diff --git a/pyfpdb/Database.py b/pyfpdb/Database.py
index 3c8b4246..354081f5 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/Database.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Database.py
@@ -1132,6 +1132,32 @@ class Database:
             print err
     #end def rebuild_hudcache
 
+    def get_hero_hudcache_start(self):
+        """fetches earliest stylekey from hudcache for one of hero's player ids"""
+
+        try:
+            self.hero, self.hero_ids = {}, {'dummy':-53}   # make sure at least one value is used in sql
+            for site in self.config.get_supported_sites():
+                result = self.get_site_id(site)
+                if result:
+                    site_id = result[0][0]
+                    self.hero[site_id] = self.config.supported_sites[site].screen_name
+                    self.hero_ids[site_id] = self.get_player_id(self.config, site, self.hero[site_id])
+            
+            q = self.sql.query['get_hero_hudcache_start'].replace("<playerid_list>", str(tuple(self.hero_ids.values())))
+            c = self.get_cursor()
+            c.execute(q)
+            tmp = c.fetchone()
+            if tmp == None:
+                return self.hero_hudstart_def
+            else:
+                return "20"+tmp[0][1:3] + "-" + tmp[0][3:5] + "-" + tmp[0][5:7]
+        except:
+            err = traceback.extract_tb(sys.exc_info()[2])[-1]
+            print "Error rebuilding hudcache:", str(sys.exc_value)
+            print err
+    #end def get_hero_hudcache_start
+
 
     def analyzeDB(self):
         """Do whatever the DB can offer to update index/table statistics"""
diff --git a/pyfpdb/SQL.py b/pyfpdb/SQL.py
index d4350ad5..abef4b76 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/SQL.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/SQL.py
@@ -2818,9 +2818,14 @@ class Sql:
                             ,'d' || substr(strftime('%Y%m%d', h.handStart),3,7)
 """
 
+            self.query['get_hero_hudcache_start'] = """select min(hc.styleKey)
+                                                       from HudCache hc
+                                                       where hc.playerId in <playerid_list>
+                                                       and   hc.styleKey like 'd%'"""
+
             if db_server == 'mysql':
                 self.query['analyze'] = """
-                analyze table Autorates, GameTypes, Hands, HandsPlayers, Hudcache, Players
+                analyze table Autorates, GameTypes, Hands, HandsPlayers, HudCache, Players
                             , Settings, Sites, Tourneys, TourneysPlayers, TourneyTypes
                 """
             else:  # assume postgres
diff --git a/pyfpdb/fpdb.py b/pyfpdb/fpdb.py
index 05121474..4703d96d 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/fpdb.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/fpdb.py
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class fpdb:
 
             hb = gtk.HBox(True, 1)
             self.start_date = gtk.Entry(max=12)
-            self.start_date.set_text(self.db.hero_hudstart_def)
+            self.start_date.set_text( self.db.get_hero_hudcache_start() )
             lbl = gtk.Label(" Hero's cache starts: ")
             btn = gtk.Button()
             btn.set_image(gtk.image_new_from_stock(gtk.STOCK_INDEX, gtk.ICON_SIZE_BUTTON))