In-running horse racing markets are dead are dieing

[doris_day]

Shame...Its been a good run but, for the moment at least, the markets are so thin they would grace any catwalk........

[London_Calling]

We're dooooomed!

Schools out and so it's summer hols, I assume.

[doris_day]

Yes, liquidity did fall last summer hols and I think its probably related to people going away on holiday.

However, I think there are other factors at work too. First, there is the issue regarding the availability of fast pictures and the growing belief that those oncourse (of which there are now many) have a distinct advantage. I think now that the recession is starting to bite into gambling, those who have been bitten twice are now a lot shyer than they used to be and may have decided that in-running isn't for them. Secondly, is the fact that fields are much smaller than last year, which is a subsidiary effect of the recesiion hitting the whole racing world. Thirdly, those that are left are on average, smarter that were around a while back. As you'd expect, the markets are gradually becoming more efficient.

Betfair could do themselves a favour and be pro-active when it comes to pictures and I think the cost of providing a level playing field would be offset by their increased income.