Post by Final Furlong on Jul 24, 2008 17:20:04 GMT -5
Okay, so, here's the rules and guidelines and tutorials that I have for Final Furlong! I forgot these weren't posted here.
This is taken directly from the NEW WEBSITE that I am setting up to give Final Furlong a new, updated look. Don't worry, no major changes will be made, but everything is going to be completely streamlined, with a new look, new name, and some new additions on a trial basis. I hope to unveil this sometime before July of game time.
Basic Rules
- One Final Furlong stable per person.
- One week in real life will be one month on Final Furlong (ideally).
- Each stable starts with $2,000,000. You must keep track of your money.
- Be polite to other members.
- The Final Furlong is a virtual stable game. Everything to do with the game is not real.
- If you break the rules repeatedly or are inactive, you will be removed.
- Be sure to check the message board for updates.
Racing
- When you receive your horses' information, you will receive the following:
Age
Sex
Pedigree (Sire - Dam, by Dam's Sire)
State or country bred
You will then name your horses and receive the following information back:
Color
Trainer's Notes
- Among The Elite is currently run under the Stretch Drive program. Some basic information on the trainer's notes that you will receive on your horses is as follows.
Format:
Breaking Speed
Running (or "cruising") Speed
Late Run (or burst of power)
Stamina (distance the horse may run)
Consistency
Surface ("steeplechase" refers to "turf")
Running Style (i.e.: closer, sprinter, etc.)
Courage (or "heart")
It is up to you to interpret your horses' abilities through the trainer's notes. Sometimes, a horse's ability may be better or worse than the notes indicate, so you must also monitor your horses' performances month to month.
- It is your job as trainer to determine your horse's ability. When you first start racing a horse, you may not find its best distance or surface right away. No trainer ever knows how a horse will take to racing. Typically, you start your horse off in a maiden race and move them up if they run well.
Running well may be relative. Some trainers like their horses to win a maiden race before they enter an allowance. However, you may decide that they are good enough to be moved up sooner. You may also decide to skip the maiden level altogether. The decision is up to you.
It is advised not to just jump your horse into Grade I company or "throw him to the wolves" right away. Horses need conditioning and experience. Some horses will be better at shorter distances, some horses will do well right away at graded stakes, and others will need time. Your job is to figure out your horses. If you are completely stuck, you can always get advice.
Some horses might not be cut out to race at all, even if they are well-bred. The track may not appeal to them. You can try running them as claimers or retire them to your breeding shed.
Some horses may not be better until they are older. This will often be the case with two-year-olds. Two-year-old races won't ever be longer than 9 furlongs (except the International Gold Cup races in December). If your horse is a distance horse, they should be slowly conditioned in the shorter races, but don't expect too much from them until they can run at a longer distance.
I know that these rules are vague, but in real life, there aren't any rules at all. The easiest and most efficient way for you to determine your horse's ability is to think about it like this: You are a real-life trainer with real-life horses. What would you do with a maiden? A claimer? A stakes winner? A GI winner? A promising two-year-old?
If you are really having trouble finding a horses' distance, surface, or ability, you may visit the Evergreen Training Center on the forums. You can fill out workout forms and the trainers there will be happy to help you with your horses.
- Races will be posted by track, usually with two or more races ranging from claiming to grade one stakes at each track. There will also be a weather forecast and expected track conditions for you to monitor the track. If you have a horse that consistently does poorly in the mud, you may want to keep him/her on fast tracks.
- Races are presented in the following format:
Race Nine: Travers Stakes 3yo only 1 1/4 miles Dirt $1,000,000 GI
The race's number on the track's card comes first. The name of the race is the Travers Stakes and only three-year-olds may enter. The distance is 1 1/4 miles or 10 furlongs, the surface is dirt, and the purse is $1,000,000. The Travers is a grade one event.
- The types of races in Among The Elite are as follows:
1. Maiden Claiming
Horses entered here have never won a race and also have a claiming tag on them. Another stable may put in a claim on a horse and after the race, that stable will be the new owner of the horse. Old owners cannot deny a claim and cannot run in a claiming race without having their horses up for claim.
