Thoroughbred Racing ManagerPlay freeThe five main stats
| Stat | What it helps with |
|---|---|
| Speed | How fast the horse can run once it is moving. |
| Acceleration | How quickly it can get up to speed or respond when asked. |
| Endurance | How well it keeps going as the race gets longer. |
| Handling | How well it stays balanced through turns, traffic, and position changes. |
| Mind | How well it keeps its head and follows the race plan under pressure. |
Rating is a summary, not the whole horse
Overall rating is useful for a quick comparison, but two horses with the same rating can be very different. One may be a short-distance horse with strong Acceleration. Another may be built around Endurance.
Always look at the shape of the stats as well as the single rating number.
Surface and distance matter
A horse can prefer Dirt, Turf, or Synthetic, and it can lean toward shorter, medium, or longer trips. Matching the horse to those preferences is usually more important than chasing a race because the purse looks bigger.
Current stats and potential are different
Current stats are what the horse has now. Potential is the ceiling the horse may be able to grow toward.
This matters most with young horses. A yearling can look ordinary today and still have a very good future. A mature horse with strong current numbers may already be closer to its ceiling.
Training builds the horse you actually own
Training gives lasting stat gains. It does not instantly turn a horse into a different type. Use training to strengthen what the horse is good at, cover a weakness, or prepare it for the kind of races you want to target.
The Training & Recovery guide explains the planner and each training choice.
Age changes what a horse can do
Age 1 horses are young horses. They use the yearling portrait and cannot train or race yet. Age 2 horses can begin training and racing. Breeding starts later, once the horse is old enough and breeding has been unlocked for the stable.
Personality and archetype are clues
Archetype tells you the general shape of the horse. Personality gives another clue about how it may behave. They are useful, but they do not replace the actual stats, preferences, race history, and training.
Look at the whole record
When judging a horse, use several things together:
- Current stats and overall rating.
- Potential and how much room is left to grow.
- Surface and distance preference.
- Age and development stage.
- Race results and recent form.
- Pedigree and bloodlines for breeding horses.
Simple rule: do not buy, sell, breed, or retire a horse from one number alone.