DerbyDreamer.com - Vinery Fantasy Game

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I emailed the people running the contest. Read the bottom part first.


Hi David,

thanks for your interest in DerbyDreamer.com!

Yes, the scoring will start March 1st,

and yes, you will need to pick 18 horses and 5 jockeys once you sign up.
The 2 year olds will be added at a later stage. You could focus on Triple
Crown races and races for the older horses now and get a second stable
later in the year, as we will probably have a separate 2 year old
competition.

Regards,

DerbyDreamer.com


> Hello!
> When does scoring for the competition actually start? March 1?
>
> Also, do we need to fill up all roster spots immediately, or can we
> reserve empty spots for new horses later in the year, say for two year old
> racing?
>
> Thank you!
> David

So they will have a separate competition (and prize pool) for 2-year olds later in the year.

For the initial competition (for the 3-year olds and older horses), I imagine that players will have to purchase new entries/stables to be competitive (more money for the sponsors of the game) later in the year as I cannot imagine a stable that is picked in February being competitive in September. New stables can be purchased at any time with each stable having a 12-month duration for the $12 fee. I wonder how much the prize winners each month will have to fork out for their winning stables to make sure they have the horses with the best current form that are actively running in graded stakes races. With the Derby being May 1 -- I can see many new entries at the end of April with Derby horses aiming at the Triple Crown races (which provide extra points).

Interesting premise and set of rules for this game. Many players will have the temptation to purchase new stable entries at the end of each month so they have the best chance of winning in the upcoming months. I would love to be the accountant for the game sponsor to see how much profit this game generates relative to what they were projecting (or if they were projecting prize money paid to exceed revenue received from entries).

I have not watched the How to Play video on the game's web page -- does it go into any of this?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

So they will have a separate competition (and prize pool) for 2-year olds later in the year.

For the initial competition (for the 3-year olds and older horses), I imagine that players will have to purchase new entries/stables to be competitive (more money for the sponsors of the game) later in the year as I cannot imagine a stable that is picked in February being competitive in September. New stables can be purchased at any time with each stable having a 12-month duration for the $12 fee. I wonder how much the prize winners each month will have to fork out for their winning stables to make sure they have the horses with the best current form that are actively running in graded stakes races. With the Derby being May 1 -- I can see many new entries at the end of April with Derby horses aiming at the Triple Crown races (which provide extra points).

Interesting premise and set of rules for this game. Many players will have the temptation to purchase new stable entries at the end of each month so they have the best chance of winning in the upcoming months. I would love to be the accountant for the game sponsor to see how much profit this game generates relative to what they were projecting (or if they were projecting prize money paid to exceed revenue received from entries).

I have not watched the How to Play video on the game's web page -- does it go into any of this?

Have not watched the video.

Here is what else I've learned from them.

Dubai won't count.
They are debating on whether or not to people will be able to view other peoples stables.
They may make public groups where members can see each others stables.

I suggested to them that they need a yearly, or final prize, because of people such as myself, you and DrugS will obviously buy a new stable for each month. Obviously a stable bought for March will be hopeless against a stable bought in October, thus anyone with any savvy will do the monthly purchase.

Since they state they want to draw newbies to the game, I am hopeful that by adding a year end prize, this will keep people who purchased stables early into the game with the hopes of cashing in on the long term goal.

Even if they bring in a contest end prize, people like us will buy new stables each month.

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Here is what else I've learned from them.

They are debating on whether or not to people will be able to view other peoples stables.
They may make public groups where members can see each others stables.

Hmmn. I bought my stable around 5:30pm today, activated my horses/jockeys at about 5:45pm. I noticed that I got credit for a John Velazquez 2nd place finish and got dinged for a Rafael Bejarano 4th place finish in races that I think went off before my jockeys were activated.

I hope that stables that are created on Saturday after the Santa Anita Grade 1 races are run do not get any points for these races. Making the stables public would definitely help the integrity of the game. I would think that such testing would have been extensively performed before the game was released to the public.

