[AusRace] The Abbott - calculators in racing

[Tony Moffat]

The Abbott is a calculator based on the writings of Adkin Abbott in the UK -
he promoted himself as a tutor.

The first version of his calculator is a printed page showing the quotient
resulting from dividing 100 with a figure
representing the finishing position of a runner in each of its last three
starts. So, a form figure of 281 would be
decided as 50,12.5,100 which sums to 162.5. Now turn the page over and here
is the calculated 'finals' , out to three decimal places
when you divide 300 by the 162.5 calculated earlier - the 'final' is 1.8
which Adkin advises is the place dividend meant for
this runner off its form figure of 281, all things being equal. Abbott
assists by rounding up, and down, early in his calculations
so that 162.5 is 160, although he retains the three decimal places
mentioned. Next to the 1.8 is the bookmaker win price, '13/4 in this case
which is the win price associated with the dividend displayed (strictly
4.25/1.81 in todays money)

The second version, triple the cost, is a wheel device whereby five wheels
must be aligned to provide a dividend. The three
outside wheels, rims, are aligned with a window so that 281 (the form finish
figure) shows in the window then turning it over and reading off
the other side after moving the wheel it again shows 1.8 and 4.25 in the
windows there.

The battery powered calculator is the latest, last, version, and the form
figures are entered, as you would expect, and the decimal data is displayed.
It is/was expensive - 100's when new. I bought my suite, second hand, off a
shop in Newtown, this and a few other books, and a Joe Powell 3 wood
(golfers will unnerstan).

There is no discussion from the author about the use of the form figure as
he does - 2-8-1 becomes (100/2 =50),(100/8 = 12.5),(100/1= 100) which sums
to 
50+12.5+100 = 162.5 although on the sheet he does state 'he has not seen any
proof other than this' that the place chance can be calculated as it is, and
from that
the win price, using place dividend -1, x 4, +1, so 1.8 - 1, becomes .8 * 4=
3.2, + 1 = 3.2+1= 4.20 (3/1-13/4).

The calculation goes close, not often, to the actual dividend, eg Cairns R10
16/07/2019
1-133-(100+33+33 =167)-300/167 = 1.80, actual 1.70
5-314-(33+100+25 = 158)-300/158= 1.90, actual 2.00
Other dividends are widely,wildly different, varying from 8-380% over.

The Abbott uses celtic drawings, and a picture of himself, presumably, in
robes representing a druid like the subject of a Uriah Heep or Led Zepplin
song on his wheel and booklet associated with it.

The calculations, defining the place price, and from them, the win
approximates, does reveal a group of runners inside $10 that score as they
should. Do you need a calculator for that?.

Abbott writes at length about ante-post betting in their classics in the UK
and it seems that is what the calculator was for, determining prices before
declaration in the (several) days before the race.
Perhaps it was popular there but is lost, a little somewhat, in the hurly
burly of Australian racing?

Cheers

Tony


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