Virtual Horse Racing News

In the first classic qualifier of the season Ranch Hamburg's Hamburgs Sweet Halo prevails by a half length over furious competition.

The favorite held off her competition to pick up her second win in a row as she appears poised to make a serious run at the juvenile breeders cup title.  These virtual horses can often be temperamental but this trainers touch has proven to be golden so far this season.  All 5 of the entrants in this short field look to have a shot to progress.  Anfield Road’s Madmen Rampage, a homebred filly, came in as the second choice and just never fired today; however, you can expect her to turn that form as she ages if she’s anything like her father who never won a major title but finished 2^nd in the Churchill Derby.  She is a half-sister to The Liverpool Way who is another homebred who won last season’s juvenile breeders cup under the guidance of Nemesis Stud.  All in all, this was a talented group of 5 that hit the track and congratulations are owed to Hamburg for a training job well done.

Have you ever wandered what it would be like to own, train, and race your own virtual horse stable?  We have built a game just for players like you who love thoroughbred racing and want to compete against tens of thousands of other players from around the globe.

Sport of Kings offers a unique experience that is catered to the horse racing fan that wants to enjoy an online virtual horse game.  We offer three seasons ever calendar year and have an incredibly deep and enjoyable breeding system in place where you can spend hours researching bloodlines in the hopes of finding the best combination that no one else knows about.  Did we mention that you are able to play for free? What are you waiting for, come give our virtual horse game a try and see if you can't be the next virtual breeders cup champion!

In the first senior championship qualifier race we see two champion horses square off.

Two former breeders cup champions squared off in this 7 furlong contest.   Anfield Road's six year old virtual horse Rock the Casbah who won last seasons 3 yr old Breeders Cup sprint on dirt was put to the turf for the third time in his career.  He squared off with Take Charge Kitty who was on a 4 race win streak including a 3/4 length win in last seasons Breeders Cup turf sprint.  

Indian Breeze cut out some early fractions in her first attempt at the championship level but was found lacking coming down the stretch as Take Charge Kitty stalked the pace for a dream trip.  Kitty was able to pull clear by 2 lengths over a closing Olaha and Rock the Casbah who finished 4th.  Fallen Angel who carried the high weight of 142 lbs was simply saddled with too much weight to compete and finished last after being positioned mid pack throughout.

Elysium holds off a stout challenge from Fly Around to claim victory in a full field.  

Maiden races for our virtual hoses are always an exciting experience.  As many real life horse racing trainers will tell you,  'you don't know what you have until it's proven on the track'.  This is certainly true in our virtual horses who exhibit life like tendencies and growth.  This free to enter race featured a full field of 15 and was led by the early favorite in Fly Around from Black Cat Racing.  

The race began with a bang as Treganna Park's Tp Dog set blazing early fractions and carried a 4 length lead around the second call.  This gelding has shown impressive early speed but has been unable to sustain it in the later half of his races.  The rest of the field caught up to the leading horse and passed him with Elysium taking the initiative and managing to hold off Fly Around down the stretch.  This season we expect to see many more tight finishes as our trainers and virtual horses compete for real prize money.

Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be a race horse owner and/or trainer?  Sport of Kings offers you the chance to do just that in an easy to learn and fun to play environment.  The thrill of owning and racing a digital horse is best summed up by one of our loyal players.

" Horse racing is the best game in the world. I have had the privilege of taking part in some of the greatest racing in America in the 22 years I have been soulfully attached to this great industry. So to find a game to match the excitement you have when you actually stand in that winners circle for the first or the last time it is the greatest feeling in the world, and if I get that feeling playing this simulation/game then you are doing your job. Well done guys. We just need to bring this simulated joy to all the other racing fans."

--Parks Racing 10/21/2013

We allow you to either buy an existing horse or breed your very own horse from existing bloodlines many of which will be familiar to modern day handicappers.  You are then responsible for the exciting process of discovering the horses ability and preferences.  Much like real life this can be a simple process or one that goes on for the life of the horse.  Our horses have a life of their own and evolve and mature in a very realistic manner which makes every horse a thrilling and unique adventure.  One key to making the game enjoyable is that we operate on a 3x timeline to real life, meaning that each season (1 year of game time) takes only 4 real life month.   This means far less wait time between races (the average layoff is 7-14 days) and an opportunity for a fresh crop of horses to hit the track every 4 months.

The races themselves are realistic simulations that allow horses to showcase their running style preferences and tendencies.  We have horses that simply need the lead to win while others will sit back off the pace and look to make one big run at the wire.  We provide detailed data that you as the owner are able to dig through to try and solve the puzzle that is each horse or you can simply use the training times to try and place your horse.  You are able to be as detailed and complex or as simple as you choose, it's all up to you.

Apart from racing we offer owners many other things to do including private sales, public auctions, and breeding.  Breeding is one of our most popular features that allows owners to continue on the bloodlines of their champion horses.  The unique horse development that we offer includes a sophisticated bloodline based breeding system that has no equal.  Breeding and our horse evolution are key features to our game and make us very unique in the online horse racing game industry.

Come join the over 16,000 registered players and take your spot in the starting stall for the thrill of a lifetime.

The 2016 Preakness is just hours away and there doesn't look to be much value from a wagering perspective for this race.  However, I am going to lay out a few brief reasons why you should bet it anyway and a prediction for the Belmont.

While Nyquist looks absolutely unbeatable in this spot on a fast track I am going to make a case for a wager that should generate some capital.  I also think there is scenario that gets Nyquist beat on Saturday and it involves rain, a lot of it.

 We don't really know how Nyquist will handle the rain and mud but we do know that Exaggarator took to it like a child, reveling in the joy of splashing through puddles and getting everyone else wet.  I've never heard a jockey so glowingly describe the way a horse handled the slop the way Kent Desormeux did.  He said "He was the fourth horse that I rode in the mud and the others felt like they had ice skates on. Exaggerator felt like he had track shoes on. He really liked the going and that was part of his incredible effort. He enjoyed the mud."  Yes, Exaggerator has never beaten Nyquist in 4 attempts.  He has also never faced him on the mud.  The pattern on Exaggator's speed ratings are superb and not only did he not bounce from the big effort in the Santa Anita Derby, he improved from it.  If he is going to bounce, this could be the spot, but I'm banking on another big effort as the horse continues to improve.  He should benefit from Stradivari being getting the outside post draw where he will almost certainly use some speed early and engage Nyquist up front.  

Preakness Prediction: 

Dry Track: Nyquist, Exaggerator, Stradivari in that order.

Wet Track: Exaggerator, Nyquist, Collected, Lani for a super.

Now the Belmont Stakes

I don't think there is any way Nyquist will be able to complete the triple crown this year and that's a shame for him as he's a great horse who hasn't gotten the respect he deserves because of the herculean efforts of California Chrome and American Pharoah before him.  He's going to face some fresh horses who are bred for the distance and will be sitting on monster efforts and I just don't think he has the pedigree to handle that.  There is a chance that Cupid shows back up for the Belmont fresh off throat surgery.  I've heard it's the same procedure Frosted went through and he hit a whole new level when he came back from it and I expect Cupid will as well.  Then you have Exaggerator who, if he doesn't do it Saturday, is certain to be able to put Nyquist away as they pass the 1/8 pole coming for home in the Belmont.  The old adage that closers don't win the Belmont is fine but one of these stamina laden horses is going to make a move on the sweeping turn of Belmont and draw level with Nyquist who simply doesn't have the stamina to sustain that kind of challenge for the length of that seemingly eternal stretch.