This site provides information and support for families facing a diagnosis of ependymoma in a child: from the day of diagnosis through relapse or long-term survival, there is a lot to know and navigate. The site is a companion to the FaceBook support group, a worldwide group where families are able to ask questions, seek support, and connect with others dealing with similar issues.
About the Blog
In addition to the resources available here, we are the home to the blog for Colin, a boy who loved tractors (but developed a broad range of interests) and was diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma in 2009. He had a complicated medical history but persevered and thrived before relapsing and, after three incredible years, died of the disease at age 10.
The arc of his story and the difficult decisions at all phases are helpful to other families, so it lives here as a resource and, despite the outcome, a source of hope. The overview, separated into different phases of his life and treatment, is on the Colin’s Story page.
Our latest blog post
- Sectional Times Speed Ratings: Cracking the Advanced Form Code
Why the Traditional Form Sheet Is Broken
Look: you stare at a three-day form chart, sip coffee, and still feel blind. The numbers are static, the narrative stale, and the hidden variables — like a dog’s split-second burst — are nowhere to be seen. That’s the problem.
Enter Sectional Times
Here is the deal: sectional times break a race into bite-size chunks, exposing where a greyhound truly excels. Imagine a sprinter’s lap splits — only the dog’s legs are the track. A 4-furlong dash might hide a 2-furlong surge that wins the race. Those splits are the secret sauce.
Speed Ratings: Not All Created Equal
Speed ratings used to be a blunt instrument — one number, one story. Today, we calibrate them against sectional splits, adjusting for track condition, wind, and even the starting box. The result? A dynamic rating that tells you, “this dog rockets from the 2-furlong mark.”
Advanced Form: The Triple Threat
Advanced form isn’t just history; it’s a predictive matrix. Combine the dog’s last three sectional times, weight them by race grade, and sprinkle in a dash of trainer performance. The output is a nuanced profile that separates a “good” runner from a “dangerous” one.
By the way, the best way to see this in action is to check out the sectional times speed ratings advanced form guide. It walks you through the exact spreadsheets, the filters, the sanity checks. No fluff, just raw data that you can trust.
Practical Steps to Harness the Data
First, grab the last five races for each contender. Pull the split times at 2, 4, and 6 furlongs. Next, normalize those splits to a common track surface — because a wet track slows everyone equally, but a dry one can amplify a dog’s acceleration. Then, calculate a weighted speed rating: 40% early split, 35% mid-race, 25% finish. Finally, compare the composite rating against the field’s average. If a dog’s rating is 3 points above the mean, that’s a betting edge.
And here is why you should act now: the market still prices dogs by overall win-rate, ignoring the sectional surge. Spot the outlier, place a back bet on the dog with the superior middle-section rating, and watch the odds shift. That’s the edge.
Bottom line: ditch the static form sheet, embrace sectional times, re-engineer speed ratings, and you’ll start seeing value where others see noise. Bet on the dog that flies through the middle split, and you’ll cash in. Get the data, run the model, place the wager — repeat.
- Sectional Times Speed Ratings: Cracking the Advanced Form Code
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