2. Claiming
Like maiden claiming races, horses run in these races with a tag on them. Horses that have won before but are not allowance or stakes horses may run in the claiming ranks.
3. Maiden Special Weight
Only horses who have never won a race may run in maiden races. It is the best place for first time starters to run. You might want to keep your eye on these races as well, maidens could become claimers at any moment and their racing past could help you see their ability.
4. Allowance Optional Claiming
Occassionally, you will see an allowance optional claiming race carded. These races are a middle ground between allowance and claiming races. A horse may run here with a high dollar claiming tag, or, as an exception to the claiming race rule, a trainer may opt out of having their horse claimed.
5. Allowance
These are races where maiden winners usually run to gain experience for stakes. They are all mostly straightforward, and some horses may only run once at this level.
6. Listed Stakes
These are the lowest stakes races. They often can be quite competitive and can be somewhat restrictive in conditions.
7. Graded Stakes (III, II, I)
These are the top levels of competition in racing. Stakes horses are very good racehorses. They usually move up the ladder from GIII to II to I and then top GI to gain experience.
- Nomination fees are as follows:
To nominate a stallion to the Breeders' Cup (e.g. All progeny will be nominated), you must pay a one-time fee of $50,000.
Horses must be nominated to the American Triple Crown and Triple Tiara before they turn three years old. The fee for the Triple Crown is $25,000 and the Triple Tiara is $15,000. If a three-year-old is nominated before March but after he/she has turned three, the nomination fee for both series is $200,000. After March, a horse may not be nominated.
As with the American series, horses must be nominated to the British Triple Crown before they turn three. The fee for the British TC is $20,000. If a three-year-old is nominated before March but after he/she has turned three, the nomination fee is $150,000.
- Purse distributions are as follows:
Beginning in January of YXI, the breeder of the winning horse receives 1% of the purse.
(Beginning in March of YVIII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 20% 3rd: 11% 4th: 6% 5th: 2%
(Prior to March of YVIII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 20% 3rd: 10% 4th: 6% 5th: 2%
(Prior to April of YVII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 25% 3rd: 10% 4th: 5%
(Prior to YVI)
1st: 40% 2nd: 30% 3rd: 20% 4th: 10%
- All entries must follow the following guidelines.
1. Entries must be posted by the deadline date unless other arrangements have been made.
2. You may enter up to three horses in any race. There are no entry fees.
3. Fields will be limited to 12 horses per race. If a race draws more, it may be divided into two divisions.
4. Horses may race at any level of racing.
5. Track conditions will vary. The forecast listed at each track will help you decide on where to enter a horse.
6. At least two horses must be entered into a race for it to be run. (This rule was suspended until March, Year Four.)
7. Scratches can be made at any time. You may change your horse's entry from one race to another that is in the same month at no penalty.
8. One race per horse per month except in May and October, and during the British Grand Slam.
9. Please follow the entry format and guidelines as listed on the message board.
- To sponsor a race, or set up a match race, PM me on the message board with the month of the race, its name (waived with a match race), age limitations, purse (you pay full purse amount), and grade. If you are staging a match race, consent from all involved parties must be PMed to me. Have consent before you PM me with the conditions of the match race.
Breeding
- All foals will be posted under Important Announcements on the message board. Please note that when a foal is born, it automatically becomes a yearling.
- Post the names of foals as instructed under the Jockey Club Registry on the message board.
- Mares must be at least three years of age to be bred.
- Stallions must be at least three years of age to be bred.
- Breeding stock must be retired before breeding.
- Mares must be bred to stallions that are alive as of the breeding date, and do not have to be bred every year.
- In order to breed to a stallion owned by another stable, you will have to contact that stable by email or via the message board to ask permission. Most stables will advertise their stallions and accept bookings through the advertisement thread.
- No stable is required to allow you to breed to his or her stallion. Sometimes, stallions have limited books, or the owner may not approve your mare to his/her stallion. You must abide by their decision.
- You may NOT breed to another stable's stallion without permission. If you do, your mare will be declared barren for the year, and you will still owe that stable the stud fee. You will not receive a refund.
