My Thoughts

Everybody knows how wordy I am, but my brain won't stop.
(It's quite annoying, the only time it slows down is when soaked in Alcohol, and then it's even more annoying)
So, I decided to write a few of my thoughts in the blogosphere, where few will see it, few will comment and fewer then will be annoyed.
Plus, the blog allows my Brain to get it all out, maybe then he will let me rest.

Most players know about my aversion to an "any horse, any tournament" type of game structure. To me, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It's not fair, it only invites fraudulent behavior,basically, and that's the way I see it. No one can deny the discontent among many players before the Blues, and consequently, nor can the success of the "Class System" be denied.
So my question is this, why stop developing a better class system?
No one can say that what we have is in any way complete. The Instas and Generals are still bottom-dwelling, "any horse,any tournament",and the restricted "class system" is restricted to four options, which robs every non-General horse of it's God-given traits. (ok, computer-given, LOL).

But the biggest problem the game will face, in the near future, is the start up of the new version of the game.
Puddles will have a mess on his hands, as we switch over to the new game. But this move is vital for the growth of the game, is needed and welcomed by all.

The current version of the game is almost 2 years old, and has gone through many changes since it's inception. Most every program that Puddles has promised is now in place, and he should be applauded for his accomplishments and vision.
This is, by far,the best horse racing game there is, and with the new version it will no doubt become HUGE!

Since we've already been through the start-up phase once before, I know that Mike and the HRF staff already have worked the bugs out on many issues we will face. But nothing can eliminate the problem we will have with a smaller horse population in the new version.
Filling tournaments, under the current tournament structure, will present a problem, but as I said, we've been there before, so I'm sure Mike has this figured out.

All of this aside, what I would like to see, for the game, is a more realistic Class Structure. One modeled after the North American system.
For our purposes a complete, drastic change from what we now have in place is unnecessary. just changing the names of things, here and there, and tweaking the numbers a bit is all that is needed.

Most of you have heard it all before, and as I stated in the opening, few will read this and it's mainly for my records, nothing else.
Basically, if we ever adopt something similar, I can say,"I told you so".
LOL! J/K

The North American system is:
Maiden
Claiming
Allowance
Stakes

We basically already have all of that, we just don't call them the same names. Our color codes attempt to mimic this system, but can be slightly improved to achieve an overall simpler and more competitive tournament flow.
I feel that when a visitor, to the site, sees the familiarity with the real thing, it would make the game even more appealing.
So combining many players ideas with the N.A system, I would like to, for the last time, offer the following:

MAIDEN- 2 yo. Only

(Fast Dirt, Firm Turf,Synthetic)
-Restrictions based on actual race SR, or BSR for first time starters.
-Open only to non-winners of any type of tournament.
-Final distance 6F and 9F only. 2 prelims ungraded,14 horses max,7 make the final.

100 class- 2000 entry fee/1000 per race
110 class- 3000 entry fee/1500 per race
120 class- 4000 entry fee/2000 per race
Open- 5000 entry fee/3000 per race

CLAIMING 2yo, 3yo&up
(same D/S/C rotation as current Instas)

5K claim-2500 entry fee (100 BSR restriction)
10K claim-5000 entry fee (120 BSR restriction)
30K claim- 10K entry fee (Open)
50K claim- 25K entry fee (Open)
100K claim-50K entry fee (Open)

(This opens the Claiming races to every horse, with a legitimate chance to win if placed correctly. Also by cutting the Open classes down to 3, more races will fill.)

GENERALS -2yo,3yo,4&up

-Same as current Generals with a Blue type system based on BSR
-Fees from low to high based on class
-All D/S/C available upon request, limited by class population percentages.
-3&up might still be necessary to fill tournaments, but weight issues exist in these tournaments (or at least the perception).

