Mike Sekulic has provided us with many great pictures over the course of the year. Here a few we thought that were just too incredible to only post once! Enjoy!
SIMHorseRacing.com is a free game offering the most realistic horse racing experience on the internet. Hundreds of players of all ages from all over the globe compete against each other, enjoying an entire year of racing in just 16 weeks time. The SIM, which ran its first season in 1998, offers not only Thoroughbred racing on all three conventional surfaces – dirt, turf and synthetic – but also steeplechasing, harness racing, Quarter Horses, Paints, Arabians and more.
The new season at SIMHorseRacing.com is now open. Now is the perfect time to start building and organizing your stable at the start of the new year!
Breed, train and race your own homebreds, or claim your way into the sport. Distance, surface, pedigree and equipment all factor in to the race result, as does jockey ability and weather conditions. The SIM is technologically ahead of the curve; if desired, race results can come by text message! Regular podcasts are posted, and the new and specially designed race viewer shows color-correct horses of all breeds.
Manage your stable wisely; as the player, you have to budget shipping expenses and entry fees while jogging, galloping or working your horses to racing fitness before their debuts. Comprehensive trainer and breeder statistics are offered to track your progress.
For those inclined to handicap, place win wagers on many of the races, and a generous Pick 6 pool is offered three days a week and usually carries over. Player and game-run handicapping contests often pop up, thanks to a tight-knit community of dedicated racing fans.
Congratulations to Are Lions Real for winning the 37th Louisville Derby, kicking off the Triple Crown Season! As usual, hundreds of dollars in prizes will be given away.
Remember, the new season at SIMHorseRacing.com has started! Sign up now to get your first racehorse! Happy Racing!
Instead of having four tracks at a time, we have massively expanded to covering 10 – 20 tracks, with FREE picks available every day of the week!
However, given the massive overhaul, we now offer SimplePlays™ on just WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS for a variety of tracks. We hope you all enjoy the new expansion to the site!
Here are your weekend SimplePlays™ featuring Aqueduct, Hollywood Park and Gulfstream Park:
SimplePlays™ Single Day Cards for December 7, 2013 at Hollywood Park and Gulfstream Park.
SimplePlays™ Single Day Cards for December 8, 2013 at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.
SimplePlays™ Single Day Cards for December 7, 2013 at Hollywood Park and Gulfstream Park.
SimplePlays™ Single Day Cards for December 8, 2013 at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.
Using the information created by our custom, systematic approach, we give you a product that shows exactly how and what the Dudes bet at the track. With SimplePlays™ you not only receive your traditional Win, Place, and Exacta wagers, but also suggested multi-race (Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6), Trifecta and Superfecta wagers for every race on the card!
Blinkers Off has released a new episode!Blinkers Off provides weekly insights into the world of horse racing including race selections and previews, handicapping methods and exclusive stories.
You can view all episodes of Blinkers Off by visiting our podcast page or 
.
The Thoroughbred Racing Dudes recap last week’s major racing, discuss the two-year-old horses of interest and preview the Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Beholder is Our Number One Horse to Watch for 2014
This could be the new queen of racing! She was always thought of as a superior race horse, but her smashing victory in the Breeders Cup Distaff has vaulted her to a whole other level. Nothing captivated racing like the Zenyatta/Rachel Alexandra era, but racing could be bracing itself for a repeat of that in 2014 as Beholder and Princess of Sylmar look to become rivals. The two have already dueled twice, with Princess of Sylmar taking the Kentucky Oaks and Beholder taking the before mentioned Breeders Cup Distaff. As we head into the new year Beholder does hold a slight edge, but it’s not by much. Look for her to sharpen up in California a few times, and then maybe she’ll travel east for a big showdown prior to what could be another classic race in the 2014 Breeders Cup Distaff.
