Paul Heinrich's Quick Start Guide to the SIM

Here you will find rules, instructions and documentation about playing SIMHorseRacing.com
Forum rules
Do not to post anything abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, or sexually-orientated.
Do not post anything negative about any player.
No advertising other games.
The management reserves the right to delete or lock threads and messages at any time.
Read the complete SIM rules and legal information.
Locked
User avatar
The Steward
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16522
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: So Cal!
Contact:

Paul Heinrich's Quick Start Guide to the SIM

Post by The Steward »

(Originally posted by Paul Heinrich)

This is the best quick advice I can give to someone starting out or starting over:

1) Figure out what your short and long term goals are. Start with one or two divisions at a time, ie dirt sprinters, paints, steeplechasers, etc. Keep in mind, routing among thoroughbreds is a very tough and competitive division (dirt and turf alike), so if you want to go that way, be prepared to be very patient. You also want to decide early on if you have the patience, time and persistence to build and operate a large barn, or if you're better suited to keeping a smaller racing string. From what you've said, it sounds like you want a smaller barn.

2) Troll the player's auctions and Alaska claiming races for diamonds in the rough that others don't have patience for. Target horses in those divisions you want to focus on.

3) Be diligent about keeping your numbers down. Limit the number of fillies you purchase. Geld every colt in your barn not bred by the Steward or another top player. For people who don't mind a large stable, I'd ease up on this one and say you can let the cream rise to the top; but if you are serious about running a small stable, and/or care a great deal about your trainer percentages, you have no need to bother with any potential stallions who aren't Steward-bred (or Nalbone-bred, etc).

4) Play the claiming game. Buy low, sell dear. This requires you to really hit #2 hard, but you can turn a nice profit with cheap horses (provided you've picked good cheap horses). Pick up a few older geldings with good earnings who have just been dropped down into low claimers (20k and under). If they've won the race, go ahead and place them above the price you paid for them. Do this with horses you pick up in player auctions as well. If you get a 1-10k horse, there's no good reason you shouldn't be running them in 15k claimers. If they're claimed, it's a profit. If they do well, move them up. If they don't do well, tinker with equipment, and/or send to Alaska. Just don't get too attached to the first string of horses you get, the idea is to move up.

5) Once you've gotten good at the claiming game and made some money, start scouting out the TBS auctions, as these are the real difference makers. Pay attention to when the TBS auctions open, and bid early and often those first 2 days. If you spread out your underbids, you increase the chances of landing a horse, and if you don't have a large bankroll, you aren't really in a position to be too choosy. As a rule of thumb, don't ever bid more than half your bankroll on any given horse, no matter how much you want her. Even TBS horses bust, and you don't want all your eggs in one basket.

6) Take advantage of the community around you, and the opportunities you have to make money. Browse the forums often, participate in the discussions, and write articles. These are all good ways to learn the game. The more familiar you become with what works and what doesn't work, the better trainer you'll be.

Good luck!
"There's no secret to training a good horse. It's a matter of being fortunate enough to get one."
"Funny how you often regret the stuff you didn't do more than the stuff you did do" - GG
Locked