SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE, ACCURATE, and FREE

[the_fat_man]

Anyone else tired of the FLAWED Equibase (and its disseminators) data can look for inspiration on the Hong Kong Jockey Club site.

I give you the Race Running Position Photo (middle of page to the right): gives the position of EACH horse at EACH call. Uber accurate. Incredibly effective. Equibase, on the other hand, feels the need to get its data out QUICKLY, and doesn't let < 90% or so (on a good day) accuracy get in the way.

US data providers either need to do all they can to ensure the accuracy of their data or give it away for free. Personally, makes no sense to pay for flawed data.

On the other hand, over in Hong Kong, you not only get accurate data, in terms of these photos, trip notes, full PPs for horses, replays, etc. but it's all FREE. Guess they want to encourage betting over there.

Eventually, in an increasingly electronic world, I predict that quite a few of us will become regulars over in HKG. US racing keeps taking backward steps by not keeping up with technology and feeling the need to bleed its customers dry with all these incidental expenses. Good luck with that.