in, lace or how wager.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* PARI - MUTUAL *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pari-mutual betting is as close to the track formula as possible.
The Track keeps 15% of all losing bets....or if no bet is made on a win-
ning horse...the track keeps it all. Odds are based on the amount bet on
each horse vs the total bet on all horses....just like at the track.
The original odds posted are called the `morning line`...and reflect a
measure of the horses ability vs the competition. Bets placed on entries
will change the `morning line` to real odds....and are a measure of the
public's opinion.
Post time odds are the final odds computed prior to the beginning of the
race. (Odds of greater than 1000:1 are not accurately shown. Also, a
horse with no money bet will not have its odds change. At a real track
I've never seen that happen....but it will happen here).
At the conclusion of a race, the pari-mutual pay-offs are posted. These
are based on a $2.00 bet. If a horse pays $8.00 to Win....then a $100.00
bet pays 50 times that amount.....or $400.00. The computer will assist
the Marshall in figuring the pay-offs....for different wagered amounts.
The Track occassionally will lose money when a winning Horse is heavily
bet on. The minimum payoff is $2.20......which may be more than the
computed pay-off.
Mistakes cannot be rectified. A Marshall who inadvertenly pushes the
wrong button will have to eat the ticket. Without this rule a Marshall
might be tempted to try influencing fate. A player does not have to
accept a bet which he did not ask for. Hence the requirement for writing
down all bets on betting slips.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* PARI-MUTUAL MENU *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
cratch - See section entitled `SCRATCH`.
enu - Returns to the MEET MENU.
Bet - Strike [Enter] or [Carriage Return]....to place a bet.
Enter the bet amount. A [Blank] will automatically
default to a $2.00 wager. Select the type of bet from
the Betting Menu. Do not enter the total amount. Enter
the Bet amount. The computer will figure out the total.
If the system does not return to the Pari-Mutual Menu
strike . The computer is just trying to give
you time to consider the result....on some bets. On
others the return to the Menu is immediate.
ace - When all bets are in and placed...Load the horses into
the starting gate and go!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* WINNING TICKET PAYOFFS *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To assist the Marshall with payoffs at the conclusion of a race, the
Marshall may enter the $2 payoff from the tote board, then the face value
of the winning ticket(s). The program will tell the Marshall how much to
pay the winner(s). For example:
pp WIN PLACE SHOW
7.- 6.40 3.60 2.80
4.- 6.70 3.30
3.- 5.40
to determine the payoff for a $100 PLACE ticket on Horse #4...enter $6.70
as the $2 payoff price...then $100 as the `face value` of the ticket. The
payoff shall compute $335 to the winner. (50...$2 tickets).
After a while, the Marshall probably will be able to figure out the pays
without help from the computer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* TRACK SHARE *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Track share as shown on the results board is the net winnings/loses to the
track for win, place and show bets only for that race. This total is short
of the actual....because the track does not pay back nickels.
Net Meet Track Share however, is the total to the track up to the minute
for all types of wagers. It too is also a short count. In other words the
track actually wins a little more than it shows. Daily Double wagers are
included only after the 2nd race.
Handle refers only to the totals wagered on win, place & show.
As a matter of practice....players have recommended that this overage be
added to the purse of the next race.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* MEET MENU *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Select at Random horses for next race.
(Can be used as short version...i.e., no owners).
- The Marshall will key in entrants for next race.
(Backspace is not implemented. Use cursors/enter/space/numbers).
- Print the Horse Register. Do this first. Will clarify other
print-outs and displays.
- Same as ....except scrolled on screen.
<1> - Same as ....except displays only data on one (1) horse.
- Same as ....except you may chose limits for Class.
- Same as ....except scrolled on screen.
- Same as ....except you may chose Owners.
- Same as ....except scrolled on screen.
- Auction. Computes all prices & discounts automatically.
- Used whenever stock changes hands between players.
<$> - Used whenever a player wants to liquidate his stock. Computes
values and discounts automatically.
- Select a color combo for a particular owner.
- Breed two horses of opposite sex.
- Go to Setup Field and rate horses. "Rated Field" message will
flash to warn bettors that the field has been doctored.
- Rerun last setup field. must have been exercised before.
- End of the meet.
NOTE - During any long print-out or display... will abort.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* FIELD SETUP *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This feature will allow you to set-up a field for a race....change a horse's
name and sex...and rate the animal for a given distance. The driver for this
type race is very consistent and different from the algorithm driving the
game.
If you are a handicapper....then this section is for you. Press from the
Meet Menu and a "Field Menu" will appear. If you want to set-up a new field
press <1>. If you only want to modify a field which you have set-up previous
press <2>.
