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Old 08-15-2010, 02:10 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zman179
I've always been a proponent of free stuff (hey, who can't afford free?), but you have to think about it economically.

Information costs money to compile; there are chartcallers to pay for their work during workouts and during the races, plus the people to put the information together, etc. If programs were free, who would pay these people? Because of lower revenues, would the quality of the programs reflect their cost? Would certain types of information be eliminated due to cost cutting? When you go to other countries the cost of their racing forms are far, far less that our forms; but, the quality of the information presented is also far, far less. To get their best information and publications, you have to go online and purchase them (i.e. the Racing Post in the UK. Their online info for 20p per race is very good, but their paper edition for £1.50 is simply basic).

The best we can ask for is to have good information at reasonable prices. Right now the online DRF is not reasonably priced; but, there are cheaper options out there to satisfy your pp requirements.

I had access to free programs for about a 3 years. I don't now for most tracks (harness). I don't bet a single one of those tracks. How much money do they make from me now?

And I don't buy the cost thing. It's not near as expensive as it used to be, it's so computerized now. And Especially harness, their programs don't seem as indepth as thoroughbred programs I have saw.

You don't have to pay to get into a Casino, I don't have to pay a thing to open my full tilt account. It costs me nothing to look up tonnes of info on any sporting event.
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Old 08-15-2010, 02:13 PM   #32
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Originally Posted by Grits
If one has to bitch about buying a program, $2.00 or $5.00, pdf or hardcopy; one has no business betting.

The fans have got your memo, don't worry about that. Their playing poker, sports betting and many other forms of betting that don't charge up front costs before even starting. When the sport is dead, you can hold your head up high that we got all those people who demand value out of the sport.
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Old 08-15-2010, 02:41 PM   #33
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It is what it is: Yes, pdfs cost pennies when downloaded by many people. The marginal cost is almost zero.

Sure it should be free, when we consider people are using money to buy data that they would use to bet.

But the data industry in racing has jobs. And people do not want to lose their jobs. If racing changes and does what it is supposed to do to compete there will be some losers, and people who run data do not want to get chopped, understandably. Of course this protects the status quo, and the status quo results in racing circling the drain (where a lot of people will simply end up losing their jobs anyway), but such it is with the vision of our sport.

from a business writer on this concept that is in more businesses than just racing:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_b...l-save-us.html


Quote:
Who will save book publishing?

What will save the newspapers?

What means 'save'?

If by save you mean, "what will keep things just as they are?" then the answer is nothing will. It's over.

If by save you mean, "who will keep the jobs of the pressmen and the delivery guys and the squadrons of accountants and box makers and transshippers and bookstore buyers and assistant editors and coffee boys," then the answer is still nothing will. Not the Kindle, not the iPad, not an act of Congress.

We need to get past this idea of saving, because the status quo is leaving the building, and quickly. Not just in print of course, but in your industry too.




Last edited by DeanT; 08-15-2010 at 02:50 PM.
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Old 08-15-2010, 02:45 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadian
The fans have got your memo, don't worry about that. Their playing poker, sports betting and many other forms of betting that don't charge up front costs before even starting. When the sport is dead, you can hold your head up high that we got all those people who demand value out of the sport.


Like it.
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Old 08-15-2010, 03:26 PM   #35
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Originally Posted by Charlie D
I do not think people realise how much you have to shell out before you even place a bet lamboguy. This has to be a deterrent to some and it also gives other sports that don't charge for info, the upper hand
my forms supposedly cost $2,95 per track, i guess the adw that pays gets some type of a break
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Old 08-15-2010, 03:59 PM   #36
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Originally Posted by Canadian
Why aren't Programs Free?
Because the last time tracks tried giving out free programs, a guy grabbed a box of them, went out in front of the admission gates and started selling them for a quarter to unsuspecting patrons so he could get in action for the early double.

So the tracks stopped the free programs, went back to charging a dollar for them and made a note not to ever try this again.
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Old 08-15-2010, 07:39 PM   #37
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Originally Posted by InsideThePylons-MW
Because the last time tracks tried giving out free programs, a guy grabbed a box of them, went out in front of the admission gates and started selling them for a quarter to unsuspecting patrons so he could get in action for the early double.

So the tracks stopped the free programs, went back to charging a dollar for them and made a note not to ever try this again.

ha.... like I said. I don't mind paying for paper and ink. That is almost the whole cost of the program... But I just hate the idea of paying money for a PDF File. Many tracks don't get my money any more because of it.

Mind you what I'll probably do is find 4 or 5 people and go in on unlimited from trackmaster, which isn't that bad for me. But in an age when tracks should be absolutely begging for my money, a PDF file just doesn't seem like to much to ask. It makes it that much harder for newbies to get into it. Alot of people might want to study the races from home and watch and learn before putting money up. I know when I got them free, I would download cards and watch replays just for practice...... and it helped.... and tracks made more money off me in the long run.
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Old 08-15-2010, 10:12 PM   #38
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I'd love it if there were no PPs, they just told you the names of the horses, period.
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Old 08-16-2010, 02:45 AM   #39
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Old 08-16-2010, 09:50 AM   #40
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Originally Posted by Stillriledup
I'd love it if there were no PPs, they just told you the names of the horses, period.

yeah.. I get it... you'd have this huge edge because you follow it closer then anyone else....... Just like the way it was in 1915.

But what I don't think you would like.... is the only money being in the pools belonging to you.
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Old 08-16-2010, 09:56 AM   #41
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Originally Posted by Charlie D
NFL. - FREE info available
Euro soccer - FREE info avaliable



Loads of other sports/ betting mediums offer free info too. They don't charge you for a pack of cards to play poker do they???


US racing is in dark ages as OP stated.


I have friends who bet sports and they say this is what keeps them doing that instead of horses. Why start out in a hole when you don't have to?
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