Now I know why the TVG Fantasy game requires you to pick and activate your horses the day before.

Good thing I waited until the Santa Anita entries were out before I created my stable as I would have selected a couple horses that were not entered on Saturday (The Usual QT and Evening Jewel). There are a number of good horses running in the Santa Anita G1 races on Saturday (Fluke, Proviso, Ever a Friend, Neko Bay) that are not available to be picked. Also, if My Baby Baby or Mushka were going to take on Zenyatta the following week in the Grade 1, they are not available either. I held off on selecting Jeranimo after he got post 14 in the Big Cap -- a horse by Congaree could have trouble at 10 furlongs. I decided to inactivate Lookin at Lucky as he is not a lock running on dirt in the Rebel (against Dublin and Super Saver if Super Saver does not go to Tampa). With so few Grade 1 races in March, I also had to activate both Rule and Eskenderaya for the Florida Derby, even if one of them waits to run in April in the Wood Memorial.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

a horse by Congaree could have trouble at 10 furlongs.

Based on what?

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Based on what?

My impression that Congaree was an awesome miler (it was not an authoritative statement). I have another Congaree, Kettle River, in my RTTR stable. In the DerbyDreamer game, I decided to take Misremembered from post 13 instead (I personally prefer the Candy Ride pedigree over Congaree at 10 furlongs and Misremembered has done well from outside posts in the past).

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

My impression that Congaree was an awesome miler (it was not an authoritative statement). I have another Congaree, Kettle River, in my RTTR stable. In the DerbyDreamer game, I decided to take Misremembered from post 13 instead (I personally prefer the Candy Ride pedigree over Congaree at 10 furlongs and Misremembered has done well from outside posts in the past).

For what its worth Congarees offspring AWD is 6.9 fur

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Without being able to view stables or having a timestamp like they do at TVG Fantasy .... it would be incredibly easy for a person with keys (an admin) to cheat. and win under friends names.

Whoever Vinery paid to do the admin of that contest ... I hope they're either the worlds most honest person or people or just plain dumb beyond belief ... because they have the power to change things after the fact with 100% deniability.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

Hmmn. I bought my stable around 5:30pm today, activated my horses/jockeys at about 5:45pm. I noticed that I got credit for a John Velazquez 2nd place finish and got dinged for a Rafael Bejarano 4th place finish in races that I think went off before my jockeys were activated.

I hope that stables that are created on Saturday after the Santa Anita Grade 1 races are run do not get any points for these races. Making the stables public would definitely help the integrity of the game. I would think that such testing would have been extensively performed before the game was released to the public.

Now I know why the TVG Fantasy game requires you to pick and activate your horses the day before.

Good thing I waited until the Santa Anita entries were out before I created my stable as I would have selected a couple horses that were not entered on Saturday (The Usual QT and Evening Jewel). There are a number of good horses running in the Santa Anita G1 races on Saturday (Fluke, Proviso, Ever a Friend, Neko Bay) that are not available to be picked. Also, if My Baby Baby or Mushka were going to take on Zenyatta the following week in the Grade 1, they are not available either. I held off on selecting Jeranimo after he got post 14 in the Big Cap -- a horse by Congaree could have trouble at 10 furlongs. I decided to inactivate Lookin at Lucky as he is not a lock running on dirt in the Rebel (against Dublin and Super Saver if Super Saver does not go to Tampa). With so few Grade 1 races in March, I also had to activate both Rule and Eskenderaya for the Florida Derby, even if one of them waits to run in April in the Wood Memorial.