1.- Enter Horse ID #'s. Only horses belonging to the TRACK will be accepted
for the field. If there aren't enough horses belonging to the TRACK,
you will have to Cash-in or Re-sell Horses back to the Track. Retired
Horses are eligible for this function.........and retired Horses will be
brought out of retirement to race....or breed some Horses which you will
only use for this option. Don't worry about class, etc...you will change
those. The order of entry will determine the post position.
2.- Change the Name and Sex as desired.
3.- Assign weights to each.
4.- Assign ratings per furlong. Worst = 0 Best = 99. Invariably, serious
Handicapping systems reduce a Horses' chances to a percentage.
To move from field to field press . To manuever within a field use the
cursor and keys. Backspace is not implemented.
Once changed, the ID # will now show the new name and sex....and new rating.
In effect you have created a new horse, without the bother of breeding.
If you elect to ape at the top....nothing will be changed. If you elect
to ape at the bottom...the names and sex will be changed........but the
ratings will not.
If you elect to accept the field.....press at the bottom. The race will
begin. If you want to return to this section......press at the Meet Menu
and all paramters will be reset.
Press at the Meet Menu if you want to repeat the same field without
reseting parameters.......or elect if you want various post positions and
weight assignments in accordance with the rules of the game.
We strongly suggest, that before you arrive at any conclusion(s), that you
run the field at least ten (10) times and see which horse(s) consistently
place in the money. Sometimes the Horses will all arrive at the wire at the
same time...and in some cases it is just a matter of luck who pushes his/her
nose over first.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* FIELD RATING *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This rating system is nebulous, upside-down and inside-out......and probably
doesn't work. But it sure is fun!
Now we are not sure what works and what does not work when rating a field
of horses for a given race. Therefore, we have created a system which allows
a great deal of discretion.....and frankly, we expect the players to tell us
how to work this system. And if it does work........we're all headed for the
track.
We suggest the following:
Method -1-
Assume all horses have a given equal amount of energy for the distance.
Enter per furlong the amount of energy you predict the horse will have left
at the end of that furlong. Therefore, what he has left at the end of a
given furlong, will be assumed to be his reserve for the start of the next.
99% is the max. (No creature has 100% energy for anything......it even takes
energy to walk to the starting gate).
The total percentages do not have to add up. Consider that a horse may burn
up 40% of his energy in the first furlong....cruise the next two and recover
some of his energy.
The Stretch (str) rating should be considered differently......as we believe
some horses can smell the finish. Therefore, this rating should be absolute.
How good is this horse, irregardless of competition, when he gets to that
last eighth pole. The same may be said for a Horse's ability to accelerate
from the Gate.
Method -2-
Same as Method -1-...except enter relative ratings. For example, 99% is the
"best expected pace for this class"....to 0% or not rated.
Method -3-
In this method, the ratings are fractions or 1/100th of a second off the
pace.....with 99 = "best expected time for this class" and 0 = 1 second off
the pace. A Horse with zero's across all furlongs should, in your opinion be
8 seconds behind the leader at the finish. A rating of 80= 1/5th of a second
off....so forth and so on.
Method -n-
Skip this section entirely.......!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
a) The system looks at the fields in reverse order. Therefore, if this is a
5 furlong race....the system reads the fields to the right. However, since
you have created a new Horse and may want to enter him as part of the game
at other distances...you should rate the horse across the full 1 1/8th mile.
b) Always include a Gate and Stretch rating irregardless of the distance.
c) A Horse with zero (0) ratings is running on shear luck. His performance
cannot be judged.
d) The system rates on a curve, so there is a greater difference between
80-90, than there is between 10-20. The system sorts everything out for you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEX *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have tried to be as true to real life as practical. However, Fillies
turn into Mares......and Colts turn into Horses.....or Geldings. Kind of
confusing to some and crystal clear to others. In any case, Sex has been
included in the Horse Registry....and may be used as another dimension in
the qualification of a an animal for a race. For instance, you may have a
race eligible only to Fillies....so forth and so on.
Horses with the sex symbol in lower case have been retired........but not
destroyed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* BREED *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0) The Marshall may not breed horses...nor may horses owned by the TRACK
participate in this function.
1) Any two horses of opposite sex may be bred. Even Colts & fillies may
have a go at it. Retired horses also.
2) Geldings cannot breed.
3) The newborn offspring will be assigned the proper parameters determined
by a "conception" formula embedded in the software. The foal may have a
little of this....and a little of that. Breeding is by no means certain.
However, the formula leans to including some traits from either parent.
Therefore, the better the parents...the better the foal....most times.
You never know what you'll get. It is possible to get an offspring that
is a true champion....or one that is a true deadbeat. But it is cheaper
to breed than buy...and if you get a good one....it's a real bargain.
The true Class of the foal is masked. Usually it is less than both
parents. The true test of the animal is in the pudding. Race he/she
to find out what you've got. See the {st mid str} ratings for an indicator
of what may lie beneath the blanket. If he/she/it is a champ...his rating
will continue to climb. If not you may consider retiring or selling at the
earliest possible time. Best to abandon a bad investment. In this manner
the breed is improved in time.