- You may breed to stallions outside of the game that no Final Furlong stable owns. You may even breed to pensioned stallions, if he is still alive. All you are required to do is find his stud fee. If the stallion is no longer breeding mares, please use that stallion's last published stud fee. If you cannot find a stud fee for a certain stallion, PM the administrator and she will either find it or contact the farm where the stallion stands and get the stud fee.
- Please do not estimate the stud fee unless approved by the administrator. You may breed to stallions that stand in Europe, Japan, Australia, etc., but you must convert the fee to US dollars and then pay it.
General
- Auction Rules:
1. Larger stables may have auction limits that will only allow them to buy a certain number of horses.
2. No horses that are not yet born may be sold. All horses that are being sold must be at least a yearling.
3. Most auctions will be attended by private buyers outside of the game who will be bidding on the same horses as you.
4. Auctions end on the posted ending date. No exceptions.
5. Auctions begin as soon as they are unlocked on the message board and will vary in length.
- All stables must keep track of their finances. The administrator may audit any stable at any time to see if you are keeping track of your money. You will be required to provide a current total of your money and explain how you came to have that total. Being off a little is fine, but being off millions of dollars will result in a fine between $100,000 and $5,000,000, depending on how flagrant the violation is. Please just keep track of your money. I don't want to do audits and fine stables.
- All fees or fines are listed here:
1. Yearly Taxes: At the end of every year, you will be required to pay yearly taxes. You must pay $1,000 per horse and $5,000 for every grade one stakes victory. After those deductions, you are also required to pay 5% of your final total finances.
2. Horse Abuse Fine: Running or breeding a horse that is injured and has been listed as injured on the Among The Elite website is a very serious offense. The administrator doesno tlook kindly on mistreating your horses. Each infraction of this rule will result in a $500,000 fine. If it happens more than two (2) times, you will be removed from the game. Horses injured will be kept track of on the Entries section of the message board.
3. Non-Nominated Horse Fines: Entering a horse that isn't nominated into a race that requires nominations is a $25,000 fine per horse, per infraction. It is your job to know what races your horse is nominated to.
4. In-Eligible Horse Fines: Entering horses into races they are not eligible for is a $10,000 fine per horse, per infraction. For example, entering a colt in a filly race or entering a two-year-old into a three-year-old and up race will result in the fine. This is not a serious offense and will happen from time to time. The ineligible horse will not run in the race.
5. Vet Bills: From time to time, a horse will require vet care. The costs will be listed along with your horse's injury or illness. You are required to pay this fee or have the horse seized by Among The Elite.
- Every year, Among The Elite members nominate, vote on, and award championship honors to the top horses and stables in the game. To see a list of these awards, please visit the message board under "Eclipse Awards".
Miscellaneous
- Horses on Among The Elite do die. It may be caused by injuries, foaling problems, accidents, or old age. Death notices will be posted as they happen. All horses that are real (for example, Ghostzapper) will die when they die in real life. All other horses will die of old age at the following ages: Broodmares (25 years), Stallions (25 years), Geldings (20 years).
- All horses in Among The Elite will become unable to breed at the age of 20. Some may become barren or infertile before that age, and you may choose to pension a horse before that age.
- All horses must be retired from racing by the age of ten. They cannot race at the age of ten years old.
- Horses must be at least three years old to be retired, unless injured at age two.
- When retiring horses, you must send a PM to the administrator and indicate which horses are retiring and what they will be rtiring as.
- When horses change owners through sales, their abilities may change. Some horses may be happier with new owners, while others may not appreciate their new environment. This may affect their racing abilities slightly or drastically.
- When buying a horse, all information should be obtained from the seller. If the information is incomplete, please contact the administrator.
- The administrator will not settle disagreements between members over any matter. The involved parties must come to terms on their own.
- Names may not be the names of famous horses. That means no Sunday Silences, Cigars, Seattle Slews, Funny Cides, or Ruffians!
- Names may not be the names of other horses within the game, living or dead.
- You may geld any colts or stallions that you have in your stable at any time for a cost of $1,000. This may improve the horse's ability.
