I'm going to aproach the area of class from a different angle. Instead of of explaining how horses sort themselves out, I'll explain how the different SIM tracks relate to each other.
First, lets gather available information materials from around the SIM site. In the tip-sheet look-up page find the Kentuckiana tip-sheet site. Look for the link "Track Ratings and Purses", make a copy of it. This page gives you the dollar amounts of all allowance purses of each track. (At this time the tracks of Alabama and Oklahoma have not been added, you can write their information on the page yourself.) Now lets go to the home page of Simulated Sports. On the left hand side, scroll down to the link Articles, click on it. There are two different articles we need; How To Enter Your Horse At The Right Track", and "Using Relative Class of Each Track To Enter And Ship Your Horses". Make a copy of these also, you can always refer to them.
The most direct link between a horses class and man's ability to classify his own perception of class among thoroughbreds, is monotary. In other words, it's bsed on dollar amounts, money.
Look at Unbridled's; "Purse Amount" page. If you pay attention to the MSW (Maiden Special Weight) purses of the different tracks, you will be able to tell which track has higher priced purses than the other. Use the purses as a guide to scale the SIM tracks. The other pages both have the tracks broken down into groups according to their purse amounts. With these pages you can clearly see the relationships between the tracks.
I was talking to another player recently, complementing her placement of one of her horses in an up-coming race. By dropping the horse to a track class level where the horse would not have a hard time winning. The horse was clearly capable of a higher class, but his record showed he was in need of a win to wake him up so to speak. Competing at a higher class level also means, competing for higher purse amounts, which means more money earned per race. The 4/5 odds on her horse also indicated a higher class track is in order. But understand; that if the same group of horses were all entered at a higher class track, the odds of each horse would be the same. Sometimes competing at a higher class track the competition might be easier than the same race carded at a lower class track. This is why you should always shop around to put your horse in the most favorable company for him to win.
Understand this also; the more wins at the right class level, the more stable and powerful your horse will become. It's a difficult task sometimes, but this is where you play a big part in your horses racing future. Deciding when and where to race your horse.
Then when you finally get it worked out for one horse, remember, there are other horses in your stable that deserve the same attention.
Always set it up for your horse so that in every race your horse gains something positive from the race, even when it's not a win.
By using and understanding Track Class you will put your horse in many favorable conditions.
July 3, 1999
