It seems everyone is getting into the horse racing video game craze. Except, of course, the fans.
The AAEP issued a white paper, I assume the paper itself was white-hence the clever name, with recommendations for the improvement of the game. One recommendation I found intriguing was the notion, in claiming races, for the original owner of the horse to keep the horse, if, it in fact, breaks down during the race. This, in theory, would keep unsavory trainers from dumping horses just to get rid of them.
I am interested in your thoughts on this. Especially from those who know the claiming game.
17 February 2009
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The Bid
Greatest horse ever to look through a bridle
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5 comments:
Personally, I've never been able to get into racing video games. I just can't accept that no matter what I do, a computer is going to decide whether I win the race or if my horse bucks the jockey. In real life, if something goes wrong there is usually an excuse, an explanation or at least someone to yell at. in the games, I'm getting screwed over by a microchip. It's a powerless feeling.
As for keeping the broken down claimers, I have mixed emotions.
It would definitely increase the confidence of people making claims knowing they are making a safer investment. At the same time, the risk of buying a dead horse is part of the claiming game. If one is to make a claim, they should have done enough research on the horse to know whether it is sound or a breakdown risk.
Mibred-I am all for personal accountability and doing one's homework, the only problem I see with that argument is the lack of transparency that shrouds the claiming game.
If there were an injury report, like football, then one could argue for leaving the game as it is. With the secrecy so prevalent on the backstretch and the proliferation of drugs and what not, I don't see how anyone could make an informed opinion. The whole thing is a crapshoot...
One could argue, that is part of the game but without transparency, it is flawed, to this outsiders eyes.
There is anecdotal evidence that Michael Gill is a scumbag and just a butcher, yet he is still in the game and the "authorities" do nothing to curb his practices. If there were legitimate enforcement and harsh penalties for violation of the rules, then the situation would be different.
Anyway, I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about. Thanks for reading.
I remember how stunned I was when I found out that in the United States, the claim is made BEFORE the race. No wonder trainers dump broken-down horses and hope that somebody takes the bait. In France, claims are made AFTER the race. At least you can see if the horse you want to buy still has four legs after the race - and is still breathing. Does anybody know the breakdown rates in U.S. claimers vs. other races? Now THAT would be an interesting statistic.
Unfortunately, taken as a group, the AAEP proposals are exactly the wrong approach to protecting claiming horses and will make whatever problems exist worse rather than better. I'll be blogging on this in the next day or two.
I have a Breeders Cup game on my cell phone. I kid you not, it consists of buying tips from shady strangers, betting on said tips, and winning gobs of money, which you then use to keep buying upgrades on your apartment (you also can "buy" upgraded significant others as you get richer). And, yes, this game really was sponsored by the Breeders Cup, has the logo and everything.
I think it does a lot for the sport's integrity, don't you?
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