Picking and Entering Races in TRM

Start with the fit

Look at the surface and distance first. Dirt, Turf, and Synthetic all suit different horses, and so do short and long trips. A mismatch is not always impossible, but it is usually a poor place to spend an entry fee.

Then look at the class, your horse’s Energy, and whether it already has something planned that day.

TRM race entry screen with race details, horse selection, and jockey selection — Check the race details and the selected Horse before confirming an entry.

If the button is blocked, read the reason

TRM tells you why a horse cannot enter. The usual reasons are:

The horse is too young or has retired from racing.
Registration has closed, or entries have not opened yet.
The horse does not meet the class or series requirement.
The horse already has a race or daily action planned for that day.
The horse is injured, low on Energy, or your stable cannot cover the fee.

You do not have to guess. Fix the message on screen or pick a different race or horse.

Season Races, Local Races, and Practice

During the 28-week season, scheduled Season Races cost their listed entry fee, use Energy when they settle, and can earn payouts and season progress. After Week 28, scheduled Local Races keep racing available during the offseason. They have no purse, points, Energy cost, or daily season-race slot.

Practice is the instant solo option on Training when you want to test a horse and watch a replay.

Prep after you choose the race

Race prep gives a temporary boost for the next official race. Pick the race first, then use the option that helps the part of the race you care about most:

Race prep at a glance
Prep	Boost	Good for
Gate Work	Acceleration	A sharper start.
Pace Work	Speed and Endurance	A little of both.
Turn Schooling	Handling	Tracks where turns matter.
Mental Focus	Mind	Better focus under pressure.
Surface Prep	Speed and Handling	Help for that surface.
Distance Prep	Endurance	A longer trip.

Prep uses one daily action and stays for the next official race. See the training guide for how it fits into the planner.

Pick a jockey and tactic

The local rider is free. Your hired jockeys can add bonuses, but their contracts have limited uses. Save a good jockey for a race where the edge matters to you.

Simple tactic guide
Tactic	What it asks the horse to do	Trade-off
Conservative	Hold something back for later.	May be further back early.
Balanced	Run a middle-of-the-road race.	No big early or late push.
Aggressive	Go forward early.	Uses more Energy early.

Balanced is a fine first choice. Tactics guide the run; they cannot guarantee a finish.

Read the entry summary before you confirm

The summary shows the entry fee, Energy impact, selected jockey, bonuses, and these deadlines:

Registration close: the last time you can enter.
Withdrawal deadline: the last time you can pull out.
Race lock time: when the entry is final.

Entries for official races open seven Eastern calendar days before the race. Keep some cash aside for the rest of the stable too.

After the race

Watch the replay, check your horse’s Energy and health, then plan the next few days. Rest may be the right call after a hard effort. The beginner guide has the full first-week flow.