New Player's Guide: Racing Season

Racing. It is the heart of Photo-Finish (although some of our overzealous breeders may not think so). And with the new foals due within the next few hours or days, we are drawing ever nearer to it.

This is how most of the stables make the majority of their income. It is sets the tone for the Post-Season activities (auction, breeding season). A stable must succeed here and this is where many of the dreams of a stable come true: Winning a Triple Crown, Breaking Revenge’s World Record, earning Horse of the Year, a Year-long duel between two top horses, a juvenile bred and trained by you winning the Dubai Juvenile.

How do you succeed in the racing world when you only have 2 – 5 racers, and the big establishments are boasting well over 20 racers for this season? Some people may get lucky and get that multi-million dollar horse in their first set of racers. Most are not.

Here is how you succeed at racing.

First of all, you have in your line-up approximately 2 – 5 racers (unless you are a bigger stable… then round up to 20… the basics work for you too). If you followed my Auction tips you would have picked up maybe 1 or 2 proven G2/G3 older horses. If you did that then you are good to start building up that bank account. They may not win every time out, but 7 out of 10 times they’ll come home with a check.

First of all, don’t be tempted to race your horse just because you can. It is okay to go without a racer for a week or two. It may seem like some stables are racing a horse in nearly every race… truth be told they are. But they have 4 or 5 times as many racers as you, and even more money to spend.

Place your horses accordingly. Just because your colt or filly may be doing well at 9 furlongs on dirt in a $75,000 G2 race, doesn’t mean he or she will do as well in a $200,000 G2 race. Go where your horses’ strengths are. If you bought a solid money-maker try him or her at a few distances farther out of his or her comfort range, but if he or she is not doing well – GO BACK TO WHAT WAS WORKING.

Too many new players are hoping to get the next Secretariat. It’s not going to work.
Secondly, GIVE YOUR HORSE ENOUGH REST. I can’t stress this enough. These horses need their rest. Give them at least 14 days before his or her next race. They’ll thank you for it by giving more the next time out.

Most horses do best when they are rested between 14-21 days between races. And make sure that if your horse in injured or sore, that they get additional rest.
In addition, we’ve had a few weeks since the racing season. Our horses haven’t. Check the dates of their last race. Last year a few horses went to the post for the first time in the new season on only a couple of days of rest.

Thirdly, if your stable is getting threatening notes from your accountant that you are nearing the red, then maybe you should sell that foal or yearling that you are holding on to. Or perhaps that 2 year old that you are hoping will pan out at 4.

Sell them to a stable that has the time and money to manage them and wait for them to mature or become of racing age. All they are doing is eating up your finances and not bringing in any cash. IF you are getting low on funds, you will probably be able to find a sympathetic well-off stable.

For my final word of the day. Take a look at Amanda’s Past Performances. See how your horses are doing and have done. Check out those PSRs (hint: the higher the better). If you don’t have the game, those data sheets are your best friend.

Good Luck! And Happy Racing!