DRF/Bris or other, what is your choice?

[1GCFAN]

I am comfortable with the large pages in the over the counter DRF. Have used BRIS in the past and it was ok, but I hate the printing. Not one to stare at a screen to determine my bet.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by 1GCFAN

I am comfortable with the large pages in the over the counter DRF. Have used BRIS in the past and it was ok, but I hate the printing. Not one to stare at a screen to determine my bet.

I wholeheartedly agree.

The large pages of the "old" DRF are ideal for the many pace figures and other notations that I like to make in the past performances.

When you handicap daily, and like to spend a lot of time with the PPs, nothing beats lying on the couch with the DRF...while using a quality pen, which keeps writing even when it's in an inverted position.

[ldiatone]

trackmaster pp's

[netbet]

I love using DRF Formulator Web.

I do use the BRIS files for some tracks but will always use DRF Formulator for the tracks I follow on a daily basis.

I usually handicap using the web interface but I do generate a PDF file for record keeping.

I am using Adobe Reader X and it allows you to write comments and highlight information so I can handicap right on to the PDF.


Does anyone have a good recommendation on a color laser printer?

Thanks.
Patrick

[GaryG]

I print the Formulator PP's but keep the file open on the screen. I can handicap from the hard copy and go back to the screen to develop trainer stats or look at the replays. It is very convenient to be able to upload your own trip/trouble comments and have them when you need them. This product is just superior to anything BRIS has to offer.

[bobbyt62]

35 posts and no mention of the biggest issue for me between bris and drf ( those are the only two in my game)---the "LOOK". the bris stuff just sorta' looks all the same on a page, but my eyes/brain LOVE "the form" .fonts, typefaces, sizes, spaces, i'm not a student of graphic design (that's what graphic design is, right) so i can't be specific, but i can say this. i only get bris pp's if/when they're free. if i have to pay, i would/will only get the form---newspaper or online and print them out. if i were a full time horse player, i'd absolutely not flinch for a minute and pay $1250 year for unlimited formulator---playing only 5 days a week, thats less than $5/day. if you're a pace guy, i can see the form not being attractive to you, but for anyone else, formulator is unreal----basically every horse, every trainer, every running line, every chart. every every! my trouble is i'm only a saturday sunday player, but they don't sell unlimited 2 day a week access for 28% of the $1250---you gotta pay for all 7 days per week. HUGE vote for form, largely along graphic design (?) lines...

[takeout]

Originally Posted by bobbyt62

my trouble is i'm only a saturday sunday player, but they don't sell unlimited 2 day a week access for 28% of the $1250---you gotta pay for all 7 days per week.

The Racing Form has always been like that. All these different owners later and they’re still like that. Back when they had a monopoly they used to sell me a paper with several tracks in it when I only wanted one. That mentality not only continues at the Form but seems to have permeated just about all businesses these days. They all try to lock you into some never-ending revenue stream for themselves and bundle up stuff to charge you for things you never wanted in the first place.

I just recently saw a post on another board where a guy was saying that he wanted it so he could buy individual races instead of a whole card. He said he tried the custom card thing at BRIS but they charged him for a bunch of individual cards. Oops!

I think he has a good point. Why can’t we buy just the races we’re interested in? Why won’t the Formulator boys sell you 2 cards a week if that’s what you want? You would think they would want to accommodate any potential life-long customers that they could, whether they are part-timers or whatever. After all, some of those part-timers are going to turn into full-timers. I guess DRF doesn’t think that way.

[Casino]

Originally Posted by takeout

The Racing Form has always been like that. All these different owners later and they’re still like that. Back when they had a monopoly they used to sell me a paper with several tracks in it when I only wanted one. That mentality not only continues at the Form but seems to have permeated just about all businesses these days. They all try to lock you into some never-ending revenue stream for themselves and bundle up stuff to charge you for things you never wanted in the first place.

I just recently saw a post on another board where a guy was saying that he wanted it so he could buy individual races instead of a whole card. He said he tried the custom card thing at BRIS but they charged him for a bunch of individual cards. Oops!

I think he has a good point. Why can’t we buy just the races we’re interested in? Why won’t the Formulator boys sell you 2 cards a week if that’s what you want? You would think they would want to accommodate any potential life-long customers that they could, whether they are part-timers or whatever. After all, some of those part-timers are going to turn into full-timers. I guess DRF doesn’t think that way.

Im looking forward to drf's card creator,maybe we wont have to buy the racecard,make our own racecard.
Does anyone know when card creator will make its debut?

[The Bit]

I like the look of the Form also. However, the availability of it, or lack of, and the prices I have to pay where it is available is getting to be a bit much.

Very few places in southern NJ carry it, and those that do get one or two and they charge you over $8.00 after they Sharpie over the price like they are foolin' ya. Otherwise, I have to drive into Philly or over to Harrahs Chester were the price is normal but only after paying a 4 dollar bridge toll and $10 in gas.

I liked the orginal Formulator, but the more recent version/versions caused havoc with my comp. I use an older desktop for all things horse racing. I store all my charts, PP's, files etc. on this computer. The newer versions of Formulator, especially once it went to the web, basically didn't function on here. Anytime I tried to do a trainer look up it would freeze for 5 minutes or so. Lookin' up charts wasn't very easy either. I would love to make better use of the Formulator, but I'm not going to buy a new computer to do so.

[ronsmac]

I prefer the form, but they really need to do something about the price. It's really a matter of principle, not a matter of being able to afford it.

[fmolf]

for me its bris.......I need to have a tangible readable page in my hands to physically mark up! Doing so on the computer does not feel like handicapping to me.I like the fact that bris gives many different ratings and after years of use i have had success with them.Everybody hates the printing i print one tracks card double sided and punch holes to put pp's in a binder to bring to the track.I play two tracks at a time but sometimes play at night as well so i like the fact that bris has a max charge per day for unlimited pp's.....I also use trackmaster platinum when i go into a slump,just to change things up...it works i usually break out of it, from looking at the different information they provide.

[thelyingthief]

I retain the handicapping I have done in large notebooks, with a copy of the analysis printout (velocity ratings, etc.), the form with markups, and a chart of the result.

This allows me to evaluate my previous season(s) work, stimulates research, and so forth.

I really would not recommend the computer based thing, since you're dealing with a lot of tools that can be of service, yes, but too often get in the way at critical moments...

my two cents.

tlt-