Feedback/Suggestions for Year 23 Handicapping Contest

[Franky Dam]

In an effort to improve the year 23 Handicapping Contest, I'd like to take into consideration any comments/complaints/suggestions people may have. Do you want more races, less races, no real races (not happening, but you can try), different prizes, etc?

Right now the two things I'm leaning towards changing are the way points are awarded and possibly adding another day for the standardbred racing. (Sorry to the other mixed breeds, I'm a harness fan.)

Last year points were awards on a 6-3-1 basis. I'm thinking of changing it to 5-2-1. 3rd place will be weighted a little higher this way and no longer will 2 2nd's = a 1st in this system. Let me know what everyone thinks.

[Steph Lonhro]

maybe equal amount of sim and rl races is about only thing I can recommend

[Emma Lochran]

I think the 5-2-1 point system might work well. I really don't think you need to change much Franky.

[Ronnie Dee]

I suggest that if the winner of a RL (Real Life) race goes off at odds greater than 5-1, the odds are awarded for the win with a maximum of 25.
Examples:
RL Winner @ 3-2 is awarded 5 points
RL Winner @ 12.5-1 is awarded 12.5 points
RL Winner @ 99.9-1 is awarded 25 points

[Eric Nalbone]

I would be against the inclusion of real life races this year (perhaps Year 24), for the simple reason that at least early in the year, there's no form to evaluate. It would be a complete shot in the dark, basically randomly giving some players a "head start" on others for the simple fact that they picked random horses correctly rather than used any sort of handicapping skill.

[Franky Dam]

I like the idea of bonus points for longer shot horses that win. But I'm thinking that the bonus will be a little less than you are recommending. Something like +5 points for 8-1 to 14-1 and +10 points for 15-1 or higher winners. This isn't definite so if you don't like this idea, let me know.

As for the real life races, Thanksgiving weekend has a bunch of good races and there are still 4 grade 1's left in December. After that there are no grade 1's until Feb. The sim opening weekend there isn't much going on in the real life stakes so that might be an all SIM week but real-life races will be used if they get decent fields with no heavy favorites. Sim races were considerably harder for me to pick since there are so many to choose from and I didn't know the good horses in the beginning. This year should be a little bit easier, hopefully....

Also there will be definately be a Harness contest for Wednesdays where that will strictly be Sim Dollars as a prize and the Friday contests will be strictly GP's. No real life races will be used for the Wednesday contest mainly because who wants to wait 3-4 days for the results, I know I don't. I will also keep yearly standings for the Harness contest but not going to promise anything yet.

[Benny James]

hi there,

my two cents are ....keep it fun and keep it simple....
I don't want this have to become a chore for you as opposed to having it fun for you
So whatever changes you do just keep that thaught in your mind

thanks
Bleudot
(benny James Stables)