- Stables may be closed after extended periods of inactivity. If your stable cannot enter races, you may contact the administrator and inform her of the inactivity. That month will not count against you.
This is taken directly from the NEW WEBSITE that I am setting up to give Final Furlong a new, updated look. Don't worry, no major changes will be made, but everything is going to be completely streamlined, with a new look, new name, and some new additions on a trial basis. I hope to unveil this sometime before July of game time.
Basic Rules
- One Final Furlong stable per person.
- One week in real life will be one month on Final Furlong (ideally).
- Each stable starts with $2,000,000. You must keep track of your money.
- Be polite to other members.
- The Final Furlong is a virtual stable game. Everything to do with the game is not real.
- If you break the rules repeatedly or are inactive, you will be removed.
- Be sure to check the message board for updates.
Racing
- When you receive your horses' information, you will receive the following:
Age
Sex
Pedigree (Sire - Dam, by Dam's Sire)
State or country bred
You will then name your horses and receive the following information back:
Color
Trainer's Notes
- Among The Elite is currently run under the Stretch Drive program. Some basic information on the trainer's notes that you will receive on your horses is as follows.
Format:
Breaking Speed
Running (or "cruising") Speed
Late Run (or burst of power)
Stamina (distance the horse may run)
Consistency
Surface ("steeplechase" refers to "turf")
Running Style (i.e.: closer, sprinter, etc.)
Courage (or "heart")
It is up to you to interpret your horses' abilities through the trainer's notes. Sometimes, a horse's ability may be better or worse than the notes indicate, so you must also monitor your horses' performances month to month.
- It is your job as trainer to determine your horse's ability. When you first start racing a horse, you may not find its best distance or surface right away. No trainer ever knows how a horse will take to racing. Typically, you start your horse off in a maiden race and move them up if they run well.
Running well may be relative. Some trainers like their horses to win a maiden race before they enter an allowance. However, you may decide that they are good enough to be moved up sooner. You may also decide to skip the maiden level altogether. The decision is up to you.
It is advised not to just jump your horse into Grade I company or "throw him to the wolves" right away. Horses need conditioning and experience. Some horses will be better at shorter distances, some horses will do well right away at graded stakes, and others will need time. Your job is to figure out your horses. If you are completely stuck, you can always get advice.
Some horses might not be cut out to race at all, even if they are well-bred. The track may not appeal to them. You can try running them as claimers or retire them to your breeding shed.
Some horses may not be better until they are older. This will often be the case with two-year-olds. Two-year-old races won't ever be longer than 9 furlongs (except the International Gold Cup races in December). If your horse is a distance horse, they should be slowly conditioned in the shorter races, but don't expect too much from them until they can run at a longer distance.
I know that these rules are vague, but in real life, there aren't any rules at all. The easiest and most efficient way for you to determine your horse's ability is to think about it like this: You are a real-life trainer with real-life horses. What would you do with a maiden? A claimer? A stakes winner? A GI winner? A promising two-year-old?
If you are really having trouble finding a horses' distance, surface, or ability, you may visit the Evergreen Training Center on the forums. You can fill out workout forms and the trainers there will be happy to help you with your horses.
- Races will be posted by track, usually with two or more races ranging from claiming to grade one stakes at each track. There will also be a weather forecast and expected track conditions for you to monitor the track. If you have a horse that consistently does poorly in the mud, you may want to keep him/her on fast tracks.
- Races are presented in the following format:
Race Nine: Travers Stakes 3yo only 1 1/4 miles Dirt $1,000,000 GI
The race's number on the track's card comes first. The name of the race is the Travers Stakes and only three-year-olds may enter. The distance is 1 1/4 miles or 10 furlongs, the surface is dirt, and the purse is $1,000,000. The Travers is a grade one event.
- The types of races in Among The Elite are as follows:
1. Maiden Claiming
Horses entered here have never won a race and also have a claiming tag on them. Another stable may put in a claim on a horse and after the race, that stable will be the new owner of the horse. Old owners cannot deny a claim and cannot run in a claiming race without having their horses up for claim.
2. Claiming
Like maiden claiming races, horses run in these races with a tag on them. Horses that have won before but are not allowance or stakes horses may run in the claiming ranks.
