I think, after reading this, that it might be best if I explain to a few, why I'm doing what I'm doing.
Firstly, my passion is horse racing. Has been for a million years now.
Secondly, my site has never, ever been subscription. The use of the Forum, the chat room, my ratings (some like 'em!), have always been free to access.
I have no idea where the notion arose that anyone pays for anything but I'd like to squash that right now, if I may.
"Charidees"....well, I suppose I can undestand why some might be sceptical....I probably would be myself not knowing the person, or purpose, behind it all.
Having had an idea, several years ago now, I decided to actually run with it and developed the site we have now.
It's, hopefully, much more than just a Forum and is going to be an information website for anyone that trusts the opinion of those writing on it.
I'm looking to eventually employ young people, that have the same passion for the sport as I do and that would seriously like to enter the journalistic side of it.
I'm looking to provide a realistic opportunity for people to go racing as an owner...something we've done this year.
I've been running competitions for nearly two years now, that have been free to play, putting up a small prize, just to make it interesting. We have also run competitions for Cheltenham and Aintree that have cost £10 to play but that was done purely to cover the cost of the prizes we put up...NEVER to make a profit.
I came up with the idea for the Fantasy Racing game about 3 years ago now and decided that, if I had it built, there had to be a benefit to racing related "charidees" and I've had that incorporated into the game.
I must point out, anybody that plays is under no obligation to make a donation from their entry fee. That option is "offered" during the signing up process. If they wish to decline, they are free to do so.
Shadow Leader, regarding your words that I'm "pulling the old charidee line". It might be a thought you have, and to which you are entilted, but to announce it like it is fact, I find offensive.
You do not know me, or anything about me.
I do not need people to make donations and nor would I ever ask them to do so.
The recent raffle we ran, in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, was done solely for the Trust and for no other reason. Yes, I want to raise the profile of what I'm doing but that is so we can improve on the superb result we achieved at our first attempt. We made no profit from it, save for a superb day out at Ascot, after the draw had been made.
To ensure everything went to the Trust, I sat here and designed and printed the tickets myself. I purchased a machine for numbering them, cut and stapled them and then sold them....or tried to!
The people that worked very hard to make that whole thing a success (none moreso than Kathy....and she'll not thank me for telling you that), did so because they wanted to do it.
The Fantasy Racing game has taken over a year to complete and the figure Kathy quoted earlier is about 2/3rds of the total spent doing it. If it falls flat on it's arse, then so be it.
Yes, it is a commercial website but it is also a genuine attempt to provide racing related "charidees" with a revenue stream they can take advantage of and the idea is that they eventually put up their own sponsored prizes, to the winners of their own leagues, and we essentially "manage" the game on their behalf.
I will eventually be introducing Corporate Leagues, Friends and Family Leagues and several others, into the game.
If you doubt my intentions or integrity, that's fine.
To date, three "charidees" have decided the game is something they wish to go with and I'll trust that the management teams at Greatwood Caring for Retired Racehorses, The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Brownbread Horse Rescue, have taken a good long look, before committing themselves.
I hope that clears things up a bit...but if you've got any questions you can PM me or send me an e-mail.
It's OK SL, your secrets safe with me. Just try and stop following each other around the site, and using the same phrases, it's a dead giveaway & to be honest a little bit twee in my opinion! 
!)
