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General Category => Ask the Experts => Topic started by: kev on July 22, 2004, 08:00:11 AM

Title: TG and Rag's in trouble
Post by: kev on July 22, 2004, 08:00:11 AM
I just saw that Equibase/Trackmaster is selling their own type of sheets for $20.00 a pop. Sup with that?? Any feedback??
Title: Re: TG and Rag's in trouble
Post by: bdhsheets on July 22, 2004, 08:51:44 AM
If those figs are anything like the crap equibase puts in the simulcast programs no need to worry. They were just starting their own version of the DRF [same format] last feb. [it was free, so the price was right] not sure if they are finally selling it or not.

Title: Re: TG and Rag's in trouble
Post by: miff on July 22, 2004, 08:59:44 AM
The product is extremely detailed, professionally put together and well thought out IMO.It does not use weight and ground loss in calculating the number.It seems to be an improved Beyer Figure by adding pace and class along with adjusted daily variants.Two betting friends are using the product with some success(like any product).Like TG and Rags, you still need to come up with your own solid methodology to hold your own over the long haul.

Title: Re: TG and Rag's in trouble
Post by: TGJB on July 23, 2004, 12:19:16 PM
Why would this be trouble? If they were selling it for $5 I can see where they might get some smaller bettors who wanted to save money, but you are presumably talking about a purely automated product here. It\'s extremely unlikely they are willing to undertake the high six figures (at least)worth of expenses necessary to do the job at the level we do, and that\'s aside from the question of expertise.

Anyone can put figures on a graph and claim they are right-- whether they work is another question. They would have to go a long way in terms of racetrack success etc. to have enough credibility to attract big bettors-- that\'s the situation I was in when I took on a monopoly, and it took time. And I knew a hell of a lot more about it than anyone else, and had already achieved credibility by managing a successful stable, and being (along with Richie Schwartz) the most succesful bettor using Ragozin. Without those things, which gave me the ability to start out with three leading trainers and attract a few good gamblers, it would have been very tough to get a foothold.

For the record-- Equibase approached me last year, saying they wanted to sell a premium product on their site, but they wanted a larger slice of sales than I was willing to give up. I have no problem with what they\'re doing, either from my point of view or their own-- if it\'s automated and they keep expenses down it\'s pretty low risk. Those guys are okay.