{"id":22692,"date":"2014-06-17T15:49:44","date_gmt":"2014-06-17T20:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=22692"},"modified":"2014-06-17T15:49:44","modified_gmt":"2014-06-17T20:49:44","slug":"insights-interview-with-wahoo222","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=22692","title":{"rendered":"Insights: Interview with wahoo222"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first draft of this interview with wahoo222, writer of the SIM FILES, saw me trying to describe his excellent work and obviously falling short. I would’ve probably been able to handle the task had I not been so intimidated by my overwhelming admiration for what he’s done.
\nI found these files months ago, while surfing the web on my ps3, and proceeded to bookmark them. I read them again and again, until I caught the gist of what was being explained. While the writings themselves clarify that there are no absolute answers to relative events, all they do is point to something that is much greater than the words themselves.
\nI want to thank Robert for allowing this Mini-me the opportunity to know him and his work better, and I’m sure many of us will enjoy the following interview as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BB: To begin, I’d like a couple of words on who you are, where you’re from, when you began to play the game, how long you’ve been at it, etc:<\/em><\/p>\n

WAHOO222: Hello Billyboy!<\/p>\n

I’m from Akron. Ohio. I became interested in horse racing when I lived in New Orleans about twenty years ago. I loved going to the Fairgrounds, one of the oldest tracks in America. I live in Florida now in the same county as Payson Training Track.
\nI started playing our Simulatedsports Horseracing game back in the Spring of 1999. I have had about ten Graded Stakes winners, five or six of them won at the Grade 1 level over a period of about five years. Of course the best was winning the year 2000 Bluegrass Derby and Middle Jewel with my horse; Down The Jazz:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/derbyfever.com\/horseracing\/onehorse_inline.asp?horse=10000009881<\/a><\/p>\n

I took about a 4-5 year break from Derby Fever and just came back about the middle of February this year. I started from scratch, not with any of my old stables. Thanks to a few “gift horses” I was able to earn a few BP’s to start breeding my own horses. This is what really drew me back to Derby Fever, the thoughts of pedigree and pedigree design were not something I could just walk away from and since I’ve been back I think I have a better concept of pedigree than when I left.<\/p>\n

It really surprised me about how many players really appreciated the SIM Files through all these years and are still helping players today. They are outdated and need revamped to relate to DF today, they were written in SIM infancy but I think they brought to life the SIM Horse as I related them to “real-life” thoroughbreds.<\/p>\n

I struggle with Derby Fever just like everyone else does. This past week was a very difficult one for me. Right now and through the spring I have been breeding a lot of homebreds. Most all of my horses are on their 1st to 3rd race. One thing for myself that I think is important is predicting what surface my unraced horse would prefer. All spring I have been horrible at it. I would say about 70-75% of the time with my 2yo’s, I got it wrong. Last week was even worse than that, I was winless for about six days. I watched so many horses come in last place because of debuting on the wrong surface, it really frustrated me. For me there is only one thing to do; I opened up a new stable and bred about 15 more.<\/p>\n

Two horses from the new stable have already won (two more to race) and six have won since Saturday. So, I feel a lot better. But here is what can happen when you get the debuting horse on the right Surface:
\nhttps:\/\/derbyfever.com\/horseracing\/onehorse_inline.asp?horse=11500033881<\/a><\/p>\n

BB: That’s quite an interesting trajectory you’ve had. In regards to the<\/em>
\nSIM files, I can still remember finding them through a Google search<\/em>
\nabout three months ago. They are outdated, but one can see how many<\/em>
\ntraining and racing concepts apply to the new game as well, and I’m<\/em>
\nsure a lot of us have come out with a totally new perspective because<\/em>
\nof them. I’m curious as to what prompted you to write these files in<\/em>
\nthe first place, and if there is any possibility of you updating or<\/em>
\nrewriting them altogether.<\/em><\/p>\n

WAHOO22: Thanks Billy.<\/p>\n

When I started Playing the SIM the proponents of what is important it analyzing a “real horse race” were here in the SIM and by the way Mike Wallace was talking back then he had committed himself to make these things even better and more useful in the future. Which he has. These are the things that keep people like me, IRL horse trainers, jockeys, owners of TB’s, backside workers, and fans of horse racing, we all appreciate the authenticity of Derby Fever. These are the things that separate Derby Fever from just being another “arcade” type game of complete random chance. Combine that with how the pedigrees of the sires actually do relate surprisingly similar to what you might expect from IRL matings and the capability to be able to use any Sire in the world (in the Sim, anyway) without the practical issues of sire proximity and availability; there is nothing like Derby Fever. That’s what keeps players like me and many others interested for fifteen years. Back then the talk was: finally, a game that I can retire and spend the rest of my life playing. That was a sentiment.<\/p>\n

