Formgrids South Africa shuts down today

@ Englander
As always, I appreciate your post.
To me, Formgrids is the only complete site of raw data that I may manipulate to suit myself. TAB does not provide this data in one comprehensive site to my knowledge. In Formgrids, they had someone who was willing to do it for the love of the game. I feel that we are turning away contributors because we are "superior". Utilising Formgrids as the basis, they could produce a Winning Form in less time, as with the Computaform, and whatever other format one would like their publication. (a personalised race-card)

I am dissapointed

I've been using the site since 2007. And use it daily.

This is a forum which invites people to express their opinions on matters of punting and horse racing. Some have decided that it is Racing's fault, it's failure to see the bigger picture, that Formgrids has switched off the South Arican section of its business.

The owner of Formgrids admittedly has a good site, which looks to have a future and even better, looks to have possible international appeal. Should it ever achieve escape velocity and make it overseas then many is us will consider it to be a South African product which we used in the beginning.

But in my opinion the black out is black mail. Clearly it isnt closing down and all the growth ideas are still right there. Just as clear, the few people who use it as the basis of their horse racing interest, or even just as a part, are willing to pay a fee to have access.

While Formgrids continues to cry about money for years, Formgrids appears only interested in landing the the Phumelela whale.

On this forum, when the Formgrid owner replies to comments he seems to deliberately ignore proper answers and continues with self serving drivel. He wonders where his July invite is, he moans that the head of the SA NHA won't offer up his place on an international podium. Seriously mate, you own a website....grow up, sell the service like everyone else and earn your millions.

Although, now that you show your true colours, blackmail, good luck winning anyone over because this is a PR disaster on a scale which precludes you ever criticising racing administrators. With the Internet, the stink of the blackout will stick to you forever whenever Formgrids is googled in the future.

Jack, I genuinely hear you and in many ways feel your frustration. But surely the point is that it is his toy, his creation and his to do with as he pleases? Yes, it may seem a strange financial decision, yes it may seem like black mail, yes to a lot of things but I'm fairly certain of one thing, David is not stupid and if he thinks its the best way forward to achieve what he wants to achieve so be it. If it doesn't work I would be amazed if he does not have Plan B, Plan C and Plan D. Nor does he have to come on here and comment at all, with all the insults flying about, I think I would avoid it like the plague! I can well believe that Phumelela are not interested, there is seemingly so much they get wrong which could be easily corrected that this, especially if they blindly see Formgrids as competition, is something they would just turn their backs on. On a very base level, I have always found talking to many South Africans on a business level a very frustrating and pointless exercise and in my very limited experience Phumelela seem to be a shining example of this, self-serving, short-sighted, an arrogant refusal to admit they could possibly be wrong and a huge failing in being able to see the big picture. I would let the dust settle and watch this space... I think it very unlikely this is the last SA racing will hear of Formgrids in SA... patience may well be the best strategy just now.

Pirho... thanks for the kind words (tu)... I think that is partly what I am trying to say... I don't believe there are enough Pirhos who use the system as you do and therefore it would seem the sensible thing going forward for one of these publications to align with Formgrids and make the overall product something that all can use, delving into the pot as deeply as they individually wish. Formgrids is too detailed imo for the average punter, Computaform and Winning Form fall well short of what would be, to me, an acceptable product for the average punter. I believe, for example, Hollywood have some involvement with Winning Form... it strikes me that it would be a smart move if this is true for Hollywood to sponsor Formgrids and use it to make their product easily the best on the market, both online and in publication. Whether that would be good for David, only David can say.

And that is my last non-informed comment on this subject because I don't want to fuel any flames here!

If HW and Formgrids married Phumelela would take such a knock - I'm selfish - I just want Formgrids back in any form!!

Sorry but I have to agree with Jack, shutting down the South Africa side of Formgrids was done in poor taste. So many on the Forum and even those that are not on speak so highly about Formgrids and I personally don't think anyone would have had a problem subscribing to the service.

Shutting down with no notice is a kick in the teeth for the loyal followers no matter how you look at the explanations.

The owner of Formgrids has been around for a long time and had interactions with many people in racing. Indeed it is his toy, and he has done precisely what can be done when everyone is playing with your toy and you get pissed.

his excuse for taking his toy back from everyone is that he's not getting anything in return. Everyone says ok David, what do you want? He says...well, who knows?

If he manages to get money from "the authorities", especially after the blackout...I would be shocked. He will have to sell a share to get development capital, then he can develope and go international if he wants. Why should little SA finance the next big thing if it doesn't own it?

Just imagine a bank closing their customers accounts to try and strong arm the reserve bank. They tell their shutdowned customers to join in a protest to the Reserve Bank who apparently don't see the light. This indefinitely. Not a day, or a week...but undetermined. Great strategy, all businesses should do this.

£&@% him, I rather do without. Cemeteries are full of indispensable people, but life goes on.

Accountability JD, that’s what it’s all about,, have you bumped you head against these people ? for eight long years I get no co-operation with regard to simple requests,, I ask for a feed to cut down thousands of hours uploading and I get told "not until I give a written guarantee that not one Formgrids user will play the open bet",, and when I ask can you guarantee that not one computaform or newspaper reader don’t play the open bet I get told,,,”ja well that’s what we want”,,, because I don’t work for a racing structure doesn’t mean I can’t have something good for racing,, I have had this kiss my ass attitude from the racing bosses for too long,, they collect fat pay cheques and knock off at five,, I and my people don’t,, it’s not about money for our pocket,, but are they too stupid or blind to know that software development is costly,, but is worth the money because it enhances the customers experience,, and didn’t some dunce coin the phrase “customer is king” I could carry on and on showing you why I have put a blackout on Formgrids JD but don’t have the time,, imp not paid to sit on my ass and do nothing,,,but from the response I have got except from you and one or two others, I can guarantee that the operators are hearing all about it,, it’s a shame on them that the only time they react is when the pressure is on, and by the way JD if you smell a stink it’s because you are standing too near a racing operator

here i must back mr a in some thing. if they say they want the garantee of no one play the open bet from form gids, how the hell do they put the betxchange advert on telly track? the china man is the big offer of open bet in his business. i think these guys at phumelela they see form grids take away sales of computerform and they say fuck david safi. i also say that if david safi give some one like robert gardner or larry weinstein a share of form grids then he will get money

Jack D where exactly was there mention that the site was closed due to "not getting anything back" and "well who knows what I want" the reason as is well documented is due to no assistance in easing the work load which is exactly what was wanted/needed and has nothing to do with getting anything back, the difference is not even subtle, unless you are of the opinion that it took 8 years for Dave to realize that he was not making a profit out of Formgrids? you are entitled to your disdain but your point can hardly be taken seriously if you choose to fabricate reasons for it and use the ridiculous analogy such as banks and the reserve bank which is laughable..
The closing of the site is a result of an ongoing battle against the bullying tactics of the powers that be (who it seems are immune to your criticism), be that as it may and contrary to what you may or may not believe,or will have others believe this has absolutely nothing to do with money.

spot on jack. David thought by closing down he would get the sympathy vote. He misjudged that. Yesterday was the 25th of the month, why not give the punter some notice and close at the end of the month ? That would have given him a week to try get assistance elsewhere. With the jockey championship coming to an exciting conclusion and gold cup day on saturday formgrids would have been pumping. I also feel for the jockeys,trainers and agents who have endorsed the site and now no longer have access to a major form studying tool. The names of marcus, fortune, cormack and de kock were used free of charge to promote the product to the world.

Hi David
I'll give you 500,000 this morning for Formgids SA
I'll bring it to Bedford Centre