110 class-ungraded
120 class-ungraded
130 class-G3
Open-G2
Open-G1

The differences between this and what we have now, is the following:

-The most important aspect of this is the simplification. The majority of horses would be in the Generals with all D/S/C at their disposal.
- The current Red and Green are squeezed into the Maiden system, The Blues are squeezed into the Generals. (simple, not a drastic change, just a little tweak to bring in more realism.)
-The quick turnover and 2yo limitation in the Maiden setup would force more horses into the Generals, or the Claimers if it is an underachiever.
-Tournament options are limited by age and class, not by D/S/C.
-All color codes are eliminated, and replaced with real world terminology.
-All horses under 100 BSR would have to be exceptional to make it past Maiden or Claiming, which is also more real world, but also will keep those tournaments filled. As a bonus, these horses get the varied D/S/C offered in Claiming races (aka Instas)
-Current Blue Horses (100-130 BSR) would have all D/S/C now available in the Generals
-Horses born 130+ would have a cheaper place to start in Maiden, but would compete in G2 or Open Claiming after winning in Maiden. Or if it's a dud, claiming only.
-Note that since Maiden races would be limited to 2yo, a 3yo maiden would be forced into the Claimers or Generals, thus filling more of those tournaments.
-since more horses would be basically forced into claimers, more claiming races should be allowed per racing year, in proportion to the current 3/3 mix. For example, if a horse runs only claiming it should be allowed 6 per year. Or also 4 claiming races/ 2 Gen/Maiden. So 3/3,4/2 or 6 would be the allowed mix.
-Doing all of these things, combined,puts more emphasis on the Claiming aspect of the game, which will provide more action, quicker turnover of races, and even more strategy. (I also feel that by eliminating that 30K level(current 20K) it would increase the competitiveness, and give owners a fair price for a 120+ BSR horse. But these are not all just my ideas).
-Basically, every horse would be in either in Claiming or General tournaments. For our purposes,the Generals would be Allowance and Stakes races. Horses would not be forced to move up in class, but it would be easy to do so.
-The only type of horse that may be adversely affected,instead of positively affected, is the 130+. It loses G3, but it also gains a cheaper Maiden to test the waters.
-If a horse could not compete in it's class level, on any D/S/C, after breaking Maiden, it's a claimer or retired.
- Simple and more realistic.

Summary

I leave the entry fees open to negotiation, but feel they should remain relatively close to what's already in place.
If the current costs of the Generals is indeed what is causing limited participation at the Top, then the price should be lowered one level down from the current price.
Which would then mean that the requirements (stable earnings) for shed eligibility should also be raised to compensate for increased G2 and G1 tournament action.
By basically forcing slower horses into claiming, the claim game becomes more real world. Where instead of it being a guessing game of trying to claim a high BSR first time starter( because those horses would have Maiden available), players would actually need to look at past performances and determine if a horse is a good investment. The claim game should be mainly for slower horses, underachievers, not champions!

In closing, I don't own this game nor am I a part of HRF management.
So I am not involved in any aspect of game development, marketing nor anything else. I know my place!
But I'm offering this idea from many players' perspective.
I'm a player who loves the game, no matter it's form. A player who talks to many other players, new and old,about every aspect of the game. And a player who is, by far, the best who ever played the game.
LMAO!
Just seeing if anyone was paying attention, especially my Mentor, who actually is the best! But I do think I'm at least in the Top 1000!
So I do have a small amount of gravitas! LOL!

I fully understand that doing something like this may be far off into the future,or more likely never, but as I said earlier, this blog is mainly for my records.
So when Mr C . finally decides to see things differently,in 2017, I can dig this piece up and ask him," What took you so long?"
ROFL, just kidding!

Ok, I think I have it all out of my system.
I will now shut up and play, which means you're all Toast.

Special thanks to everyone who gave their input, you can check out my other blogs to see the evolution and input from many players. And see that it is all worth it. Many of our ideas from the first "Brainstorm" have been implemented. That's why I never give up!

Cast of Characters

Ronwar---overall structure and Maiden system (vas enhanced)
Racodo---revamped Open Instas
Vasdef----restricted lower Instas
Chris and many others---fewer horses in one turn sprints
Big Dog---low to high purse structure
Racodo,Mod---- ungraded lower tourneys
Sundown---- motivation, lol,
Ruffiano, DV and many others---quicker tournaments, one race tournaments( the fix is more emphasis on Claimers, in a fair system)
JB----Stricter graded tourneys(non-mixing of grades),General class system
Tyolds,Sassteve and many others---lower tourney cost
Soundofrum and many others---Maiden tournaments
Brusko,Vasdef,Ronwar and others----Blue/General structure
Everybody, including Flyingdaaka and Jaycat---MORE D/S/C for all horses, stop the discrimination! lol

The End

• vasdef's blog