This "step forward" (sic) comes from an organisation entilted RACING for Change yet their first recommendation, ironically, is related to BETTING!

I'm not a bookmaker but I would be incensed if I were,to have them shouting their mouth off about MY business when they should be concentrating on the BIG RACING issues.

sickoflayinwinners/ yo yo

I think you're a couple of dinosaurs, consider the reverse if BF were to introduce fractions!!!!!!!!!!!!! , exactly everyone would freak out screaming it doesn't make any sense!!!!!!!!! decimal so easy to use/understand.

I think i've stumbled across the likes of you two over the years, be honest you hate any changes to the status quo??????, you're not looking at this from a business point of view, why complicate such a blatantly obvious way to improve the service by simplifying it, making it easier for a wider range of people to enjoy?

Remember a band would attract more people to the racecourse, granted but it costs money each and every time, where as a one off upgrade to your systems will be exactly that a one off expense.

I remember all the dinosaurs coming out when shops introduced virtual racing, FOBTS, whingeing and moaning but it proves successful.

Oh and BTW i consider your occupation days numbered whatever actions you take.

GL.

RAT, my occupation days are numbered, waana bet I'm about to spend fortunes on more pitches,

per runner then let them do so.95% of the punters i deal with totaly understand wot the prices displayed on the board mean

That's because 90% of the people with no clue are sat at home rather than betting with you. Obviously most people who actually face you are going to know what the score is.

rat, you nearly answered the question when u said if betfair CHOSE to use fractions.that my friend is the point , they choose to use decimals, we choose to use fractions.if tomoz betfair chose to use fractions and as a customer the didnt like it you could choose to take your business elsewhere.punters who dont like rfractions used at the races have the same choice to bet on the tote.im not against changes for the better, i think printed tickets instead of the old tickets were the best thing to happen in the business.i think the max liabilty signs are the fairest thing. i just dont want change for the sake of change.

No.

I do think there may be people who don't return having been once because of it though.

What's your objection to it?

Is the cost of changing everything really huge?

I don't see why the bookies are so opposed to modernising something that will definitely do no harm and could possibly improve their own business. If it's massively expensive then I'm willing to understand a bit more, but it strikes me that it'll be a pretty cheap (relatively speaking, I'm aware bugger all is cheap these days) for the chances of increased business.

For one thing, people will see that your odds are better than the tote with the greatest of ease, that must be good for you?

I can just imagine days where I've been (not in particularly recent times I do admit) to both horses and dogs with friends who aren't bothered much about gambling, and the whole thing is really intimidating.
It must be quite embarrassing for them to keep asking "What does that pay?" and I'm sure it lessens the experience.

Explaining odds to people who don't gamble is , for god knows what reason, surprisingly difficult.... we deal with them every day, they seem trivial to us. All I can suggest is that you try it yourself (the explaining to random folk), I don't have a huge sample size and maybe I'm explaining it badly or something. Maybe collar a few wives (or husbands) of punters at the course and see what they think.

I'm open to being wrong and I'll freely admit it might not make a huge difference, I just don't think a single current gambler would stop because of the change and so you're on close to a freeroll.

This idea can be summed up imo as important as moving the deckchairs on the Titanic.It is frivolous. It is a million miles off the central issues. And anyway, the best people to decide what works and what doesn't in betting are those who have to earn their living that way. What right does anyone else have to say how they should run their business?

I guess it's the size and usefulness of that group that's in question then, and you're in better position to judge that than myself.

Again, to flog the dead horse (as it were) , I'd be wanting everyone to be as comfortable/happy as possible. Word of mouth is as valuable as the money itself sometimes ("I had a good day at the races today....." etc) imo.