If they gave out awards for “horse of the half-year” this would be the winner. Will Take Charge has grown into his enormous frame, and has figured out exactly what he’s supposed to be doing out on the track. His devastating stretch run is tough to hold off, and he’s already shown that he can run with his older rivals without any problem. The scariest part about Will Take Charge…D Wayne Lukas has said from day one that he will only get better with age. The ceiling could be unlimited for the this giant beast, and he will surely be put on a campaign that will make him Horse of the Year worthy. As long as he is not retired to stud (there is a chance he might be) he will be the premier male of 2014.
You can knock the connections all day long for their campaign of this horse, but Wise Dan is on the verge of becoming Horse of the Year for the second straight year. That’s not mismanagement if you ask me! However, there has been talk that they could point Wise Dan to more dirt races in 2014. That should make all the haters happy, but you can put me in the “don’t care where you run” category. I’m just thankful that they are bringing him back once again. Sometimes it’s good to be a gelding!
Everyone is hyping Honor Code, but we shouldn’t forget about New Year’s Day. He won the biggest two-year old race of the year over what was most likely the toughest field of the year. He did take advantage of a nice trip while others had wide trips, but getting the victory is always the most important thing. The horse has the right connections to get him to the Derby, and the pedigree is pretty strong. He’ll be the number one horse in California heading into the ever important Santa Anita Meet.
We’ve all seen the resurgence of D Wayne Lukas as he’s guided Oxbow and Will Take Charge to major success this year, and now he has a legit prospect to kick off next year. Keep in mind that this time last year Oxbow and Will Take Charge were just maiden winners, while Strong Mandate is already a Grade 1 winner. We follow the Lukas horses closely, and this one might have more ability than any 3-year-old he’s taken to Oaklawn Park in recent memory. You have to like that he has given the horse a little break before the Oaklawn meet begins, and you know he’ll give the horse every chance to make it to the Kentucky Derby.
The hype is HUGE for Honor Code, and he did a little to back it up when fighting back to take the Remsen Stakes last weekend. I haven’t totally bought into him yet, but make no mistake…this horse will be the buzz horse of the winter and spring. The breeding is impeccable, and as we saw last year he has the trainer that can win the big one. He’s headed to Florida for the winter and will most likely resurface in he always competitive Gulfstream three-year old prep races. He has the pedigree and the look, but does he have the talent to carry him to the top?
She was the sweetheart of 2013 for most of the year, but now is kind of being forgotten after her poor Breeders Cup Distaff effort. The speed favoring track and tough campaign really stacked up against her in that race, so I don’t punish her at all for the poor effort. On a fair track going a mile and one eighth she can definitely beat Beholder, and anyone else for that matter.
May have lost the Remsen by a nose, but he showed his class in that race. The slow pace of the Remsen may have actually hurt his chance, as Honor Code was actually ahead of Cairo Prince down the back stretch. Either way, the horse is gifted with a naturally high cruising speed, and can kick for home when given his cue. Very capable of having a big year.
Other than Will Take Charge, is there any one horse with as much upside at Palace Malice going into 2014? The horse had a great summer, and while he came up short in the biggest races this fall, he still ran respectable. Also like Will Take Charge, I think this horse can get even better as a four-year old. He will probably be a force on the east coast.
It took him a long time to recover from an injury sustained in his three-year old season, but boy did he come back firing! In two races Secret Circle went from an after thought to the best sprinter in the country. From day one you could tell this horse was best at a mile or less, and if he’s spotted correctly it’s hard to imagine him losing a race in 2014. Yes I said it…
If only he could run at Santa Anita every time! Over that track he’s proven to be hard to handle, but lets not sell him short when running at other tracks as well. There is no doubt his 2013 season started off extremely slow, but when he gets to the top of his game he’s as good as anyone. Look for a similar campaign as the last two years from him, as the main goal will obviously be the Breeders Cup Classic.
