Ok, this page was majorly shaken up, as we're now in the middle of Season 3:
Center Piece:
The Horses, you may now have some horses in your stable, but don't
expect anything from them, they are there to give you a start into the
game
and give you a feeling for them. Try them in Handicaps or Listed Races,
your 2yos however, can be managed to the top with good training.
All horses have 13 ratings(see rules for details), you can train all
of them except the Running Style and Experience.
Each week you have to choose, if you want to train your horse, or race
it. If you race it, and it is raced at a distance, it at least has 50 rating
points
on, you'll pick up 5 experience points, once the horse has reached
30 exp. points, you'll get only 1 per race.
In training you should consider, what is important for your horse,
and where you will most likely run it, some ratings really don't need training,
as your horse will
never need tham, while basic ratings like consistency and recovery
are always usefull.
Races:
Each race has a COR, (see Rules for detailed list, of what COR will
lead to what ground), it is important to know, what grounds your horse
can handle, running it on a Ground, it doesn't like, will lead to bad
results.
For each race you get a speed rating, this is a number calculated from
it's corresponding ratings and the Race Conditions.
Distances:
6f and less Sprint
8f(1m)
Mile
1m 2f
Middle
1m 4f
Long
2m
Stay
All other distances are inbetween Distances, so at 1m 3f, both your horses Middle and Long Distance Ratings will be considered.
When entering races, remember the strength of your horse and corresponding
horses, for example, in a fillies only Race, you might need less ratings,
than
in an Open Group 1. If your horse can't win in maiden Company, it's
unlikely it can win in group 1 company, unless you have reasons to think
it can.
Entering carefully and considering the horses strenghts is necessary,
try to find empty spot and less frequented races, unless your horse is
as strong
as other top-horses.
Instructions:
Your weekly instructions can be sent until the Wednesday before the
Races, however, it is good to send them early(Sunday or Monday) to get
feedback if there are formal errors.
Races:
The Races take place on Saturday, results are given in a Chat, and
are then uploaded to the Homepage.
Updates:
Your stable is only updated once a week, and thats Saturday after the
races, so buying a horse or doing anything, as well as financial updates,
will only be visible after the Update.
Pre-Race cards, betting, pick 7:
The Pre-Race Card with entries and fields of the races will be available
Wednesday after the Deadline, no scratches or late entries are possible.
For Group 1 races ther eis a pre-race entry system, see rules.
After the Pre-race Card is up, 7 Races will be picked for the Pick 7 Competition, it will be visible in the Pick 7 Forum and is for 1000 BP.
You can bet 100 BP each week for free, Betting is in the Betting Shop
which usually opens Wednesday night, Deadlines for both contests
is the Saturday Chat Time.
Things to consider, Common Mistakes and other stuff coming to my mind!(send by SHS trainer Herbie)
When training make a plan, what you want your horse to be, and what
your horse currently is.
If your horse is a distance specialist, meaning it can only run
1 distance, the best idea is to keep him that way, if it has abilities
in 2 distances,
either specialise on one, or try training both.
Useful ratings:
Ground: If you horse should have any chance to win at Group Level,
a ground rating of 100 or above is necessary, so try concentrating on 1,2
or 3 grounds. Never train your worst ground. If above 100 training can
still be important, but will be more difficult.
Consistency: Perhaps the most important factor, if you want your horse to be near his best all the time, percentage the horse will at least perform at.
Recovery: Decides how often your horse can run, at age 3 it should be at least 80, if you want to have a chance to run often enough to make it to the Championships. If recovery is kept at 50, your horse can only run every 4 weeks, this means 4 races per season at best, also you might miss races.
Distances: Your fillies should be near or above 130, colts near or above 140. Training higher might be useful, but will be more difficult.
Aging: 2 approaches, either don't train at all and run the horse
as often as possible at 2 and 3, may make only sense for sprint and mile
horses.
Or Train up to at least to 50, then the horse can run a full 4yo
season without loosing abilities, in that case horse should run between
5 and 8 races as 2yo and 3yo.
Entrering Races: Consider your horses strength, then look for it's ground, if the ground your horse needs will not come up, don't waste him in the race, unless you need experience. In 50/50 situations only run, if your horse needs races, or you're sure it can finish Top 3 if getting his ground, and no other race is suitable.
Don't run too often, don't run too seldom, 5 to 8 races at ages 2 and 3 combined seem perfect, if recovery is high enough, you can run 2 or 3 races in a row as 4yo, but don't forget to give the horse rest.
Never run if your horses status is train!!!! Never!!!!! That's why recovery is so important.
Newbies first things to learn: Distances and COR, take a look what
grounds can appear with each COR, and learn the distances,
don't run a horse at 1m 3f, if it has only long or middle ability,
it needs both, same for 7f, 1m 1f or 1m 6f. However, the 1m 2.5f races
or 1m 7.5f races may make sense for Middle or Stay horses, if they have
no other races to choose from, and their ability is high enough.
Participate in the Pick 7 and the Betting, i know, I often don't do, but it not only rewards Boris for his work, but also gives you a chance to pick up BP.
Look out for horses in the auction.
Post about your runners in the Discuss the Races, discussions about the game and the horses make it more live.
Go to the chat, also you will never find me there, as I'm always away at the weekend, I heard it is a place to pick up hints and experience.
Tips from a Season 2 Newbie and how his start into the sim was!:
WRS: Our First Weeks in Strategic European Racing
Prior to week 5 of season 2 I received my first five horses. Two
3 year olds and three 2 year olds. That first week I entered three
in races. A mistake on my part, to be sure. Two of these were
entered into graded races. Luckily, one managed a third place finish
in a grade 3. Only because there were only two other fillies in the
race! I then realized my horses needed more training before they
would have any hope of competing in graded competition. So, that
is what they got for the majority of that first season. From then
on I tried to look farther ahead on the schedule to place them in races.
I will always look 2 to 3 weeks forward looking for the best chances.
Always taking into account the COR%, distance and so on. I try to
enter horses into races that best suit their ground and distance ratings.
All that is left then is to hope for the best.
The main mistake I made, early on, was running my horses in races were
they really had little or no chance of winning. They were in over
their heads. A quick success wasn’t going to be possible and I needed
patience to build my stable up.
The best horse, result wise, I received was from another stable quitting the game. He did well for me and even qualified for the Euro Championships. My two-year-old horses, now three-year-olds, look to have a bright future. All three only raced once or twice the sophomore year. Mainly to gain experience. It all helps in the long run to produce better horses. Hopefully, one of them will get our first grade one victory this season. To have one or more qualified for the Championships at the end of the season would be outstanding!!
This simulation has so many facets and variables in it. It takes awhile to begin to understand. But is well worth it. I don’t understand it all yet, but, I’m getting better each week. I hope all newer players stay and enjoy this sim as much as I have!!
Thanks
Harley (WRS)