A little-known function of GTX is the DBP (Dynamic Barrier Penalty) Multiplier. It is located on the Field View, to the right of the Race Details. The default setting is 1.0, with a green background.

Its job is to enhance the effectiveness of the default Barrier Penalty, on a course by course basis.

The DBP Multiplier can be used to:

(a) Change the weighting of barrier penalties (multiply penalties, positively or negatively)
(b) Change the polarity of the penalties (reverse the penalties).

In both of these uses, the default Barrier Penalty (BPen) is multiplied by the figure showing in the DBP box, hence the name, DBP ‘Multiplier’. As well as multiplying by a figure greater than 1.0, the DBP multiplier can multiply by a factor of less than 1.0.

(a) Weighting

The most frequent usage of the DBP Multiplier would be to change the weighting of the barrier penalty at a given track and distance. Say you believe an inside alley at Doomben 1110m is the most advantageous, you might treble the weighting of the barrier penalties at this course (this distance at this track) to give the barrier penalties more weight, or effect. The inside barrier, being a zero penalty, would not be affected by a multiplication of its penalty, whereas the default 0.6 penalty of gate 11, for example, would become a 1.8 penalty.

To change the multiplier value from 1.0 to say, 3.0, you simply left-click in the DBP Muliplier field until the value reaches 3.0. To reduce the value, right-click the field. The value changes by 0.1 for each click. Holding the mouse button down will result in a more rapid change.

Please make sure that after making changes with the DBP Multiplier, you select another race before closing GTX or loading another meeting. This will ensure that the new settings have been saved for this race.

(b) Polarity

Another use is to change the ‘polarity’ of the barrier penalties; in other words reverse the penalties. Normally an inside barrier has a 0.0 penalty and the outside has the biggest penalty. Say, for example, you want to make the outside barrier at Flemington 1100m (a straight race where the ‘outside’ can be faster) a 0.0 penalty, and the inside barrier the maximum penalty. You would [Ctrl] click the number in the DBP box making it change to a red background.

In the graphic below, you will see that the DBP Muliplier has been [Ctrl] clicked, and that the DBP box has changed to the red background. You will also see that the two horses that are starting from the inside and outside gates, ‘Red For Lou’ and ‘Stormy Miss’, have had their Barrier Penalties reversed and that the other runners have had their penalties adjusted accordingly.

Notice also the change in the ranking resulting from the subtle changes in the rating’s nett value.

After a polarity change, the Muliplier value can also be increased or decreased by left or right clicking the DBP box.

To apply DBP changes to future races...

After you have changed the DBP, if you decide that you want the new penalties to apply in all future races, [Shift] click the DBP box. Then, when future meetings are downloaded, GTX will adjust penalties automatically to the new settings for you each time at that course so long as you have the optional barrier penalty selected in the relevant rating, for example Setup>Ratings (Extended)>Formline. For example, if you have changed the polarity of the Flemington 1100 metre course, each time a new race at that course is imported, the new polarity will be in effect.

Please note that Formline, Trakline and Winform Ratings in their default state have the optional Barrier Penalties selected, which means that the Barrier Penalty is one of the bonuses and penalties that are added to, or subtracted from, the Base Rating to calculate the Nett Rating.

The Base Rating of the GTX Rating, on the other hand, is calculated from over 60 variables, one of which is the Barrier Penalty, so in its default state, this rating does not have this penalty selected as a separate option to be calculated into race files on download and import, as this has already been considered in the calculations which resulted in the GTX Base Rating. In short, the GTX Rating does not rely on additional bonuses and penalties.

To apply DBP changes to historical races...

If you would like to apply the new penalties to historical races already on your computer in order to include them in System Developer analyses for example, you would need to do the following:

(a) On the Menu Bar, click Race>Synchronize/Re-Calculate
(b) In the box that opens, make sure re-calculate is selected
(c) Select selected dates from...
(d) Enter the desired date range via the drop calendars
(e) Click the button of the Rating/s you want recalculated, for example Formline
(f) Click the Re-Calc button

The new penalties will be applied to all historical races at the same course as the one at which you made changes to the DBP.

It is important therefore, to be aware of the differences between Track and Course...

Flemington is a Track.
Flemington 1100 M is a course.
Flemington 1200 M is a different course
Flemington 2000 M is a different course again.

So, if you made DBP changes to a Flemington 1100 M race, the run a Re-Calculate over a date range, the new penalties would be applied only to Flemington 1100 M races within the date range.