[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The problem with running in the Arlington Million, if you OWN the horse, is that he wouldn't have been able to run in the P Classic. What sane person chooses a million dollar race where he would be, at best, 5-1 over one where he is going to be even money?

To compare Secretariat running in the two final races he ran in is a bit ridiculous. First of all, he had already been syndicated for what was at the time an enormous amount of money. Second of all, the grass races he chose had similar, if not better, purses than the dirt alternatives ( actually the only race he skipped was the JCGC which was also two miles at that time ). He was also 1-2 and 1-5 in the two grass races....hardly comparable to what Lava Man's chances would have been in the Arlington Million.

Look, when I play Gallop Racer I follow your approach in race selection. I choose fun spots to see how my horse stacks up with tough competition. But, real life thoroughbred racing is not a video game, as there is a LOT of money at stake. I also don't think you would be wrong in every situation ( I always thought Azeri running the same boring campaign two years in a row, especially in light of all the other spots she could have run in for more money and prestige, was a bit boring and gutless). However, I think your overall view is haphazard at best and unrealistic. Overall the idea is to find the best spots for horses and your specific ideas of creativity fly in the face of sanity.

How freaking great is Gallop Racer. What a game. I still play the 2001 version b/c that's the one they didn't mess up.