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Everyone –
As you may have noticed we’ve had a couple of bouts of forum downtime lately, largely unplanned.
The forum was re-designed around 6/7 years ago and has become pretty clunky. There have been some ongoing technical glitches which have run in the background for quite a time and some of these have become worse as our service providers have changed how they support some of the software that drives the site with upgrades, etc. Basically, the site requires a pretty major clean-up.
In addition we are supporting some site features that people don’t really use (they seemed a good idea at the time!) so all that needs tidying up as well.
So…what we are going to do is take advantage of the opportunity presented by the need to re-programme/design certain aspects of the site and do a full re-design, port to a new server/host, remove the stuff people don’t use and hopefully make the site easier to use for members while at the same time making it easier and less time consuming and costly to manage.
It’ll mean a significant change to the way the site looks and I’m sure it’ll take a bit of getting used to.
This’ll all be happening over the next week or so and, as a result we will have some downtime, particularly when migrating the forum to the new site. I’ll try to forewarn everyone when these are planned to occur as far as possible. I’ve asked the developers who are doing the programming to avoid downtime Saturday until 3pm to ensure we have continuity on the popular site competitions Sat morning.
I’d like to ask two things…
Firstly, we’re trying our best to limit disruption but I am sure there will be unplanned glitches so if you can be gentle with us as we get through this!
Secondly, I’d like some feedback on anything you have opinions on regarding the ‘new’ site. For example, how we structure the forum, different sections, etc. Or anything you’d like us to maybe add to the site. One positive aspect of the move we are making is that it will (in theory at least) be easier for us to make future changes so if you have good ideas which we can’t fit in now we will be able to look seriously at them, at the moment any minor change requires costly developer time.
Here goes….gulp!
BRAVE NEW WORLD
As for new sections we have not had any for a while…
My suggestion is one called Ghosts
Nathan – likely to lose the horses/jockeys stuff. Some of the widgetty things like the ‘Forum Topics-recent/popular’ thing on the right hand side.
We’ll be starting off ad-free I think but we will need to build back in some ad space to continue financing the site.
Joe – thanks for that. That is a good idea, won’t be able to do it from outset but will look at possibility of it once we get settled.
Gamble – Brave New World indeed – “Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly — they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” We’ll try to build a luxury sheep enclosure into the thing.
Changes? How very dare you! I want My money back! Oh, just remembered, it’s free – yeah, that’s cool, change is good.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Nathan – likely to lose the horses/jockeys stuff. Some of the widgetty things like the ‘Forum Topics-recent/popular’ thing on the right hand side
Yeah the horse/jockey doesn’t work for me, if I try and look in it goes to a page not loaded.
Glad you got the builders on hold before 3pm on a Saturday.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Wouldn’t miss "Racing Chat" haven’t seen anyone in there for years!! Good luck with the changes David.
Mac wont loosen his tongue on this
and Daylight would stay buttoned up
but really this forum is a cooperative
– it is simply the sum of all our voices
so give it up for….Your Opinion
p.s as far as all the stats on here
whoever looks in there ? honestly ?This site used to be blue
I actually prefer the rocker redthere is a concern though…
Is improved functionality destroying history ?
This place has a certain magic
we need to retain it
and move cautiously
we certainly don’t want
a move to the talking horses formatHi David,
It’s great to hear that you’re improving the site and working on the reliability. I’d like to speak up to save the horses/jockeys section though. I know I would contribute more to this if there weren’t so many glitches when trying to add content – maybe others have had a similar experience.
Referring to an earlier point I quite often look at ‘recent forum topics’ as soon as I come online.
Some people just can’t let go
Some new sections I’d like to see:
Drone-ing On
Drone invites us round to the open-fire snug with his whippet and a pint of Byheckmansworth Old Gubbins (11.3% abv) whilst regaling us with tales of how everything was better when ‘e were a lad… etc etc
The Suicide Club
A friendly get-together for all those who insist the game is bent, all jockeys work out the result in the weighing-room and everything’s a plot by nasty bookies against morally upstanding punters.
Ginge’s Maths Attack
There’s this table of fractions and percentages right…
Gosden’s Porkies
A moan-in for punters endlessly put away by blatantly ludicrous statements from one of Britain’s greatest ever trainers.
Betlarge’s Billions
Deluded punters stare at the form until their eyes pop without ever realising they have no ability whatsoever to make the game pay.
Ricky Lake Shouts
A SECTION WHERE EVERYTHING IS IN BOLD THERES BUGGER ALL PUNCTUATION AND TRENCHANTLY IDIOTIC VIEWS ABOUT CLOSING EVERYTHING DOWN AND BANNING EVERYTHING ELSE FOR LIFE ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY…IMO
Reader’s Wives
’nuff said.
Mike
Not sure if any specific sections will be given the chop, but I think the ‘Archive’ section should definitely stay.
Good luck with the changes David, I,m going to post up my Saturday comp in moment to give everyone a good chance to get their selections on.
Could we have a link for downloading our photos, uploading etc., it’s such a complicated procedure and I’m sure we would see many more pics if it were somehow made easier.
Just a small thing but don’t really think the ‘thumbs up’ are really necessary for each post, nobody ever uses them, but more smilies would be nice perhaps some seasonal ones too.
Feel like I’m losing a comfy pair of slippers, hope the changes aren’t too drastic.
Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...
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