3. Maiden Special Weight
Only horses who have never won a race may run in maiden races. It is the best place for first time starters to run. You might want to keep your eye on these races as well, maidens could become claimers at any moment and their racing past could help you see their ability.
4. Allowance Optional Claiming
Occassionally, you will see an allowance optional claiming race carded. These races are a middle ground between allowance and claiming races. A horse may run here with a high dollar claiming tag, or, as an exception to the claiming race rule, a trainer may opt out of having their horse claimed.
5. Allowance
These are races where maiden winners usually run to gain experience for stakes. They are all mostly straightforward, and some horses may only run once at this level.
6. Listed Stakes
These are the lowest stakes races. They often can be quite competitive and can be somewhat restrictive in conditions.
7. Graded Stakes (III, II, I)
These are the top levels of competition in racing. Stakes horses are very good racehorses. They usually move up the ladder from GIII to II to I and then top GI to gain experience.
- Nomination fees are as follows:
To nominate a stallion to the Breeders' Cup (e.g. All progeny will be nominated), you must pay a one-time fee of $50,000.
Horses must be nominated to the American Triple Crown and Triple Tiara before they turn three years old. The fee for the Triple Crown is $25,000 and the Triple Tiara is $15,000. If a three-year-old is nominated before March but after he/she has turned three, the nomination fee for both series is $200,000. After March, a horse may not be nominated.
As with the American series, horses must be nominated to the British Triple Crown before they turn three. The fee for the British TC is $20,000. If a three-year-old is nominated before March but after he/she has turned three, the nomination fee is $150,000.
- Purse distributions are as follows:
Beginning in January of YXI, the breeder of the winning horse receives 1% of the purse.
(Beginning in March of YVIII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 20% 3rd: 11% 4th: 6% 5th: 2%
(Prior to March of YVIII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 20% 3rd: 10% 4th: 6% 5th: 2%
(Prior to April of YVII)
1st: 60% 2nd: 25% 3rd: 10% 4th: 5%
(Prior to YVI)
1st: 40% 2nd: 30% 3rd: 20% 4th: 10%
- All entries must follow the following guidelines.
1. Entries must be posted by the deadline date unless other arrangements have been made.
2. You may enter up to three horses in any race. There are no entry fees.
3. Fields will be limited to 12 horses per race. If a race draws more, it may be divided into two divisions.
4. Horses may race at any level of racing.
5. Track conditions will vary. The forecast listed at each track will help you decide on where to enter a horse.
6. At least two horses must be entered into a race for it to be run. (This rule was suspended until March, Year Four.)
7. Scratches can be made at any time. You may change your horse's entry from one race to another that is in the same month at no penalty.
8. One race per horse per month except in May and October, and during the British Grand Slam.
9. Please follow the entry format and guidelines as listed on the message board.
- To sponsor a race, or set up a match race, PM me on the message board with the month of the race, its name (waived with a match race), age limitations, purse (you pay full purse amount), and grade. If you are staging a match race, consent from all involved parties must be PMed to me. Have consent before you PM me with the conditions of the match race.
Breeding
- All foals will be posted under Important Announcements on the message board. Please note that when a foal is born, it automatically becomes a yearling.
- Post the names of foals as instructed under the Jockey Club Registry on the message board.
- Mares must be at least three years of age to be bred.
- Stallions must be at least three years of age to be bred.
- Breeding stock must be retired before breeding.
- Mares must be bred to stallions that are alive as of the breeding date, and do not have to be bred every year.
- In order to breed to a stallion owned by another stable, you will have to contact that stable by email or via the message board to ask permission. Most stables will advertise their stallions and accept bookings through the advertisement thread.
- No stable is required to allow you to breed to his or her stallion. Sometimes, stallions have limited books, or the owner may not approve your mare to his/her stallion. You must abide by their decision.
- You may NOT breed to another stable's stallion without permission. If you do, your mare will be declared barren for the year, and you will still owe that stable the stud fee. You will not receive a refund.
