California circuit for several years. My current winning percentage puts these selections as seventh on that list of some of the best handicappers in the world. I consider seventh among some of the best and most experienced handicappers in the world to be quite an accomplishment. At smaller tracks where the quality of the handicappers isn't as high as the major circuits, I think my selections may simply be the best available in the world, at any price.
Other yardsticks to keep in mind is the ROI or NET of favorites, all horses, and what happens simply from the track take. Track take varies from 16% to 24% with an average of about 20%. My selections beat that handily. As far as favorites are concerned, the NET on favorites in the last four years is $1.64 (or a ROI of -18%). Again, my selections finish with a far higher ROI than this. The final yardstick, all horses, has a NET of $1.52 or a ROI of -24%. Another smashing win for my selections.
It is also worthwhile to note that you can slightly increase the ROI of my selections simply by concentrating on the races that my selections do best on. Indeed, that is one of the main points of providing these performance statistics, to aid in optimal utilization of my selections.

The statistics in plain HTML format.

The statistics in HTML with tables (requires Netscape).

NEW!! Statistics on selection performance based on odds and BLs.

The statistics in plain HTML format.

The statistics in HTML with tables (requires Netscape).

Definitions
NET: The average return on $2.00 wagers. A NET of $2.00 denotes breaking even.
ROI: Return On Investment. This is the percentage gain or loss on all wagers as a group.
RR: Races Raced. This is the number of races in the sample.
W: Wins. The number of horses in the sample that won.
%W: Percent Winners: The percentage of the horses in the sample that won.
IV: Impact Value. The impact value of the winners.
ITM: In The Money. The number of horses in the sample that finished in the money (first, second, or third).
%ITM: Percentage In The Money. The percentage of the horses in the sample that finished in the money.