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No i won’t be paying for it. I see no need to line the pockets of a bunch of people who take RUK streams and charge people money to watch the highlights.
I will stick to ATR.
I want access to an online form database – nothing more.
No write-ups, no race analyses, no Spotlights, no ratings service, no tips and no news – I only want the form database.
Can anyone point me in the direction of such a beast?
The Sporting Life has a basic (free) form database with the official in-running comments but without ratings. They also provide a rudimentary ‘spotlight’ they call ‘verdict’ on the racecards and a rather bad betting forecast.
All the racing news is there too along with the usual mix of mumbo-jumbo from tipsters.
The Sporting Life has a basic (free) form database with the official in-running comments
On a semantic point they are not the "official" in-running comments they are compiled by the PA race-readers although they do,
currently
, work alongside and with the Raceform racereaders, so there are very few discrepencies.
The SL comments don’t, for example, include detais of fatalities or injuries.
I only use the RP site for entries, declarations and results which all appear to be available to non-subscribers so I definitely won’t be paying.
The only thing it will change is that I will now eliminate my very occasional bets on anything other than horses from Mark’s stable.
Thanks Paul, didn’t realise they were PA rather than Raceform
I didn’t realise myself either until I started seeing them in action.
Interestingly nearly, if not, all the PA racereaders are ex-jocks.
I also have to say with both the PA and Raceform readers I am really impressed with some of the things they do pick up in a race – things a large number of observers will miss.
I have certainly learned a hell of a lot from them and I must admit my own race reading has really improved as a result.
It has also re-enforced my view that we need professional stewards.
Of course DJ won’t pay…he gets his Timeform database free, so why should he need the RP?
For some of the others on here, though, it might be a bit like giving up cigarettes…the resolve is there to abstain initially but 4 months down the line and all the alternatives have been exhausted and you’re desperate for a fag….
The ATR site was said to have seen a significant growth in traffic after the disaster that was the original relaunch of the Racing Post site. They must be delighted at this news.
Doubtless Betfair will also be hoping that anyone who just wants spotlight-style commentaries and printable racecards will go to its Timeform free form site and have a quick punt while they are there.
It’s pretty clear the Racing Post doesn’t have any option but to try to charge. The newspaper’s circulation is falling through the floor and the price the investors paid looks a joke now.
For all the criticisms of the current site, it still represents an extensive resource, and — as Romney more colourfully points out — for anyone whose betting style has evolved around its content it will be a wrench to leave.
Charging for something that has been free is always a gamble. It will be interesting to see where the price is pitched. [Apologies if this has been announced. It isn’t in the story.] That, rather than the principal of charging, will determine whether they get away with it.
If I was the Racing Post (or Betfair for that matter) I’d also be conjuring up some package that incorporated the new stand-alone RUK subscription.
I buy the RP paper, as I find it quicker and easier to read the form that way. I certainly won’t be paying twice to get the info the previous evening.
I guess I’ll just have to get up earlier!
Similar to Carvill – I’m too used to studying the form @ RP and, in typical conservative style, I’d prefer not to change.
Also, I’m paying for RUK video form on a monthly basis on the website, even though I can’t find the accounts page which lists my subscription! Anyhoo …
I’ve always used ATR and am happy with what they provide.
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
"Romney Marsh":inkinzpx wrote: …he gets his Timeform database free, so why should he need the RP?
Why should anyone pay for anything that is free elsewhere?
The only things that they are offering that is unique to them is access to tipsters.
It will be interesting to see if they remove all of the bookies adverts from the site when you have to pay for it
Does anyone know if the RP site still has the analysis of tipsters’ selections – I can’t seem to find it, only the Press Challenge that appears in the paper.
Mulls .. there is a very dumbed down version of the old one, that takes about an hour to load and costs you a fortune to look at.
- Total Posts 17716
Incredible?
Went to RP site this morning to look at today’s cards, and the first thing up is that I’m not allowed to see the betting forecasts until 9.00 am, unless I am a member (Not that it would accept my login anyway
)?
Do these clowns seriously believe that anyone is going to pay for this information, or charging for something that is freely available on dozens of websites is really the way to generate interest – either in their website, or far more importantly, in horseracing generally?
For God’s sake, give it back to the Sheikh... you should really think about moving on and finding a new source for your data.
There’s nothing in the RP that is going to give you an edge over other punters and there never will be.
This is just another thing that makes racing look unattractive to new punters and laughable to the regulars.
I agree with the last couple of comments from RH and Dj. I’m giving the RP a massive swerve when they start charging. They seem to think they’re more important than they actually are.
They also have a cheek to ask people to sign a petition for more races on the bbc when they ask for peoples bank details to watch highlights for 20 frickin pence a pop.
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