- You may breed to stallions outside of the game that no Final Furlong stable owns. You may even breed to pensioned stallions, if he is still alive. All you are required to do is find his stud fee. If the stallion is no longer breeding mares, please use that stallion's last published stud fee. If you cannot find a stud fee for a certain stallion, PM the administrator and she will either find it or contact the farm where the stallion stands and get the stud fee.
- Please do not estimate the stud fee unless approved by the administrator. You may breed to stallions that stand in Europe, Japan, Australia, etc., but you must convert the fee to US dollars and then pay it.
General
- Auction Rules:
1. Larger stables may have auction limits that will only allow them to buy a certain number of horses.
2. No horses that are not yet born may be sold. All horses that are being sold must be at least a yearling.
3. Most auctions will be attended by private buyers outside of the game who will be bidding on the same horses as you.
4. Auctions end on the posted ending date. No exceptions.
5. Auctions begin as soon as they are unlocked on the message board and will vary in length.
- All stables must keep track of their finances. The administrator may audit any stable at any time to see if you are keeping track of your money. You will be required to provide a current total of your money and explain how you came to have that total. Being off a little is fine, but being off millions of dollars will result in a fine between $100,000 and $5,000,000, depending on how flagrant the violation is. Please just keep track of your money. I don't want to do audits and fine stables.
- All fees or fines are listed here:
1. Yearly Taxes: At the end of every year, you will be required to pay yearly taxes. You must pay $1,000 per horse and $5,000 for every grade one stakes victory. After those deductions, you are also required to pay 5% of your final total finances.
2. Horse Abuse Fine: Running or breeding a horse that is injured and has been listed as injured on the Among The Elite website is a very serious offense. The administrator doesno tlook kindly on mistreating your horses. Each infraction of this rule will result in a $500,000 fine. If it happens more than two (2) times, you will be removed from the game. Horses injured will be kept track of on the Entries section of the message board.
3. Non-Nominated Horse Fines: Entering a horse that isn't nominated into a race that requires nominations is a $25,000 fine per horse, per infraction. It is your job to know what races your horse is nominated to.
4. In-Eligible Horse Fines: Entering horses into races they are not eligible for is a $10,000 fine per horse, per infraction. For example, entering a colt in a filly race or entering a two-year-old into a three-year-old and up race will result in the fine. This is not a serious offense and will happen from time to time. The ineligible horse will not run in the race.
5. Vet Bills: From time to time, a horse will require vet care. The costs will be listed along with your horse's injury or illness. You are required to pay this fee or have the horse seized by Among The Elite.
- Every year, Among The Elite members nominate, vote on, and award championship honors to the top horses and stables in the game. To see a list of these awards, please visit the message board under "Eclipse Awards".
Miscellaneous
- Horses on Among The Elite do die. It may be caused by injuries, foaling problems, accidents, or old age. Death notices will be posted as they happen. All horses that are real (for example, Ghostzapper) will die when they die in real life. All other horses will die of old age at the following ages: Broodmares (25 years), Stallions (25 years), Geldings (20 years).
- All horses in Among The Elite will become unable to breed at the age of 20. Some may become barren or infertile before that age, and you may choose to pension a horse before that age.
- All horses must be retired from racing by the age of ten. They cannot race at the age of ten years old.
- Horses must be at least three years old to be retired, unless injured at age two.
- When retiring horses, you must send a PM to the administrator and indicate which horses are retiring and what they will be rtiring as.
- When horses change owners through sales, their abilities may change. Some horses may be happier with new owners, while others may not appreciate their new environment. This may affect their racing abilities slightly or drastically.
- When buying a horse, all information should be obtained from the seller. If the information is incomplete, please contact the administrator.
- The administrator will not settle disagreements between members over any matter. The involved parties must come to terms on their own.
- Names may not be the names of famous horses. That means no Sunday Silences, Cigars, Seattle Slews, Funny Cides, or Ruffians!
- Names may not be the names of other horses within the game, living or dead.
- You may geld any colts or stallions that you have in your stable at any time for a cost of $1,000. This may improve the horse's ability.
- Stables may be closed after extended periods of inactivity. If your stable cannot enter races, you may contact the administrator and inform her of the inactivity. That month will not count against you.