This is a great point- please let them know ASAP

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by philcski

This is a great point- please let them know ASAP

I am just not sure what time it was exactly when my horses were activated. I was assuming the game would leave a time stamp like the RTTR game. I think the Bejarano race went off at 5:35pm but the Velazquez race went off before 5:00pm. I just remember going to watch the 6th feature race at Santa Anita after I activated my stable and the Bejarano race (the 4th) was long over. I don't think my stable reflects Bejarano's performance in the 6th and 7th races yet (there must be a time lag but contestants cannot create winning stables during this time lag). However, I did send them an e-mail about the time lag asking if there is protection built into the game to prevent stables from being created and earning points for races that have already run.

I am only buying one stable for the first month until I have confidence in this game. For $10K and Derby tickets, I would think they would review and reveal the winning stables at the end of the month.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

I am just not sure what time it was exactly when my horses were activated. I was assuming the game would leave a time stamp like the RTTR game. I think the Bejarano race went off at 5:35pm but the Velazquez race went off before 5:00pm. I just remember going to watch the 6th feature race at Santa Anita after I activated my stable and the Bejarano race (the 4th) was long over. I don't think my stable reflects Bejarano's performance in the 6th and 7th races yet (there must be a time lag but contestants cannot create winning stables during this time lag). However, I did send them an e-mail about the time lag asking if there is protection built into the game to prevent stables from being created and earning points for races that have already run.

I am only buying one stable for the first month until I have confidence in this game. For $10K and Derby tickets, I would think they would review and reveal the winning stables at the end of the month.

Me too- I would like to be able to see what horses people have in their stable in real time. Someone has 1,456 points already. I'd like to know what horses he chose because that's basically impossible with the scores shown on the horse results page...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by philcski

Me too- I would like to be able to see what horses people have in their stable in real time. Someone has 1,456 points already. I'd like to know what horses he chose because that's basically impossible with the scores shown on the horse results page...

Maybe he/she has a bunch of imaginary friends they referred to the contest?

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

However, I did send them an e-mail about the time lag asking if there is protection built into the game to prevent stables from being created and earning points for races that have already run.

Here is their response. They must be making adjustments on the fly as I noticed I have went from 17 points to 12 points from yesterday to today (not sure where as 1 Velazquez race got me 12 points and 3 Bejarano races got me -5,+15,-5 and the race that Bejarano won was after I activated my jockeys). Maybe they took alway all my Bejarano points from yesterday as he got me 5 total points I highly doubt these small point changes will make or break me in the contest.

Hello,

Great observation. Yes, there is protection. Every result carries a time and new contestants will not get points if they sign up after this time. We experienced a case which made us aware of the scenario you described, but the point standings have been corrected.

Regards,

Finn
DerbyDreamer.com

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Without being able to view stables or having a timestamp like they do at TVG Fantasy .... it would be incredibly easy for a person with keys (an admin) to cheat. and win under friends names.

Whoever Vinery paid to do the admin of that contest ... I hope they're either the worlds most honest person or people or just plain dumb beyond belief ... because they have the power to change things after the fact with 100% deniability.

Great point... right now I'm glad I only paid for 1 entry until they work out the kinks. Could be a fun contest but I'm skeptical at the moment for the reasons I stated before.

Originally Posted by mbahadur

Here is their response. They must be making adjustments on the fly as I noticed I have went from 17 points to 12 points from yesterday to today (not sure where as 1 Velazquez race got me 12 points and 3 Bejarano races got me -5,+15,-5 and the race that Bejarano won was after I activated my jockeys). Maybe they took alway all my Bejarano points from yesterday as he got me 5 total points I highly doubt these small point changes will make or break me in the contest.

Hello,

Great observation. Yes, there is protection. Every result carries a time and new contestants will not get points if they sign up after this time. We experienced a case which made us aware of the scenario you described, but the point standings have been corrected.

Regards,

Finn
DerbyDreamer.com

Thanks for posting this and writing to them. I'm still skeptical of the points earned by the leaders to date. There's only been a few eligible horses to even race... as for Sightseek's point about referrals, the maximum per period is 250 points which still doesn't make up for the difference.