It was nice to see Game On Dude run well in the Clark Handicap last weekend. Both his fans and connections had to be let down by his second straight Breeders Cup Classic flop, and the race being on his home track makes it that much worse. People can say what they want about him, but he still will be the dominant California older male in 2014. It’s amazing that this gelding will be seven years old in 2014, yet he’ll still most likely be running at such a high level.
The bounce in the Cigar Mile was beyond predictable, but lets not forget about how good he can be…especially in California. Anytime you have that kind of deadly early speed, you are dangerous over the Santa Anita track. I expect him to stay at the mile distance range, and to rack up several wins in 2014.
He didn’t run quite as well as we all hoped he would in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, but his game third place effort still got my attention. The pace he set that day was frantic so only getting beat a couple of lengths by two top class Euro invaders is very respectable. It’s interesting that he got a lot of play in the Kentucky Derby future wager pool, even though the horse has never ran on dirt. Perhaps that is something the Ramsey’s and Chad Brown will consider in 2014.
The sleeper! Everyone is raving about Beholder and Princess of Sylmar, but Close Hatches might just be the horse that sneaks up on us all. Her resume speaks for itself: A two-time Grade 1 winner, a Grade 2 winner, and a two-time Grade 1 runner-up. Pretty impressive, especially considering the lastest runner-up finish was in the Breeders Cup Distaff. Add in the fact that she has a great trainer in Bill Mott….this one might have more upside than anyone.
Race 6: 3,4,1
Race 7: 4,7,3,1
Race 8: 1,5,2,10,7
Race 9: 4,1,7,2
Ticket Cost: $120 (.50 cent)
Race 6: 7,1,5
Race 7: 2,9,3
Race 8: 9,1,7,6
Race 9: 9,5,6
Total Cost: $54 (.50 cent)
Race 6: 8,2,9,4
Race 7: 10,4,1
Race 8: 4,5
Race 9: 5,2,3,10
Total Cost: $48 (.50 cent)
Race 5: 1,3
Race 6: 4,1
Race 7: 4,6,1,3
Race 8: 6,8,3,1,5
Total Cost: $40 (.50 cent)
Race 7: 4,5,9
Race 8: 1,2,3
Race 9: 7,10,4
Race 10: 2,6,1,8
Total Cost: $54 (.50 cent)
Race 6: 7,1,2,3,5
Race 7: 1,4,10,3
Race 8: 6,2,4,1,7,10
Race 9: 4
Total Cost: $96 ($1 ticket)
Wise Dan Looks Like He’ll Win Horse of the Year Once Again
1. Wise Dan – All the big races are now over, and for the second year in a row Wise Dan looks like he’ll be Horse of the Year.
2. Mucho Macho Man – The Classic winner will have a shot at Older Male of the Year, but didn’t quite do enough to win Horse of the Year.
3. Game On Dude – Ran pretty well in the Clark…will look for another big year in 2014.
4. Cross Traffic – It’s too bad he got injured as I think he was on his way to huge things.
5. Fort Larned – What a strange year for the 2012 Classic winner. Still ran well in this years version.
Sleeper: Declaration of War – He’s plenty good, but will we see him back in America once again?
1. Royal Delta – She wins this by default, but the champ is probably done. The division was a bit weak this year, but the infusion of good three-year olds will boost it next year.
2. Tiz Miz Sue – Absolutely sickening that she had to be retired. Was running better than ever.
3. Authenticity – Solid run in the Distaff, but never really threatened to win.
4. Joyful Victory – Never was quite good enough to beat the top-notch horses, but still a solid horse.
5. On Fire Baby – Still have hopes that she’ll come back firing
Sleeper: My Miss Aurelia – Has been transferred to Todd Pletcher. Interesting move, will it pay off?
1. Will Take Charge – No doubt about it now! Will Take Charge is your Three Year Old Horse of the Year.
2. Palace Malice – He sort of fell off towards the end of this season, but still was respectable. Could be a nice colt at age four.
