Where Are They Now – Anniversary Edition

The first week of sim racing took part in week 26, Saturday August 15, 1998. Now, exactly ten years later, I thought we’d take a look at the first race on that first raceday. Strictly, of course, the true identity of the first race may be subject to some debate. Geographically, it’s hardly likely that the first race in California would run before the first in Florida, but let’s not let geography spoil a good story. The race we’re going to look at is 26.0101, a six and a half furlong dirt maiden 3yo race carrying a $50,000 purse. We’ll follow the careers of the participants in that, the first of how many thousand subsequent races.

In finishing order, the runners were:

Can On The Candles (Quiet American / Nijinsky) – The first ever winner of the first ever race has that achievement as just about his career highlight. He won this by three and a quarter lengths in 1.16.4, returning a 100 speed rating. Very nice for a first starter. He went on to be stakes placed on two occasions, including his final run in March 2000. He ended his career with four wins from 28, and left no offspring.

Atlanta Ruffian (Rahy / Wild Again) – Raced just twice and this second placing was better than the seventh of nine at his other run. A tad sad really, as he ran a 94 on debut, so perhaps he may have developed if he’d had the chance.

Your Stranger (Gone West / Irish River) – Now this bloke had a little more luck in his later career, developing into a handy turf stayer. He won three races in succession in late 1998 and early 1999, two of them stakes races over a mile and a half. His final run in December 99 was a third of 12 in a Grade 2 event. Finished with a record of 4 from 19, two stakes wins, two Graded seconds and earnings of $241k. Once again, no offspring.

Val’s Nightmare (Ascot Knight / Native Charger) – Went on to race 78 times and bank 77k. Won his maiden at his tenth start and had five more allowance runs in 1998. Then came his claiming career. I don’t know what the record for the most sim trainers is, but I’m guessing this guy comes close. Fifteen trainers are listed on his page, and that doesn’t include his original owner, as the records that far back credit ‘computer’ as racing everything. He left no issue.

All Reject (Summer Squall / Prospector’s Halo) – Eventually won a 2k maiden claimer at his twenty fifth start. He finished his career with 2 wins from 33, and a massive bank balance of $21k. His line ends here.

Alynoko (Unbridled / Alydar) – His first win was a 5k claim at start number thirteen in December 1998. That’s right, thirteen runs between August and December was not uncommon. He raced on without distinction until February 2002, retiring with three wins from 66 and $30k in lifetime earnings. He’s the first runner we’ve had to have made it to the breeding shed, visiting Mt. Livermore and producing Roberto Baggio. The now eight year old, still active, has clearly been plagued with injury, racing just 23 times for a single win, nine of those starts coming in 2007.

Ship Stamp (Last Tycoon / Secretariat) – He’s another who didn’t set the world on fire, although he did pick up an allowance among his five wins from 49 starts, which earned $77k in total. Sent to Alysheba after his last race in August 2000, he produced the filly, Let The Music Play. Retired a maiden after 30 runs, the now ten year old mare has never been to stud, despite her fairly handy bloodlines. That’s a shame really, given her links back to the very beginning.

Elk Flaunting (Zabeel / Palace Music) – A three year old filly at the time, the horse who ran last in the inaugural event, went on to have the best race record of all the runners. I don’t know how the markets were framed in those early days, but clearly Zabeel was held in little regard, as Palace Music still had Cigar fresh in everybody’s minds. Anyway, records show that she went off at 999/1 in this race, and the bookies were right. She was beaten 29 lengths. She later went on to win two stakes races on the grass and continued to perform until July 2001. Upon retirement she’d won six from 79, been stakes placed a dozen times (including the two victories) and she’d earned over $213k.

She’s also been busiest in the breeding barn, having produced two offspring:

            Eight Is Enough (Day Is Done) – 9yo maiden after 24 runs. Active but unraced since January 2004.

            Arlington Rain (Peintre Celebre) – 3yo colt – One win from nine – 17k. – claimer.

It’s doubtful that anybody could envisage what the sim was to come, following that inaugural raceday. We’ll ponder a few statistics: There were 140 races on this day a decade ago. Without growth that would amount to 7,280 races in a year (14 tracks, 10 races a week, 52 weeks). Today we have 89 tracks running 18 races each per week (16 on Saturday plus 2 rodots), so the decade ends with a program of 83,304 races in a 52 week year. I have no evidence, but I’m confident that there are more horses balloted out now than there were back in those early days, even though we, the players, now have virtual control over the programming.  With thanks to Zapspride’s weekly articles, we know that the decade draws to a close with an official horse pool of 170446, more than 99,000 of which have had at least one run so far this year. Who wants to predict the figures for the end of the second decade?

In closing, while it’s a countless number of real people who make the sim the wonderful pastime it is, it’s been the vision of one man which has given us all so much enjoyment. I raise a glass in a thankful toast to Mike, and look forward to another ten years.