|
Post by trackrat on Jan 2, 2008 10:57:43 GMT -5
Giss, I noticed that tonight and tomorrow night's Northfield programs are in a smaller typeface, which I believe you mentioned about a year ago that the USTA was trying to get everyone to switch to a unified typeface, is my memory correct? I wear bi-focals and I must tell you that the new typeface is difficult to read BUT the new ads at the bottom of each page can be clearly read. Getting old sucks.
Keith, I just noticed that the program NOW includes race comments on the past performance lines. That is a welcome addition, so maybe the tradeoff isn't so bad now...
|
|
|
Post by thegiss on Jan 2, 2008 14:09:59 GMT -5
Giss, I noticed that tonight and tomorrow night's Northfield programs are in a smaller typeface, which I believe you mentioned about a year ago that the USTA was trying to get everyone to switch to a unified typeface, is my memory correct? I wear bi-focals and I must tell you that the new typeface is difficult to read BUT the new ads at the bottom of each page can be clearly read. Getting old sucks. Keith, I just noticed that the program NOW includes race comments on the past performance lines. That is a welcome addition, so maybe the tradeoff isn't so bad now... The USTA is making the switch mandatory. Their old system is being discontinued. We are not wild about it, but every track will have similar program fonts now. Pompano and Yonkers are the next two to be converted.
|
|
|
Post by jay44224 on Jan 2, 2008 14:53:32 GMT -5
Keith,
If someone wanted to complain to the USTA about this switch how would they go about it.
John
|
|
|
Post by trackrat on Jan 2, 2008 16:33:59 GMT -5
The USTA is making the switch mandatory. Their old system is being discontinued. We are not wild about it, but every track will have similar program fonts now. Pompano and Yonkers are the next two to be converted. So, are you saying that the USTA is the SOURCE of the information for every race track and that the content is displayed as shown on Northfield's new program? If the USTA is not the source, what authority do they have over the appearance and content of any track's programs? Interested in the relationship between the USTA and members of the harness racing industry. For example, how do trainer and drivers who are delinquent in their USTA memberships continue to race at "USTA" race tracks?
|
|
|
Post by thegiss on Jan 2, 2008 17:17:37 GMT -5
Keith, If someone wanted to complain to the USTA about this switch how would they go about it. John I would e-mail Eric Sharbaugh. Whether it will do any good remains to be seen, but I would be interested in what the "official" response will be. The initial program was an unreadable mess, with the interval positions (chart lines) THE SMALLEST font, smaller than breeding, etc. The USTA is not a gambling organization and does not understand that bettors drive our world these days. They took some input from tracks (I am very proud that I only walked ou tof our meeting once in anger) but (and I may get in toruble for this, put simply THEY JUST DON'T GET IT. Jay, let me know how Eric responds. Thanks Here is the problem, though. The old system used a specific model and brand of printer with specific availabel fonts (I will not discuss the "wisdom" of that decision when it was made). That printer is no longer manufactured and track shave literally been going into used computer shops for parts in order to keep things running.
|
|
|
Post by thegiss on Jan 2, 2008 17:21:23 GMT -5
The USTA is making the switch mandatory. Their old system is being discontinued. We are not wild about it, but every track will have similar program fonts now. Pompano and Yonkers are the next two to be converted. So, are you saying that the USTA is the SOURCE of the information for every race track and that the content is displayed as shown on Northfield's new program? If the USTA is not the source, what authority do they have over the appearance and content of any track's programs? Interested in the relationship between the USTA and members of the harness racing industry. For example, how do trainer and drivers who are delinquent in their USTA memberships continue to race at "USTA" race tracks? We generate the information through a system they provide. There has been a lot of discussion as to who owns it. They are the clearing house (Ie: without them or a similar entity, Lebanon or Maywood would not HAVE to provide that horse's lines to us.) As to the other, we are members of the USTA (Northfield) which entitles us to use certain services. If we chose to go it alone, we could, but the USTA would have no obligation to provide that information to us. They ar an administrative, not legislative, body. They let the jurisdictions know who isn't a member in good standing an dthe indivisual race commissions/wagering boards or tracks can act on that info.