3. Orb – Never could recapture his Kentucky Derby form.
4. Oxbow – The injury knocked him down a little, but he had a great first half of the year.
5. Goldencents – Bounced all the way back to California in the Cigar Mile. Still a nice prospect.
Sleeper: Normandy Invasion – Lets see if this colt comes back running at age 4…
1. Beholder – She won the Distaff which evened the score with Princess of Sylmar
2. Princess of Sylmar – Absolutely hate ranking her second, but I think you have to do so.
3. Close Hatches – Her late season heroics are enough to move her up the third.
4. Midnight Lucky – Unfortunately she will miss the rest of the year, which will cause her to drop some.
5. Fiftyshadesofhay – Respectable horse, but a cut below this groups best.
Sleeper: Dreaming of Julia – What ever happened to her??
1. Secret Circle – Super impressive in his huge comeback! Tops a weak division.
2. Groupie Doll – Pretty nice effort in the Cigar Mile even though she finished fourth. Would have ranked first if she had one.
3. Justin Phillip – Was nothing but solid this year. The old pro retires with nothing to be ashamed about.
4. Points Offthebench – Such a sad story, but he was so good this year.
5. Gentleman’s Bet – Ran hard in every race, and always finished respectable.
Sleeper: Sahara Sky – Looked to be a monster before the injury.
1. New Year’s Day – I wasn’t blown away by anyone over the weekend, so I think New Year’s Day has the top spot for now.
2. Havana – Thought he was best in the Juvenile.
3. Honor Code – With the terribly slow pace it was hard to tell much from the Remsen. Did enough to warrant respect, but not the top spot.
4. Strong Mandate – Tough post killed him in the Juvenile. Will freshen up for a big three-year old campaign at Oaklawn.
5. Cairo Prince – Definitely thought he had the Remsen won, but was out-gamed by Honor Code.
Sleeper: Gold Hawk – Was really impressed with this one’s debut! Could be an up and coming star.
1. She’s A Tiger – Think she’s distance challenged, but has accomplished a lot.
2. Sweet Reason – Always seems to have an excuse, but has been right there in every race.
3. Ria Antonia - Not sold on her yet, needed a DQ to win the Juvenile fillies.
4. Rosalind - Thought she was best in the Juvenile Fillies…
5. Stopchargingmaria – Wins yet again! Even though nobody has been overly impressed by her, wins are all that matters.
Sleeper: Unbridled Forever – I’ll buy the hype for now…
SIMHorseRacing.com is a free game offering the most realistic horse racing experience on the internet. Hundreds of players of all ages from all over the globe compete against each other, enjoying an entire year of racing in just 16 weeks time. The SIM, which ran its first season in 1998, offers not only Thoroughbred racing on all three conventional surfaces – dirt, turf and synthetic – but also steeplechasing, harness racing, Quarter Horses, Paints, Arabians and more.
The new season at SIMHorseRacing.com is now open. Now is the perfect time to start building and organizing your stable at the start of the new year!
Breed, train and race your own homebreds, or claim your way into the sport. Distance, surface, pedigree and equipment all factor in to the race result, as does jockey ability and weather conditions. The SIM is technologically ahead of the curve; if desired, race results can come by text message! Regular podcasts are posted, and the new and specially designed race viewer shows color-correct horses of all breeds.
Manage your stable wisely; as the player, you have to budget shipping expenses and entry fees while jogging, galloping or working your horses to racing fitness before their debuts. Comprehensive trainer and breeder statistics are offered to track your progress.
For those inclined to handicap, place win wagers on many of the races, and a generous Pick 6 pool is offered three days a week and usually carries over. Player and game-run handicapping contests often pop up, thanks to a tight-knit community of dedicated racing fans.
Congratulations to Are Lions Real for winning the 37th Louisville Derby, kicking off the Triple Crown Season! As usual, hundreds of dollars in prizes will be given away.
Remember, the new season at SIMHorseRacing.com has started! Sign up now to get your first racehorse! Happy Racing!
