Indepth guide to Ladbrokes Raceclubs - the ultimate horse racing game

Ladbrokes Raceclubs is one of the most technically advanced racing games on the net. This guide explains how you can make advantage of this virtual horse racing game and how you can play the game. To register at Ladbrokes Raceclubs go to Ladbrokes Games, click on Virtual Sports and you will see the link to ladbrokes raceclubs. Everything you need to know about Ladbrokes Raceclubs, the best virtual horse racing community. Buy a Virtual HorseThe first thing you need to do is to select a virtual horse. Go to the Sales Ring to buy one horse at a time or multiple horses at once using the bulk purchaser. Alternatively you can place a bid on a horse in the Auctioning facility. A horse will cost you US$15.00 in the sales ring, or you can place a minimum bid of US$15.00 on a horse in Auction. The monthly stabling fee starts at US$2.00 and reduces to US$0.00 depending on how many times a horse is raced. You will receive a US$0.50 DISCOUNT on the stabling fee every time you race your horse, up to a maximum saving of the total stabling fee, being US$2.00. There is also a cap of US$100.00 on the monthly total stabling fee for any stable in any one calendar month. When you buy a horse, you will choose:

A name for your horse;
A color (Black, Bay, Chestnut or Grey);
The age (Two or three year old);
The sex (Male or female); and
Whether to pay the upfront supplementary fee for your horse.

The supplementary fee (plus one win) gives your horse access into the qualifying races for the Challenge series - the BIG stakes races. Pay $5 now for the fee, or spend $100 later, once you know if your horse is a potential winner. Each virtual horse comes with its own unique profile and racing characteristics. There are 100,000 derivations of virtual horses in the sales ring. It is up to you to determine what the racing characteristics of your horses are. All horses purchased will initially not be graded. After a horse has run two consecutive races (excluding claiming races) at 90%+ fitness, the horse will be graded as either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 contender - based primarily on genetic seeding identified in training, as well as race temperament identified in racing and race results in the first 2 runs of the horse. All horses have a chance to race competitively and it is ultimately you who decides if your horse has what it takes to win the BIG prize money! A Ladbrokes Virtual Racing Season represents 4 calendar months and your virtual horse's potential lifespan is 7 years or 28 calendar months. Every horse is subject to ageing at the beginning of every Season. Your horse may improve with ageing or it may go backwards relative to its peer group. These performance changes will not result in your horse being re-graded. Design your silksChoose your silks by picking which design and colours best represent your honourable stable. Take your time, as these silks will become your identity for your very own stable of virtual horses. There is nothing more exhilarating than seeing your horse and silks thundering down the finishing straight in first position. Design your first set of silks for FREE. Silks cost US$10.00 thereafter if you want to replace your current set. Once you have chosen your silks and first horse, go into your Basket to conclude your purchase. Thereafter you will be ready to train and then race your horse. Training your virtual horseYou may train your horse three times daily - this is free with your monthly stabling fee.You should use training sessions to achieve three objectives:

To assess what your horse's innate characteristics and racingability is over different track surfaces, distances and conditions;
To assess which products enhance your horse's performance; and
To get your horse to a competitive fitness level.

Racing AbilityTraining or Time Trials races are used to determine what race conditions best suit your horse before nominating for its first race. The Time Trial horse represents a benchmark against which you can measure the ability of your horse over various conditions. You should always select the age and sex of a Time Trial horse that is equivalent to the age and sex of your horse. Each horse has a preferred distance, track type and going (track surface condition generally determined by the prevailing weather). Methodically select different distances and track conditions for training and assess what your horse prefers. You will develop an understanding of the optimal racing distance and track condition for your horse. The genetic seeding of your horse is identified during training, and grading will be predominantly based on the genetic seeding of your horse. FitnessTraining your horse improves its fitness. Each virtual horse is acquired at a fitness level of 50% and has a fitness gauge (only displayed to you, the owner) that runs from 50% to 100%. You can improve your horse's performance in races by improving its fitness level. Be careful not to push your horse beyond 100% fitness. Once a horse goes over the top, the fitness gauge reverts to 50% and it can take time to regain peak racing fitness. No negative effects are experienced when training your horse on a daily basis. A horse's fitness will not decline during a period of inactivity and it will retain its existing fitness level until you train it or race it again. A horse must run in 2 consecutive races at 90%+ fitness to be graded as either a Grade 1 or Grade 2 horse. The fitness gauge will increase based on your actions as follows (all randomly):Training gallops (between 2%-5%)Races (between 0%-4%)Vitamins (between 5%-10%) The Time Trial Race history of each horse is stored, so you can view its training gallops at a future date as well. Tip: Train your horse methodically. Plan a series of training gallops over different distances and conditions, which will give you a good guideline as to your horse's preferred racing conditions. Also, note how much the performance of your horse changes over the same distance and condition after the application of performance enhancing products. Apply Tack shop productsAll tack shop products are optional, but powerful tools in giving your horse the speed, endurance and adaptability that it may require to be a winner in virtual horse racing. Products have a different impact on the performance of each horse, so you should use your training sessions to assess the impact of products on your horse. The products available on LadbrokeRaceclubs.com are:

Vitamins - a supplement, which will improve fitness by between 5 and 10%. Performance will generally increase by between 2 to 2.5 lengths as the fitness gauge moves to 100%.
Gelding - If your colt's performances have been lacklustre and disappointing, he's ready for the cruellest cut of all. It could transform him into a racing machine, generally improving his ability by between 0 and 3 lengths.
Alumites - a high performance shoe that is lighter and more effective than the standard racing shoe that your horse comes with. Alumites may be taken off and reapplied during the 30 days that they are valid for. By selecting the Multi-apply feature, you can automatically replace alumites that have expired. They may generally improve performance between 0 and 2 lengths.
Blinkers - Blinkers usually improve a horse's performance, but may sometimes be detrimental. They may be removed and reapplied, however. Impact on performance is generally -1 to +1 length.

The table below gives the price, effect on gauge, and longevity of each product: Product Price Effect on Gauge Longevity Vitamins $2 5%-10% Expires after 30 days Gelding $5 No effect Does not expire Alumites $2 No effect Expires after 30 days Blinkers $2 No effect Do not expire Nominate your horseThe time has arrived for you to race your virtual horse against other members, and to get your hands onto the lucrative prize money! On a daily basis there are selections of different races attracting different prize pools. These are offered over a variety of tracks, distances and conditions. On the Nomination page you can select a race to nominate your horse into. When you select to nominate a horse, all races that your horse is eligible for will automatically be displayed. Races will be carded according to grade eligibility. To be graded a horse has to run in two grading races at a fitness of at least 90%. A horse may compete up in grades, but a graded horse may not compete in lower grade races. Claiming races are open to all grades. Each stable can race a maximum of four horses in any one race instance, and each horse can only run in one race per day. The minimum number of entrants for a race to run is 3 and the maximum 14. Should more than 14 runners be nominated, a second instance of the race is automatically generated. A race closes and becomes an upcoming race either an hour before the race is scheduled or once the race has been filled. Nomination fees will range as follows:Grade 1 - $10.00 to $50.00Grade 2 - $2.00 to $10.00Non-graded (including Claimers) - $2.00 to $50.00 Racing for prize moneyYou can view the details of a race, see the results, and view a race from the Race Calendar. This is what a race looks like on the race calendar: All nomination fees are accumulated in a prize pool (net of a 15% administrative fee) and the first three / four horses share the prize money (dependent on the number of runners). If there are 4 or more runners, and you are placed in the top 4, you are assured a share of the stakes as follows: If there are 3 runners, then you are assured a share of the stakes as follows: 1st = 60%, 2nd = 25%, 3rd = 15%. Grade 1 races are the most lucrative, attracting high sponsorship and profile. Grade 2 races attract lower stakes but still provide you with lots of fun and entertainment. A number of factors determine the outcome of a race, including:1. A horse's innate ability;2. Its fitness level;3. Applied products;4. The draw;5. Distance, track surface and going;6. Handicapping;7. Environmental element (even a good horse may have an off day). The highlight of each racing season is the Challenge Finals where owners who have prepared their 2, 3 and 4-7 year old Grade 1 horses through a series of qualifying races, compete for the big prize Challenge Finals. Each season, members have won tens of thousands in real prize money - you may just be the next big winner! If you feel that a particular horse no longer has a place in your stable, then you can either:1. Place the horse in a Claiming Race - another member may see potential in your horse and claim it.2. Auction your horse where the minimum bid will be $15 and you may even get a higher bid for that horse; or3. Retire your horse. Before you do any of the above, you should ensure that you have raced your horse in its designated races and studied its characteristics - by applying your individual success strategy your horse may still provide you with stakes winning opportunities. Watching your horse raceThe 3D Race Viewer graphically displays a race on your screen. You can watch all your horses running in Time Trials runs as well as races. You are able to identify your horses by means of your unique silks, color of your horse, as well as the saddlecloth number of your horse for that race. You'll be glued to your screen, watching your horse tense in the starting gates, waiting to charge ahead. All your training and stable management comes down to this moment? As with real racing, a horse with mediocre genetics can surprise and become a good prospect. Conversely, a horse with good genetics can disappoint in race performance, sometimes as a result of low determination or perhaps from race selection that does not suit the horse. The true ability will however still lurk there, waiting to be revealed. It is the owner's challenge to discover the best that each horse has to offer and hopefully find a champion.