If that group is all 2 quids and a nuisance then it would make more sense as to why you're opposed. That much I can understand.

i dont mind punters have 2quid bets,that my minimum bet some of the bookies even take 1 pound e/w, pointless in my view but hey each to their own.as you say moe important issues are cost of entry(outrageous in my view) catering GOODWOOD charge about 12 quid for burger *****and a drink. enuff seating , wheelchair access, some even charge for carparks , naturally goodwood falls into that group.maybe there should be an indoor area for bookies when the weathers poor so punters can stay dry if they wanna bet on the book.goodwood isproof of what goes wrong when people in charge start changging things for the worse. a once well attended course is now total ghost town. tracks like fontwell and towcester are forward looking and use common sense in their approach.

Basically the decimal odds system is being introduced to entice young people to the races.
In imperial days, everyone was taught fractions and could do them in their heads without calculators, so going to the races, they knew exactly what they got.
These days fractions are taught, but mostly it's all decimal with calculators, so a young racegoer wouldn't have a clue what the odds are.
Who is going to replace the old timers with sharp fraction minds, the young decimal punter.
Bookie you're target market is evapourating, I would think you would be the first in the queue with your decimal odds and a brand new LED display and ticket printer.
First in gets the chocolates.
As in any business, nobody likes change, especially if you're used to a system that you know backwards, something new is like a pain in the arse, but you must embrace it or be left behind.
The drive is to increase attendances and I don't think many newbies under 30 would have a clue about fractional odds.

I was a newbie 30 years ago, and I backed a horse that was 50/1, the bookie and bagman laughed at me.
I never bet with that bookie again, I made sure I visibly bet with the fellow next to him.
After 5 years, that first bookie actually spoke to me and said "geez you hold a grudge don't you", I said "If I held a grudge, I'd actually bet with you" and my new bookie**ed himself laughing at the rude bookie. Then stopped and said "Hey! what have you got against me?"

And we all laughed.

Ronaldhino

Fair question but any answer needs more than one thread to itself.I do agree hwoever that the economics of running courses is a big issue.

I do believe that those on the "supply" side of the debate - the trainers, jockeys, breeders, owners, bookmakers and perhaps the courses themselves , get too much say in things (eg prizemoney,breeding issues), as against the "demand" side i.e racegoers and punters, and the media reflects that.

The starting point for any discussion needs to focus on the sporting and general publics declining level of interest in horseracing as such as well as the betting publics growing interest in alternative betting outlets.

Sorry to avoid your question directly. However, I stick to my earlier comments regarding the lack of importance of the decimal odds issue.

decimal odds are a barrier to 99% of racegoers.

How do I know, I dont just guessing like you

cj , dont be sensible

I don't for a second expect a load of punters to start charging through the gates just because of decimal odds, but I simply thing its a good time to make the change and start in the right direction.

There's plenty more they could do, but at least they're trying.

As someone who stopped betting horses (mostly) a long time ago , the main reason for not caring the vast majority of the time is that nearly none of the races mean anything.... or if they do we're not told about it.

You just don't get a darts meeting (maybe barring premier league) where the players turn up, play 6 random matches for no reason and go home again.

For me, that's the biggest problem of all for 90-95% of the year and 99% of the meetings

goodwood often describe fontwell as their sister course.to be truthful fonters is run in such a far superior way its astounding.several tracks are trying many things to get people to attend their course but of coursejust reducing the cvost of entry isnt the answer to every thing.ive recently worked at some northern racecourses and they seem far better attendedthan the southern ones. they offer better value to the customer .point to point meetings are still well attended and not only are there no elecic boards used by bookies most still use book/ledger system.yes an d incredibly fractions and not decimal oddsare displayed.,the difference is that the point to point meetings have many other things going on for the family. and oddly enuff they charge about a 5ver to get in or 25 per vehicle including up to 5 pasengers.those of you who think decimal odds will improve attendances should take in a point to point meeting and you may just change your mind.

PS
I'm not sure racing people even understand their own industry, let alone someone elses.

horse racing dying on it's A*** long term and still being murdured from within judging by this.

I have no problem with fractional odds as it's what I was brought up on - and like Lori have, due to nature of markets, got used to all forms - but why this isn't a shoe in as to good sense for helping the average/new punter I really can't imagine.