[AusRace] Expertform

[Bill Saunders]

I noticed that until recently there were two sites which provided form 
back to 1st August 1991.

Racing & Sports suddenly deleted all form prior to 2000 a couple of 
months ago and now Expertform have removed all reference to past form.

The only database that I am aware of which also dates to 1991 is the 
Southcoast one which pre-dates the existence of both R&S and Expertform.

Perhaps Southcoast have noted similarities to their own data in the data 
presented in the other databases and asserted their rights to the 
historical data.

I know R&S had an arrangement with AAP from 2000 onwards which might 
explain why they can continue to provide historical data back to that 
date. Their joint venture with AAP has now ended but maybe they continue 
to have the right to present the data online.

Otherwise horse racing data from either RISA or AAP is very expensive. I 
know that we at Cyberhorse have spent many hundreds of thousands on such 
data over the years. Apart from salaries it is our biggest single expense.

As a small company we have no option but to charge for access, although 
we do have some free stuff. In my opinion it would be almost impossible 
to give form data away unless the site owner has some arrangement where 
they can get hold of it at a minimal charge.

Regards,
Bill Saunders,
Webmaster,
Cyberhorse,
http://www.cyberhorse.net.au - Everything to do with horses
Ph: (03)9746-1217 Fax: (03)9746-1440
Cyberhorse Pty Ltd ACN 007 447 154