LilBitFarms Doesn’t “Sound” Like a BIG STABLE!
This article continues a series where I have interviewed some of the biggest names in the game. You will recognize the names and hopefully like me will gain some insight into what it takes to have 30 or more stables and turn them into a winning syndicate. They all have a unique perspective on the ins and outs of running the really big farms. Our next owner sounds like a small stable but is one of the Big ones :
There is nothing small time about LilBitFarm Stables. I thought it appropriate to run his story this weekend as we just finished the half way point of the Old Man Of The Mountain Series 2 this weekend which he hosts and runs. That is just a sample of how he gives back to the Sim. He has had great success including owning one of the Sim’s favorite horses in SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL. Hopefully this article will let you know a “bit” more about LilBitFarms:
I have played the game since 1999 (week 262). I live in the Green Mountains of Vermont, and I have been a member of the Vermont Residency since it started although I don’t have all my stables there.
When I first started playing I started with just one stable (Hoffiebarn) to see if I would enjoy the game, as I had played other online racing sims and games that were pretty unrealistic. As I have always been a racing fan and worked at the track in Maryland and Delaware for quite a few years (sadly allergies forced me to quit) I was looking for something more realistic and found the sim!!
I went 0-50 with my first barn and than was hooked. I have added stables slowly along the way up to my current 34 but three of these are almost empty and used mostly for holding, transfers and prize horses. I have had 28 plus for quite a few years-I am comfortable with this number.
It is a big “yes” to more stables keeping me more interested. I treat my Sim horses pretty much the way I learned to at the track as far as placing them, race schedules, rest etc. and it seems to work pretty well in the game. This is a little bit surprising as I know Mike has no “on track” experience, but just shows how much he as researched to make the game like real life in some way.
I am not planning on opening any new stables at this time. I find that I usually have about 300 horses in training and that’s quite enough
Unlike most players, I use no tools except the ones that are part of the game, like RAFI and the Racefinder. Another big difference between me and the players with many barns is that I buy almost no races. Right now I only buy for the “Old Man” Series and for two horses that I want to keep in the game. I try to keep this game as realistic as possible and for me it is like walking into the Racing Secretary’s office and telling him what races to card. It is fine with me for other folks to do it but just not my style.
I spend a lot of time each week with the game. It has become a part of my life, which sometimes I hate to admit. I probably average about 20-30 hours a week. (Geez, that’s a whole day! I never thought of it that way).
I have a weekly schedule that doesn’t vary much. I list horses to enter on Monday than enter Tuesday and Stakes horses on Wednesday usually. I never have time for RODOTS, except for an occasional Friday entry if nothing is available on a Saturday for a horse that needs to run.
I do the training for the horses that have run the previous week as part of my entering and I select the Jocks for each race at the same time. Wednesday evening I update my entry list with the odds and riders assigned to my horses, checking to see if I got stuck with any bad riders. (Bad rider means a bad ride if that makes sense) I usually watch all of my races each Saturday afternoon. This is my favorite time of the week! I sit down with whoever else is around, stock up the food and drink and watch every Lilbit runner. I just love winning, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a claimer or a Graded Stakes…once again it is just like real life racing. I treat my Sim horses just as if they were real. I think in the long run it pays off.
After watching my races, I watch a list of selected races to see what other top Sim runners have done, especially those that I am planning on running against or friends races.
When it comes to breeding, I have never bred the so called $30 horse and never will. In my estimation, you don’t need to spend that much to get winners at any level. I use both BP’s and credits. I have learned a lot about bloodlines since playing the Sim. I have read a lot about breeding and try to use some real life strategy. I love using Dosage as it has helped a lot in learning which sires produce what, if that makes sense.
I enjoy breeding 3yo’s. Some of my best current horses were bred as 3yos, which later produces 4 and 5 yo’s that can still be good enough to win Graded Stakes, since they have so few starts. Granted you won’t get into any Triple Jewell races but you can pretty much get any sire you want and the horses come in much more ready to run. A good example is Lilbitfarm’s QUINCANNON who was bred as a 3yo. “Quinnie” isn’t going to the HOF but he has won 12 stakes and at six years old can still mix it up with the Grades.
I think the biggest challenge in the Sim is still to have patience with your horses. I laugh at the horses in the auction that get “1 dirt, 1 turf and dumped” I have had so many horses over the years that haven’t reached their full potential until around 20 starts, there are just way too many to list. Granted sometimes I tend to hang on to bad horses too long but that’s part of the game, too I guess.
Obviously the biggest thrill in the game is winning Stakes races, especially Graded Stakes. It doesn’t ever get old for me. I have long ago gotten tired of many horseracing computer games that I’ve bought. Here you race against real people, many that have become friends. This is really the strength of the Sim that keeps me playing.
The best horse I’ve ever had or ever will have is SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL. I have been sooo lucky to have been able to race him for the last 5 years. He will be retired soon, and I know that I will sure miss him!
I have been lucky enough to have many other very good horses, including 2001 Eclipse Award Sprinter SMOKEY PROJECT, the most injury prone horse I ever raced. This was back when injuries were a much more realistic part of the game. (there’s that word again lol). I couldn’t begin to list all the Stakes winners. Some of my other current very good horses are ALE N’ SKITTLES, QUINCANNON, SAFETY ZONE and LAKEHOUSE to name a few.
So the key to the game for LilBitFarms is that it is so realistic and that is the way that he plays it. There are no shortcuts to being successful. In his estimation, you need to put in your time and do it just like you taking care of real live, expensive Race Horses. That is what has led to his success and enjoyment and can do the same for you.
Email your comments to pazjazz.btb@gmail.com I love to hear from you!
