Maximising your horse potential
Alumites (Shoes)
Shoes (or Alumites to give them their posh name) are almost always beneficial to your horse. The improvement can range from no gain at all to a maximum gain of 2 lengths. There is never an adverse effect from applying shoes to a horse, if the horse appears to have gone backwards this will be the effect of the random element in training. In my experience the majority of horses show gains of between 0.35 and 0.85 lengths when shod, it is reasonably uncommon for a horse to gain more than a length with shoes let alone get close to the maximum benefit.
Each individual set of shoes last exactly 30 days from the moment of application and cannot be swapped between horses.
Two options are available when applying shoes - 'single' and 'multi'. There is absolutely no difference in the shoes that are applied nor in the effect on the horse. Single shoes simply mean that your horse will be fitted with a pair of shoes for the 30 days and when they expire the horse will then remain shoeless until such time as you opt to apply a new set of shoes. Multi shoes simply means that shoes for the horse in question will always be replaced on expiry, assuming you have a quantity of unused shoes in stock.
Shoes can be applied and removed at will, excepting when the horse is entered into an 'Early-bird' race for which the field has been declared.
Newsflash: For Season 22 the site owners have generously decided to give away a free pair of Alumites with every single purchase from the Sales Ring. An excellent move which will hopefully see more fresh stables come into the game.
Blinkers
Blinkers are the only tack item that can be as detrimental to your horse as they can be beneficial. The effect on a horse range from losing a length to gaining a length, it is also possible that they have no effect at all. In my experience the majority of horses show an effect in the range of -0.35 to +0.45 lengths.
Each individual set of blinkers last for the lifetime of the horse to which they have been applied and cannot be swapped between horses.
Blinkers can be applied and removed at will, excepting on the day of an 'Early-bird' race for which the the horse has been declared.
Some owners feel that blinkers can effect a horse differently in races than in training, this is not a view to which I subscribe as it is counter-intuitive in my opinion.
Gelding
Gelding, as the name implies, is only applicable to Colts and is always beneficial. The improvement ranges from no gain at all to a maximum gain of 3 lengths. There is never an adverse effect from gelding, if the horse appears to have gone backwards this will be the effect of the random element in training. I have only minimal experience of gelding but have a found just under the midpoint (1.50l) to be the average effect with most horses gaining more than a length and very few gaining more than two lengths.
Gelding is a once-off, irreversible operation and lasts the lifetime of the horse.
Gelding can be performed at any point in the life of a Colt, excepting on the day of an 'Early-bird' race for which the the horse has been declared.
If a Colt is deemed raceable it is an absolute must that it is gelded.
Vitamins
Vitamins do not affect the ability of your horse, they are merely an aid to raising fitness levels. A shot of vitamins will raise your horses fitness from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 10%. My experience of vitamins is limited as I have hardly ever bought this tack item as I feel they are only value if a horse is short of fitness with an entry into a imminent race with very good prizemoney.
Vitamins can only be applied once every 15 days to a single horse and can be applied at any point, excepting on the day of an 'Early-bird' race for which the the horse has been declared.
Some owners feel that vitamins not only affect fitness but can also affect the race perfomance of the horse whilst they are 'in the system'. I have no opinion on this matter but can see no reason why this should be officially denied (as it has) if it were true.