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Horse racing is much more than an excuse for gambling. It is a love for the beauty, grace and speed of the horse. It can also be an intellectual battle of examining competing facts and trying to formulate the future from results of the past. In some ways it is an investigation, as performed by an eager detective. And in other ways it can be the thrill of a crossword puzzle, with multiple possible responses, but ultimately only one correct answer. It is a thing of beauty as much as it is a matter of commerce. I have been involved with horse racing in both practical and intellectual ways. From time spent as an apprentice jockey, to later the research of bloodlines in the multimillion dollar world of thoroughbred breeding and sales. And for the past twelve years I have provided speedrating information to the racing industry and public through my company: Speedratings (www.speedratings.com.au).

Scams

August 22nd 2008 06:41
Like everyone who writes on Orble I have a series of 'Ads by Google' that display on my blog.

beware of tricks and scams
beware of tricks and scams


My situation may be slightly different to many of the other writers as I also operate a business in the same category as (some of the) the Google Ads on display. I don't really mind the advertising for thoroughbred syndication; corporate packages for the Melbourne Cup Carnival; pleasure cruising; agistment for horses or training tips for dressage or similar. Anything that may add to the enjoyment of horseracing is welcome.


But the one ad that I particularly endorse is that presented by the Australian Government that gives a link to a website and warnings about racing scams.

I have read other blogs from cinema to philosophy to photography and most of these have ads that are mostly (not always, but mostly) useful and not as poisonous as some of those inflicted upon my blog. They may advertise dvd's or cameras or editing services for writers. Things useful. Things of interest. Once again I will say that some of the services and products advertised (by Google) on RacingWrite are worthwhile and useful - it's just that at the other extreme I cringe at the titles, promises and spiel.

There is no magic-computer-program or system that can make you rich from racing. Everyone knows (or should know) that these are programs reversed to suit the data over a particular period. The reverse engineering will produce a 'past' profit. But as for the future? Well, it might if they have stumbled upon something of real value - but it will never be worth the cost of hundreds (to thousands) of dollars to purchase or subscribe.



There are some good services that provide tips and ratings. I personally have never paid for a 'tip' and would never do so as it defeats the purpose of making the quest for a winner an intellectual pursuit. But I might purchase information if that could help inform my decisions. For instance, I subscribed to Tennisone.com for several years to gain access to slow-motion tennis videos of top ranked tennis players, and also gained access to insights from some of the world's top tennis coaches. It was a subscription well spent as I then coached my youngest son (now a tennis coach) through the last few years of his junior tennis years. I was purchasing insights from the best in the game. With it came no guarantee of success (no number one ranking promised). It was both instructional and enjoyable and well worth an annual subscription. If someone had offered me a 'magic tennis racquet' for one or two thousand dollars ("proven in trials to defeat Federer or Nadal") I would have laughed.

I won't make this an ad for my own business - this is not really the forum (or my point). But I will state that I wish in no way to be linked with any 'get rich' schemes that purport to have some basis in horseracing. They are simply other versions of the 'Nigerian scam' making you believe you have access to certain wealth - then fleecing you in the process.

Naturally I appreciate people clicking a (legitimate and helpful) link on my website: in twenty to fifty years I will have received my first cheque from Adsense and will purchase the ten or so coffees that my words and work have provided. But my advice to all of my readers is to be very wary of advertising that appears too good to be true and advocates greed and get-rich schemes. You will find some of these adverts interspersed between my paragraphs. Caveat emptor.

Below is a report from Scamwatch:

Scammers charge around $1000 and up to $15,000 or more for the software that promises huge returns based on past results and trends.

According to Scamwatch, horse racing versions of this software often claim that the predictions are based on weather conditions, the state of the horse, the draw or the condition of the jockey.

"Once purchased the systems do not work as promised and buyers can't get their money back," stated the SCAMwatch alert.

Additionally, the scams can also present business opportunities or investments and draw attention by using unsolicited emails, letters or phone calls.

The SCAMwatch warning said: "Ask yourself: If someone has a sure-fire way to win at the races, why would they choose to sell it to other people? These scams are just a ploy to rip you off.

"There are no get-rich-quick schemes, the only people who make money are the scammers. If it looks too good to be true — it probably is.”

And here are a few links related to informing people about horseracing scams:

scams

scams

Watch this video explanation of how many of these scams work:




(I know he is advertising his own product too. But some good advice so it's a Catch 22)
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