DRF Online Survey

[Segwin]

Got an email from DRF asking me to take an online survey. Got past the first question and then came to the second one:

In the future, some sections of DRF.com will be available only to those with a paid subscription to "DRF Plus". Please rate the importance of the following potential features of DRF Plus:

It never stops...

[DeltaLover]

DRF keeps changing its policies very often. It has been years since I stopped using it and I never got back. It does not have to do with pricing since I am can get a daily copy for free but I really do not like neither their format nor some of the data it contains.

Ever since, I completely stopped paying any attention to beyer speed figures (years ago) my game improved dramatically.

I am using bris data and also the simulcast program (also published by DRF) and I am very happy with these.

Last year, I do not remember exactly when, there were no simulcast programs available (I think it was after the hurricane, when NYC remained like a couple of weeks with no gas, something that caused printing paper shortage) and I had to use DRF; seeing the favorite of the race having 10+ beyer points advantage over the rest of the field almost changed my original opinion of not betting it, not even in the second spot... Of course he ran exactly third at odds on, reconfirming my theory of staying clear from DRF and beyers...

Personally, I don care even if they restrict their whole site to DRF+ subscriptions because I almost never use it...

[Segwin]

DRF keeps changing its policies very often. It has been years since I stopped using it and I never got back. It does not have to do with pricing since I am can get a daily copy for free but I really do not like neither their format nor some of the data it contains.

Ever since, I completely stopped paying any attention to beyer speed figures (years ago) my game improved dramatically.

I am using bris data and also the simulcast program (also published by DRF) and I am very happy with these.

Last year, I do not remember exactly when, there were no simulcast programs available (I think it was after the hurricane, when NYC remained like a couple of weeks with no gas, something that caused printing paper shortage) and I had to use DRF; seeing the favorite of the race having 10+ beyer points advantage over the rest of the field almost changed my original opinion of not betting it, not even in the second spot... Of course he ran exactly third at odds on, reconfirming my theory of staying clear from DRF and beyers...

Personally, I don care even if they restrict their whole site to DRF+ subscriptions because I almost never use it...

That's very interesting, thanks.

I'm not familiar with the simulcast program (also published by DRF). I have bet through DRF (Xpressbet) and have watched their simulcast - is this what you are referring to?

[DeltaLover]

I am referring to the thick 'book' containing all the tracks of the day. In Aqueduct we call it the simulcast program. It is printed by DRF as well and I think it is recently offered by download. It is very convenient especially when you are betting several tracks simultaneously. It does not have beyers, instead it has some other speed and pace figures which I pay no attention at all.

[Al Gobbi]

only thing I use DRF.com for is for news stories these days. Site is a total joke other than that.

The form is ridiculously overpriced, has the tracks scattered all over the place, and now they don't even do At A Glance for the smaller tracks nor A Closer Look for all the races for the major ones.

The $20 monthly charge I don't think is going to work all too well, especially in a non-popular industry.

[letswastemoney]

I switched to BRIS months ago and am satisfied with the results. DRF needs pace figures on their regular past performances.

Also, a lot of the "Best Bets" on the DRF website are quite obvious. Sometimes I'd think "They are paying someone to tell me Wise Dan is the most likely winner of the day?" I wish they would be a little more creative with those.

[Longshot6977]

Got an email from DRF asking me to take an online survey. Got past the first question and then came to the second one:

In the future, some sections of DRF.com will be available only to those with a paid subscription to "DRF Plus". Please rate the importance of the following potential features of DRF Plus:

It never stops...

I got my survey today and continued to question 3 that stated it will be $9.95/month (that's another $120/year they're looking for besides the expensive DRF PPs). Maybe if the data cost less, more people would buy them which would increase overall sales.

Deltalover, are you referring to the Daily Racing Program? It's up to $6 now offtrack. Those speed figs are Equibase figs. It mentions it inside the front page. I too, don't use them and wonder why they just don't use the DRF Beyers. I think many people don't realize they're not Beyer figs.

[Tom]

For the extra money you get the horse's name in each past performance.

[PhantomOnTour]

I switched to BRIS months ago and am satisfied with the results. DRF needs pace figures on their regular past performances.

Also, a lot of the "Best Bets" on the DRF website are quite obvious. Sometimes I'd think "They are paying someone to tell me Wise Dan is the most likely winner of the day?" I wish they would be a little more creative with those.
That is exactly what I told them in the last page of the survey.
How can they (in 2013) not have pace figs as part of their basic pp's ???

DRF is getting smaller and smaller in my rearview mirror.

[racingfan378]

I got my survey today and continued to question 3 that stated it will be $9.95/month (that's another $120/year they're looking for besides the expensive DRF PPs). Maybe if the data cost less, more people would buy them which would increase overall sales.

Deltalover, are you referring to the Daily Racing Program? It's up to $6 now offtrack. Those speed figs are Equibase figs. It mentions it inside the front page. I too, don't use them and wonder why they just don't use the DRF Beyers. I think many people don't realize they're not Beyer figs.

