Race Schedule Updates

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Hey all.

Quick question to ask all of you - what's something you'd like to see more of in the racing schedule? I am in the process of re-evaluating the racing schedules of all sites, with a focus on GHF as I know the schedule here the best. In order to optimize, I'd like all of your opinions on things that you believe we're missing.

I am thinking of adding non-winner races to the schedule. Essentially, this would mean having a race labeled with something like NW-4 or NW-3. This would mean that horses that hadn't won four or three races, respectively, during this season would not be able to enter. These races would primarily be for older horses (four year old+) and existing races will likely have their conditions modified to accommodate this change.

GHF has a lot of open races, especially early on in the season. Do you guys like open races, or would you rather see restrictions like G5+G4 only? Or just straight out G4 only, G3 only, etc.?

Do you guys feel as though there are enough prep races in the schedule (all sites) for each of the series we have? Those series are the Triple Crown, Turf Triple Crown, etc. as well as the Senior Superstars Series and the Senior Turf Series and other senior counterparts.

Do you guys want BSD to have more 3yo-only races past June?

I'm also adding HoF memorial races to the schedule, and I might add BHoF memorial races as well. Usually, memorial races are G4+ and HoTY. Would you guys like to see some restricted to 3yos and 2yos only, or should we keep them open-age as they are right now?

I think that's all of my questions, though I'd really appreciate as detailed responses as you guys can give us. Thanks!

[Cruisey]

Honestly I find HOTY sprinter races hard to find for both older horses and 3yos early on in the season, like for horses who have already established a higherish grade and want to run in HOTY's usually have to wait till April-June to really get racing. Same with my 3yo sprinters, example Innerstellar, who has only raced a handful of times in HoTY competition (7 times to be exact). I mean, im not sure if thats a problem for anyone else but personally I would've liked to get him rolling earlier on in the season in terms of HoTY.

I personally don't really like open races early on, especially the 2yo ones here. I find there are too many open 2yo races here instead of grade restricted ones (which I'd much rather enter my ponies in cause I don't want them to get crushed xD)

I do like your idea of restricted 2yo/3yo memorial races and the NW-4/3 thing, it would add a bit more realism to the racing aspect of it (and who knows, maybe it would be easier too especially for horses with a bad case of second or thirditis xD)

[creativecause]

I agree with cruisey we need more early year HOTY sprinting races (I've noticed this with my turf sprinters so it isn't just a dirt sprint issue). I think Kenny is on this but more G3ish 3yo restricted races would be nice too so we could spread them out some and they aren't always ending up facing HOTY horses in an undercard race. That's just what I've noticed anyways.

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Thanks guys Here's what I got so far:

1. More restricted 2yo and 3yo races (esp. G5 for 2yos, G3 for 3yos - maybe have one for G2 3yos?)
2. More early-season HOTY sprinting races
3. We like the NW restriction
4. Potentially just eliminate open races entirely, or restrict them a lot more severely in terms of grade

Keep the suggestions coming!

5. Need distance 2yo races in May and June