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Otis11
11-07-2008, 09:33 AM
Spotted at Pinacle Race Course yesterday was a new PP vending machine type deal. Basically, it appears to be about the same thing as if you downloaded directly from the DRF site. Prints out right there so you aren't hit with the toner charge if you printed them at home. I think it was $1.50 per TB card. Download cards for future days. Also, think you can customize cards or do some kind of seaching. They just finished putting it in as I was getting ready to leave.

It has some promise for me. Right now at Pinnacle we're limited to either the paper Daily Racing Form @ $5.50 or the booklet Daily Racing Program @ $4.00, which I really don't care for. Now, I can download the track(s) I want to play specifically.

Anyone else see one of these?

Otis

whyhorseofcourse
11-07-2008, 10:55 AM
Spotted at Pinacle Race Course yesterday was a new PP vending machine type deal. Basically, it appears to be about the same thing as if you downloaded directly from the DRF site. Prints out right there so you aren't hit with the toner charge if you printed them at home. I think it was $1.50 per TB card. Download cards for future days. Also, think you can customize cards or do some kind of seaching. They just finished putting it in as I was getting ready to leave.

It has some promise for me. Right now at Pinnacle we're limited to either the paper Daily Racing Form @ $5.50 or the booklet Daily Racing Program @ $4.00, which I really don't care for. Now, I can download the track(s) I want to play specifically.

Anyone else see one of these?

Otis
That is pretty cool!
So its a direct link to DRF's website?

Otis11
11-07-2008, 01:04 PM
That is pretty cool!
So its a direct link to DRF's website?
I'm assuming it goes directly to DRF's data warehouse. The interface was not what you or I would see online. It was both harness and TB. I believe the harness products were from Equibase.

On a related note. Does BRIS sell any of their products at tracks or orther places outside of the Web?

hjdant
11-07-2008, 01:48 PM
http://www.vestracing.com/

Otis11
11-07-2008, 02:22 PM
http://www.vestracing.com/
Yep! That's it. The one at Pinnacle Race Course doesn't have the fancy graphics (yet?).

Thanks for the link. Have you used one much? Impressions?

Otis

hjdant
11-07-2008, 02:51 PM
I used one at the Simulcast Conference about a month ago...they are basically kiosks containing a laser printer, money binder and touch screen computer...very easy to use!

Vest sells the unit to each OTB site and then collects a fee off of each program sold. Each site can dictate what forms to make available...eg DRF, Equibase, BRIS, various tipsheets, etc and then charge what they wish. It's a nice system for allowing players to pick and choose what works best for them without having stock it all at the counter.

SMOO
11-07-2008, 04:03 PM
This is downright scary.


The racing industry joining the 21st century!


:eek:

JustRalph
11-07-2008, 05:40 PM
I designed a simple interface for one of these using a handicapping program, five years back.

Just toying around...... with the software vendor. It never got off the ground. Really simple tech actually. Nice to see it coming about

BlueShoe
11-07-2008, 07:30 PM
Excuse me if it was mentioned on an earlier thread,but the DRF is now five bucks,up from $4.50,in SoCal.That is the ontrack price,if purchased offtrack you have to pay salestax.Not a good idea in these times,imo.

Zman179
11-08-2008, 06:23 AM
Excuse me if it was mentioned on an earlier thread,but the DRF is now five bucks,up from $4.50,in SoCal.That is the ontrack price,if purchased offtrack you have to pay salestax.Not a good idea in these times,imo.

Ah, it's been $5.50 in New York for quite a while; that's for the six track edition. There is an on-track only edition for $4, but you only get three tracks.

Tell you what, let NYRA or NYCOTB get those machines and I'll be a very frequent customer.

raybo
11-08-2008, 06:40 AM
Novel idea! Wish I'd thought of it.:)

LottaKash
11-08-2008, 08:47 AM
Ah, it's been $5.50 in New York for quite a while; that's for the six track edition. There is an on-track only edition for $4, but you only get three tracks.

Tell you what, let NYRA or NYCOTB get those machines and I'll be a very frequent customer.

Why not offer a 1-track edition as well, and save all that paper and our prescious resources ?

Most people at the track would only have time* and be interested in the track that they were attending.....(*Assuming they haven't done any beforehand homework)

Still, Form-in a-Box, may prove to be a very good thing, indeed.....

best,

Zman179
11-08-2008, 11:55 AM
Why not offer a 1-track edition as well, and save all that paper and our prescious resources ?

Most people at the track would only have time* and be interested in the track that they were attending.....(*Assuming they haven't done any beforehand homework)

Still, Form-in a-Box, may prove to be a very good thing, indeed.....

best,

I agree with you; however, with NYRA's two-track Equibase program being hiked to a very expensive $3.50, I don't see them installing such a machine, or selling such a form anytime soon that would put their own product in jeopardy.

LottaKash
11-08-2008, 01:41 PM
I agree with you; however, with NYRA's two-track Equibase program being hiked to a very expensive $3.50, I don't see them installing such a machine, or selling such a form anytime soon that would put their own product in jeopardy.

Z-man, sad, but most likely true......Still, a cool concept....Now if they could only find a way to get rid of that messy ink that corrodes the hands.....haha...

best,

phatbastard
11-09-2008, 04:49 AM
don't look now, but DRF print editions [east coast] are now 6 bucks

Zman179
11-09-2008, 05:51 AM
don't look now, but DRF print editions [east coast] are now 6 bucks

Ooh, you're right! Didn't notice that and she gave me $4.50 change out of a tenner. I'll give her back the 50¢ next time.

Still, 6 bucks?!? I think I know why racing is losing people: they're pricing them right out of the market. At least for six dollars they should put at leastr one nighttime track in the paper, but this one I have on the desk turns into a pumpkin at 7:30 pm.

Otis11
11-09-2008, 07:05 PM
Paid a visit to Pinnacle this afternoon. Print edition of the Form is stil $5.50 here.

Used the vending machine. $2.00 per track for DRF edition pp's. $1.50 for the Equibase. I like it.

BlueShoe
11-10-2008, 10:20 PM
So,circulation is down,ad revenues are declining,the nation is in recession,racetrack handle and attendence have fallen,and they raise prices?Sounds as if the politicians are in charge at the DRF.Of course they must all be tax and spend Democrats with no concept of free market dynamics.Since Aanoold wants to raise taxes in California guess we not-so-Golden-state-anymore residents will soon be paying six bucks for the dear old Form.

takeout
11-11-2008, 02:35 PM
don't look now, but DRF print editions [east coast] are now 6 bucksOnly DRF would raise its price at a time when casinos can’t even make money with the “crack cocaine of gambling”. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11082008/business/all_bets_are_now_off_in_ac_137721.htm