But then the attraction of the SIM and now Derby Fever to younger players is phenomenal. If you read the interview this week by BTB writer Greg (gcliffo) with “Supertaffy” who started playing the SIM before I even started, at the age of thirteen, and here 15 years later she has still kept up with her stables (and she did a few other “real life” things in between) and still loves this game? I remember Chatting with her and a few other younger players back then. There was a real young guy, about eight years old (timmy?) that I encouraged. Derby is not just another internet game you can easily walk away from mainly because after you start to understand how to play this game better, the gratification of achievement is so very real and warranted its just like “real life” horse racing because of the highs and lows. This is as close to the “real life” emotional roller coaster of horse racing that many of us who play Derby Fever will ever get. The real life time equivalent is a major factor of what keeps us here.<\/p>\n

Updating the SIM Files? As they are now is a glimpse into what the SIM was like back then and I think they should be kept that way. But there are many things in them that are relevant and I want to write more because I think everyone should have a better relationship with their SIM horse as is understood through real life concepts.<\/p>\n

BB: Well, I’m looking forward to anything you add to those files, as I’m<\/em>
\nsure a lot of us are. In regards to relating to your horse using real<\/em>
\nlife concepts, I can recall that you seem to have had a more<\/em>
\nconservative approach to 2 year olds back then, and if I’m not<\/em>
\nmistaken, more of a proactive stance with them these days. Are you<\/em>
\nstill an advocate for the tender loving care of our youngsters or do<\/em>
\nyou propose a little aggressiveness to find out their mysteries<\/em>
\nearlier in their careers?<\/em><\/p>\n

WAHOO22: 2yo’s are completely honest in what they do. If you give them the races they are telling you through their previous races they will develop, mature and win races. Some will achieve at the higher levels. O\/T’s (SIM – Owners\/Trainers) have got to be on the same page for best success.
\nThink of it the other way around. The horse is thinking; How long will it take before this O\/T figures out the races I need to be the best I can be? This O\/T is a mystery.<\/p>\n

Back then there were a lot of O\/T’s racing their 2yo’s in 2-3 week intervals, today with the Training Program 2yo’s are given plenty of rest between races. But I’m not so sure about giving the more talented ones 8-10 weeks between races. It’s true that the games maturity “spikes” effect the 2yo’s even while in the stable but I believe there is also a “racing maturity” that can only happen when you race them at shorter intervals. I have only been back a few months and most of my 2yo’s have not had their 3rd Race yet. But they have responded very well with 25-30 days between races. Stakes 2yo’s I would give 4-5+ weeks between races. But you have to understand that if you have a stakes winning 2yo in June it is very unlikely that you will find that horse in the Bluegrass Derby field. I don’t believe that long spacing for that 2yo will keep him in a top form for one year from now.<\/p>\n

BB: How about if that honesty includes the fact that it’s going to be<\/em>
\ncrappy as a 2 y.o?<\/em>
\nAre there any guiding signs that you’ve learned for the type of horse<\/em>
\nwho may be great but maybe as a 3,4 or five year old? I’m asking<\/em>
\nbecause I can imagine the O\/T not being a horse whisperer in any way<\/em>
\nand just getting fed up and deciding to use bloodlines that may be<\/em>
\nknown for producing early stakes and grade winners.<\/em><\/p>\n

WAHOO222: Fortunately, in the SIM, we don’t carry as big a load as do the ones who put out their Stud Fee money in a high risk arena.
\nGo to www.pedigreequery.com<\/a>, and look up the Sire Storm Cat. Use the Drop Down menu and click in: Progeny. These are the sons and daughters of Storm Cat that made it to the race track, some were trained for their first race but for one reason or another did not race. Count the many that did not earn $100,000. in their racing career. Then for every horse add $300,000. Stud Fee upon a live foal. Plus add stable, food, vet, blacksmith, fees.
\nEverybody is going to breed or Claim a horse that doesn’t win. It’s part of the nature of the game.<\/p>\n

Tuesday I have a 2yo filly debuting at 2-1 odds in a MSW, an eight horse field. Four of the seven other horses in the race are owned by my friend Deeprock. Some might think his tactic is like racing stables full of blind squirrels, but this is how you become a legend in Derby Fever. DeepRock has lots of acorns.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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