The Beyer fig is exclusive to the form. If they were in the big simulcast book, no one would EVER buy the form again

I enjoy the look of the form, but the Beyer #s are a joke. Unless you are at a big track-circuit, I have seen so many mistakes with the beyer #

The EQ FIG works just fine for me and I think they are the stronger number in the business today but that's b/c they are produced by Trackmaster

I think the brisnet speed fig is all out of whack!

I don't believe in looking just at the figs but it is a strong place to start along with all the other little things I use to come up with a final answer.

The bottom line is that DRF doesn't care anymore and the only thing saving their ass is the publication of the simulcast book.

[cnollfan]

DRF needs pace figures on their regular past performances.

Agree. I can handicap with confidence with Bris and without DRF, but I can't handicap confidently with DRF and without BRIS. (My track acquaintances might question the former.)

[thaskalos]

The Beyer fig is exclusive to the form. If they were in the big simulcast book, no one would EVER buy the form again

I enjoy the look of the form, but the Beyer #s are a joke. Unless you are at a big track-circuit, I have seen so many mistakes with the beyer #

The EQ FIG works just fine for me and I think they are the stronger number in the business today but that's b/c they are produced by Trackmaster

I think the brisnet speed fig is all out of whack!

I don't believe in looking just at the figs but it is a strong place to start along with all the other little things I use to come up with a final answer.

The bottom line is that DRF doesn't care anymore and the only thing saving their ass is the publication of the simulcast book.

The best speed figures I ever saw were the Equibase figures BEFORE they were "recalibrated" by Trackmaster.

I don't know if anyone remembers...but those figures were not made using a point scale similar to the Beyer figures...and you never saw them go into triple digits. I used these figures exclusively for a year and a half while betting 30 races a day...and I swear, I was making more money than even I could believe.

But then the "recalibration" was announced...and the figures started escalating into the 110 range with alarming regularity. Even routers at Beulah were getting 100+ ratings...in route races that were run in 1:15+ at the six furlong marker. And the accuracy of the figures was gone for good.

I even called Equibase once...and complained about some of the figures that I was seeing. I was put on hold...and the phone was picked up again by a "Trackmaster" guy. I told him about the inaccuracy in their figures, and asked about the changes that they had implemented in their construction...but the guy on the phone told me that only the point scale had been changed to coincide with the Beyer scale. I remember telling him that I would be willing to bet $10,000 that he was lying to me...and that brought an end to our conversation.

IMO...the Equibase figures have been inaccurate ever since.

I would pay serious money for those "old" Equibase figures...if they would somehow surface again.

[burnsy]

Like others have said, i sometimes buy DRF for the writing and the stories. The writers are all good at what they do. Like Delta said, i'll be a little more blunt. You can wipe your ass with those Beyer numbers......glad they print them though because i KNOW people use them to bet. Why take the time to learn how to "read", meaning, learning the game if they give you a ranking of numbers?:bang: There are so many races and conditions where they are close to meaningless. Plus, like he said if the horse just ran 10 points higher than the field, whats the use? You are looking at a 4-5 shot anyway, and in alot of cases the horse is junk to boot. People will laugh but most days i just buy the post parade, NYRA track and one other track=4 bucks. Its only 3.50 on track. Not a huge fan of stats other than what the trainer does anyway so that formulator is just about useless TO ME too. That said, i am a dinosuar, a throwback. I don't use numbers, sheets, programs or services....I READ to get an opinion on who might run well THAT DAY! By READ, i mean, class, distance, surface, conditions and trying to simulate the pace scenario. After all these years if i were not good at doing that......i would of quit a long time ago. All this crap they sell you, takes away from any money you might make and does the disservice of making people lazy. I laugh when people are talking "high beyer speed rating"......Yeah kiddies, its that easy.........and you are the only one seeing them....:lol: . I want to see something EVERYONE ELSE DOES NOT SEE! By reading into it and actually handicapping the race....thats how you hit a nice ticket and make money. Doesn't matter how you bet, win, show or exotics....you don't make no money knowing what everyone else knows at the race track and 9 out of 10 times, the info is fools gold anyway.

[DeltaLover]

The quality of a speed (or any other) figure should (and is) be measurable, in other words we should be in position to say that this figure is better than the other or they are equivalent.

This measurement depends on the following:

(1) How well it can predict the outcome of a race

(2) To what degree contradicts the public


Obviously the former is much simpler than the later.

A figure maker should favor contradictions to the public rather than high winning frequencies.

The probabilities assigned by the crowd to every starter can be reverse engineered to infinite sets of ratings (a single figure per horse which can be seen as a derivative of many individual figures). What makes a custom rating 'good' is not it's ability to outperform crowd's rating in winning frequency but its expected value.

For example if I have a rating that is correct only once every 10 races (assuming I bet only the top ranking) but when this happens it is so different to the crowd to pick horses over 10-1 then I have a 'good' one. On the other hand if my ranking actually outperforms the crowd, peeking the winner at a 40% rate but always points to the odds of favorite, then this represents a terrible number.