|
|
|
Post by scojer on Jan 2, 2008 19:26:01 GMT -5
I have to go find a higher powered set of reading glasses thats 4 sure.
|
|
|
Post by tautog on Jan 3, 2008 8:50:24 GMT -5
I have to go find a higher powered set of reading glasses thats 4 sure. Scojer, If that's the case go here and you can get a months worth of programs for almost all tracks for $35. They have large type PDF format for old guys like us. It's quite a deal I buy Harness Eye all the time but they don't include every track so I'm also considering this option myself. Plus it's easier to use when I'm working people don't actually know what I'm doing ;D www.trackmaster.com/harness/hpp.htm
|
|
|
Post by trackrat on Jan 3, 2008 9:34:09 GMT -5
Scojer, If that's the case go here and you can get a months worth of programs for almost all tracks for $35. They have large type PDF format for old guys like us. It's quite a deal I buy Harness Eye all the time but they don't include every track so I'm also considering this option myself. Plus it's easier to use when I'm working people don't actually know what I'm doing ;D www.trackmaster.com/harness/hpp.htmTautog, I have had Trackmaster for years and I occasionally download a program onto my hard drive whenever I cannot get out to buy Northfield's official program. If you decide to print the programs off of Trackmaster, it will cost you a fortune in print cartridges, as I have learned.
|
|
|
Post by tautog on Jan 3, 2008 11:46:55 GMT -5
Scojer, If that's the case go here and you can get a months worth of programs for almost all tracks for $35. They have large type PDF format for old guys like us. It's quite a deal I buy Harness Eye all the time but they don't include every track so I'm also considering this option myself. Plus it's easier to use when I'm working people don't actually know what I'm doing ;D www.trackmaster.com/harness/hpp.htmTautog, I have had Trackmaster for years and I occasionally download a program onto my hard drive whenever I cannot get out to buy Northfield's official program. If you decide to print the programs off of Trackmaster, it will cost you a fortune in print cartridges, as I have learned. How about if I tell you that you can buy black ink cartridges for decent printers at $2-$3. If you have a Canon, Epson, or Brother printer the odds are your in business. If not it pays to spend around $60 and just buy one the cost savings are enormous. Ebay is the place to get them, I just go to a computer show here because I know the guy for decades and he gives me a great deal. He even sells printers that use the generic ink. My son prints like a madman I would be broke in two weeks at $25-$50 a shot. Been using generics or injecting ink myself since the early 90's and have never had a problem. If I could only pick a winner at NF as easy as answering a question like this lol. Contact me if you have any further questions you can buy me a drink if you come out to the east coast. Second one is on me ;D
|
|
|
Post by trackrat on Jan 3, 2008 12:11:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the ink advice Tautog, but I've got an HP all-in-one that I am extremely satisifed with the scanning and copying aspect, as well as the printing. I used to print the entire NFLD program from Trackmaster, to accompany my regular Northfield program until I found myself not referring as much to the Trackmaster program, so I do not print the Trackmaster anymore, just access if off the hard drive. To tell you the truth, I find Jay's tips much more valuable than any info on Trackmaster, except Trackmaster does give me the driver ratings on the Billings drivers, while Northfield's program does not. I made a lot of money on Gene Miller that way.
|
|
|
Post by tautog on Jan 4, 2008 18:26:22 GMT -5
Trackrat I bought a months worth of downloads from Trackmaster and I love it. If you download it in the large font it fits right on the screen and I can write notes on it with Acrobat. Ink costs were about 15 cents for the NF program using a generic. I like the driver and trainer ratings they don't start from the new year. The only negative is that if I was going to the track there is no way I would print out 5 tracks it easier to buy a program and use that. But last night I had 3 separate tracks open on the computer and it worked out quite well. The only place I can't pick my nose is NF did ok at the Meadowlands and Windsor.
|
|