4) There is a limit to the number of horses that may be registered. When
the limit has been reached the system will reject requests for a breeding
slot.
5) Breeding slots are available when the game begins. When that limit has
been reached...the next breeding slot will be awarded to an owner who
retires a horse. Now strategy in this respect becomes a factor.
6) The owner of the female pays a Stud-fee to the owner of the male horse;
equal to the class of the Stud...and ten percent (10%) to the Marshall
as a registry fee. For example, if the class of the Stud=12345, the
owner of the female pays $12345 to the owner of the Stud; and $1235 to
the Marshall.
The owner of the female gets legal rights to the foal....except deals
may be made whereby a partnership or corporation is formed between the
two owners....thereby giving a share to each. When such a deal is made,
it usually includes a discount on the Stud fee. Any mutually agreeable
arrangement is valid. Please inform the Marshall.
7) A foal is eligible to run in the very next race...as are his parents.
In this game the horses have remarkable stamina and ability.
8) The foal is treated as any other horse....immediately & henceforth.
9) The computer will inform the players when it has no breeding slots
available. Until that moment is reached....relax!
10)Some horses are better breeders than runners. Experience will indicate
to you which ones these are. We'll never tell.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* RETIRE *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0) The Marshall may not retire horses...nor may horses owned by the TRACK
participate in this function.
1) Once a horse is retired...he will never....ever race again.
2) A retired horse may breed.
3) A retired horse is excused from taxes and all other assssments.
4) A retired horse may be cashed in.....or repossessed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* DESTROY *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) An unpleasant but necessary process....inevitable in life as well as this
game.
2) Only retired horses will be destroyed.
3) A destroyed horse is gone forever. No cash in...no nothing. It is gone!
A total loss to the owner. It's part of the game.
4) The computer selects the horse to be done away with. It usually looks to
do away with the cheaper nags first.
5) Horses will only be destroyed if no breeding slots are open. Other than
that.... NO warning is given. You never know when it's going to strike.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* STRATEGY OF BREEDING / RETIRING *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would anyone want to retire a Horse? Well....
1) Perhaps the owner can't afford the daily upkeep.
2) Suppose you own a cheap $20 filly....that doesn't look like it is ever
going to win. You could cash her in and get your $20 less commissions
back.....or you could approach the owner of a great horse like Citation
and propose a state sponsored marriage between your filly and his
champion. If there are no breeding slots open....something has to give.
Either you retire your filly and receive a breeding slot in return...and
run the risk of losing her forever....or if you really care for her..you
and the owner of Citation might chip in and buy the cheapest horse
available from the TRACK or some other owner; and retire it. In return,
chances are you have improved your stable.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* RESULTS *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The results of all races are summarized and saved on disc. Print them out as
per instructions, which will appear at the end of each meet, and erase the
files if you need the room:
d:\>erase *.RCE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* INSTANT REPLAY *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The entire race may be replayed by selecting from the menu. However,
this function is disabled before the first race......and if any function
for the next race has been initiated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* MISTAKES *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are no `do-overs` in this game. All moves and bets are final.
However, to assuage the damaged party(s)......the Marshall shall pay each
player $100 (that means all players)....for each mistake which is clearly
the Marshall's error....Push a wrong button....and it could cost the
Marshall thousands. (Besides the Marshall can usually afford it).
Without this rule....chaos might prevail.
A Marshall who makes too many mistakes should be replaced......after the
players break his fingers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* RESET *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only hard disc systems can be reset to original conditions.
To reset the system back to ground zero...simply reload the diskette and
start from the beginning. See above "Installing"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* BOTTOM LINE *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you haven't lost money at this track......then you must be doing some-
thing wrong!......Keep this in mind when you go to a real track......and
Good Luck!
The horses will forever have the characteristics assigned to them as a
result of their record on the computer track. Who knows......Secretariat
may become a `nag`.....and Yugo a great stallion. Keep this in mind when
you invite friends over for a game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* SUGGESTIONS *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We look foward to hearing from you. If you have good ideas....we might be
persuaded to implement them in future versions.
By the way, we have tried a version with all horses moving simultaneously
and found it to lack the anticipation that we have in the current version.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
HANDICAP-HORSE-RACING, with all of the features discussed above is
available for $74.95 + s&h......and may be purchased by calling the toll
free number 1-800-323-8063. Credit cards welcome...or send checks to the
address below.
Prices subject to change without notice.
****************************************************************************
First Printing July 1989
Second Printing October 1990
Third Printing April 1991
Fourth Printing September 1991
Printed in U.S.A. by DATA-PLANE INCORPORATED
330 S.W.43rd Street
Renton Washington 98055
1-(206) 838-4181
****************************************************************************
end
---