[Stillriledup]

DRF online maintenance, website down from 4:20 est to 6am est for "maintenance".

Nice.

Can't they do this on Monday or Tuesday when there's no "Real"Racing Tomorrow (later today)?

:bang:

[wiffleball whizz]

DRF online maintenance, website down from 4:20 est to 6am est for "maintenance".

Nice.

Can't they do this on Monday or Tuesday when there's no "Real"Racing Tomorrow (later today)?

:bang:

At least somebody is awake like me!!!!!

One thing about the little simulcast book and also (sorry cj ;) ) the drf harness book is the books make you absolutely filthy.....Sunday night I was desperate at casino and resorted to betting emerald downs and the teller Asked me if I was going to war.....I go in the bathroom I got war paint all over my face and by my eyes from the ink on the programs.....fingers nasty with ink I really can't stand it!!

Anybody have any ideas how to avoid this nightmare?!?

[johnhannibalsmith]

At least somebody is awake like me!!!!!

...

Keep it down!! You woke me up!!

[wiffleball whizz]

Question......

My boss asked me to stop and pick him up a drf today cuz he's going to mth tmrw....I was just breezing through it and what did I see?!?!?? HARNESS RACING PPs!!!!! Harness invading the drf!!!!

It is the meadowlands pace but is this the first time this has ever happened?!

I think it's good to throw a harness race or 2 in there for the boys to dabble with!!

Wonder if this may be a new thing?

[speed]

At least somebody is awake like me!!!!!

One thing about the little simulcast book and also (sorry cj ;) ) the drf harness book is the books make you absolutely filthy.....Sunday night I was desperate at casino and resorted to betting emerald downs and the teller Asked me if I was going to war.....I go in the bathroom I got war paint all over my face and by my eyes from the ink on the programs.....fingers nasty with ink I really can't stand it!!

Anybody have any ideas how to avoid this nightmare?!?
Years ago at Calder i used to see a guy with the DRF wearing latex gloves for that very reason. Also never saw anyone who sat around him bend over. :eek:

[iwearpurple]

Years ago at Calder i used to see a guy with the DRF wearing latex gloves for that very reason. Also never saw anyone who sat around him bend over. :eek:

Damn you.

You just reminded me it is time for my Dr appointment.

[wiffleball whizz]

Years ago at Calder i used to see a guy with the DRF wearing latex gloves for that very reason. Also never saw anyone who sat around him bend over. :eek:

I'm not to sure about the big drf but these little books are brutal!!!! I'm thinking about wearing the latex gloves tnrw night or the next time im in the Racebook.....every few months I see a poker player wear gloves while playing poker.......people laugh at him but I don't blame them 1 bit....I'd say 80 percent of poker players make a b-line from the urinal out the door right back to the card table......

Anyways it sounds petty but I really hate the ink getting on my hands though in theory I should be more concerned about handling chips and playing cards!!!

[Stillriledup]

At least somebody is awake like me!!!!!

One thing about the little simulcast book and also (sorry cj ;) ) the drf harness book is the books make you absolutely filthy.....Sunday night I was desperate at casino and resorted to betting emerald downs and the teller Asked me if I was going to war.....I go in the bathroom I got war paint all over my face and by my eyes from the ink on the programs.....fingers nasty with ink I really can't stand it!!

Anybody have any ideas how to avoid this nightmare?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE :ThmbUp:

[Al Gobbi]

http://www.drf.com/drf-plus-free-preview

$9.95 per month, with slighty less cost per plan.

[alhattab]

Question......

My boss asked me to stop and pick him up a drf today cuz he's going to mth tmrw....I was just breezing through it and what did I see?!?!?? HARNESS RACING PPs!!!!! Harness invading the drf!!!!

It is the meadowlands pace but is this the first time this has ever happened?!

I think it's good to throw a harness race or 2 in there for the boys to dabble with!!

Wonder if this may be a new thing?

I've seen the harness PPs in the Form for big days at The Meadowlands- mainly the Pace, Hambo and maybe a random other day or two. I don't know for sure but suspect Meadowlands may pay to include them.

[racingfan378]

If I didn't get my DRF PP's for free, able to print them out at work and make it into a 8.5x11 sized program I would not touch the DRF otherwise.

I do like some Vegas books give the form away for free but I also enjoy the simo books they give out too

[wiffleball whizz]

If I didn't get my DRF PP's for free, able to print them out at work and make it into a 8.5x11 sized program I would not touch the DRF otherwise.

I do like some Vegas books give the form away for free but I also enjoy the simo books they give out too

About 3 years ago I'm in Vegas and betting horses and sports till its about 4:30 which is really 7:30 eastern time with harness going off.....I go to the window with $11....6 for the drf and 5 for the "sports eye"(harness drf equivalent) I go to hand the manager the $11 he looks at me like im Freddy Kruger.....he said sir we don't charge for that!!!!

So yes if your in Vegas go to venitian....they give u free forms