Cobain Ltd and fast pictures

[doris_day]

I think its appalling that companies like Cobain Ltd of Belfast are allowed to tout fast internet based horse racing pictures.

This is damaging horse racing liquidity because a small sector is able to afford the high cost and have an advantage over other horse racing bettors.
Its one thing using the wifi facilities on the race courses themselves but quite another for a commercial organisation to harvest feeds and sell them on at a high price. I'm not even certain that what they're doing is legal. Their service, called 'ATR Premium Members Club' is doing racing a huge disservice in order to satisfy their own greed.

The sooner Betfair do something about horse racing pictures, the better it will be for everyone. In running liquidity is falling rapidly and the only races where there is solid liquidity is during televised races where there is a much leveller playing field.

Surely Betfair must realise this and start to negotiate to provide 'live' UK horse racing pictures.

[DFK]

I can't find this company on the net, where did you hear about them ?

DFK.

[doris_day]

http://cobainltd.com/

They offered me a trial but I find looking at the pix is no use to me as I'm a crap race reader. A friend of mine uses their pictures together with another 'Russian' box.

[DFK]

What's a 'Russian Box' Doris?

DFK.

[doris_day]

There are boxes in circulation that are hacked SIS ones. It was commonly understood that the encyption used was uncrackable but its apparently been done by a Russian guy and a team are making these boxes available for a fraction of the cost of the SIS service.

[xraymitch]

There are boxes in circulation that are hacked SIS ones. It was commonly understood that the encyption used was uncrackable but its apparently been done by a Russian guy and a team are making these boxes available for a fraction of the cost of the SIS service.

Hi Doris,

Have just had a private email message offering "fast pics" which I have responded to saying I was interested in knowing more.

Will comment further if I get a reply.

Ray

[today]

If anyone can pass on contact details, would be most greatful. thanks.

[doris_day]

Just be careful xray as I'm sure there are loads of charlatans out there.

A friend and I recently did an experiment from a couple of tracks that had a good wifi signal and we found that the Skype pics he sent by pointing at the screen in his box was less than half a second behind real time. As you would expect the wifi was a bit up and down at times but when it was streaming OK the pics were brilliant.

My view is that the more people that are out there with 'realtime' pics, the more pressure will be brought on those that matter to give everyone 'live' pics which in turn will do the in-running liquidity a whole lot of good. The more level the playing field is the better it is for liquidity.

[xraymitch]

Just be careful xray as I'm sure there are loads of charlatans out there.

Appreciate the advice - I now have to contact a gmail address which I will do over this week-end.

Will update you once I know more.

Cheers,

Ray

[Triggerhappy]

Any update on any of this please? Looking for fast internet pics if anyone could PM me. Thanks.

[Triggerhappy]

Dont think Betfair care about the delays to be honest. Still plenty of people playing just a different set of people winning the big money now ie track players.

[doris_day]

Dont think Betfair care about the delays to be honest. Still plenty of people playing just a different set of people winning the big money now ie track players.

I dont think this is true. In play liquidity is lower than it was a year ago and will only increase once people feel there is a more of a level playing field.

If Betfair don't care (which I dont believe) they should.

[Triggerhappy]

Doris, do you have any figures to back that up or is it a gut instinct? Because people are always claiming liquidity is down but when I spoke to betfair last year they claimed liquidity was the same as ever. I personally think liquidity is roughly the same but the players are generally wiser now.

[doris_day]

Yes, I've done lots of comparisons and in both the Win and Place markets, the in-play horse racing markets show a decline year on year.

IMO its a combination of a number of factors: (a) there is a general slow-down in the economy (b) there was a boom in the in-play markets when it first started and everyone thought they'd be great race readers and then slowly it dawned on them that they weren't as hot as they thought and many drifted away (c) race courses started offering wifi in boxes to lure people to bet oncourse which made it more difficult for those at home or in exchange offices (d) the PC encouraged a number of marginal winners to either stop, move to another exchange or move to a bookie (e) there are significantly more small fields.

It can only be in Betfair's interests to provide fast pictures in order to level the playing field as much as they can. Many people have drifted away because they felt it was impossible to gain an advantage over the oncourse bettors. When there is live coverage of racing, liquidity is significantly higher, not only because there are more people watching but because there is a general feeling that there is a better chance to do well.

[Triggerhappy]

For me I dont notice any difference but I am a layer. In my opinion its worse for backers. There was a poster on the BF forum that had figures to show there wasnt a drop in liquidity (I think his name was Mr Magoo).