We are in the middle of some exciting times here at Sport of Kings.  Our virtual horses are seeing their values sky rocket and many of our owners have already gotten their hands into breeding and training the yearlings for the next season which begins January 2015.

Season 3 will see the introduction of the new format for our Elite Series (Grade 1) championships!  We will be introducing the very popular qualifier series that culminates in a final invitational championship at the end of the season!  The series will be rolled out in phases that are detailed below:

The prizes will be structured:

• Quals - $15 entry with $40 added cash

• Finals - $150 added cash

Season 3

• 2yr old championship series is converted to the new format

• The two year olds will cease to have a monthly championship.

3yr,4yr+ will continue as normal for season 3 with their monthly championships.Season 4

• 2yr olds keep the new format

• 3yr old championship series is converted to the new format

• The three year olds will cease to have a monthly championship.

4yr+ will continue as normal for season 4 with their monthly championships.Season 5

• 2yr and 3yr olds keep the new format

• 4yr+ old championship series is converted to the new format

• The 4+ year olds will cease to have a monthly championship.

At this point all monthly championships will be replaced with the new format.Each season we will evaluate the number of entries and nominations and adjust our prizes accordingly.

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The grade 3 series (previously known as the Blackman Stud Championship Series) will be renamed to the Tenderfoot Series.  The purses for this series along with some aggressive new owners are what has driven the value of the grade 3 horses through the roof during the 2nd season.  We have seen a number of grade 3 horses sell for $150 or more which is remarkable considering they can be purchased from the sales ring at a mere $4.

At the 3/4 season mark the Grade 3 Championship series has seen 83 qualifiers be run for nearly $8,000 in purse money!  There has never been a better time to get involved in virtual horse racing with the prize pools growing and the community still learning together.

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Other Changes

• Championship races will now close 18 hours in advance - second instances will be created on demand (with bonus credits if applicable)
• All other races will now close 30 minutes in advance.
• Races will have the minimum number of unique stables raised from 2 to 3.
• We will be reducing the genetic certification price to $25.
• Triple Crown Races will now follow the championship payout schedule.

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There are only 7 days left until the grand opening and the racing begins!

This means that you only have 7 days to make your cumulative deposit of $50 or more in order to be eligible for our $1000 Giveaway which will occur on May 2nd, 2014.  Remember, the winner gets $500 while 2nd place gets $300 and $100 each to third and fourth.

We have introduced a number of upgrades over the past few weeks, including giving sires to our sales ring horses which gives them some historical reference and provides the owners with some grounding in terms of the horse's potential running style.

As a reminder, we offer rewards to our owners who refer new stables to the site and make an initial deposit.  Please see your account page for the specific URL that you should distribute to potential players to sign up.

We look forward to seeing you at the races and wish you the best of luck in the inaugural season.

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I wanted to chronicle my experience as I joined a new online virtual horse racing game.  I had been playing various other games that allowed you to own, train, and race your virtual horses and compete against other stables for prizes, but, was not happy with some of fees and charges that were overly burdensome.  Sport of Kings has taken all the best features of many of the existing virtual horse racing games and combined them into a wonderful experience.

The interface is easy to use, the developers are easy to get in touch with and very receptive to suggestions and addressing problems.  The game itself is a complex simulation that really puts the trainer in charge of a horses destiny.  As a horse trainer and stable owner you are responsible for identifying a horses likes and dislikes, including how long of a race to run and what surface best fits the horses running style.  There are three distinct levels of virtual racing that can essentially be classified as beginner, intermediate, and advanced.  These levels offer differing levels of prize money and competition and as a virtual stable you are able to compete in all three independently or simultaneously if you choose.

The community is a growing one and the site is currently completely free to play.  The developers have announced their intention to deploy a second model that will allow stables to compete for real stakes in the near future.  Online virtual horse racing is a burgeoning industry and these guys have produced a superior product that I will continue to thoroughly enjoy.

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