Rules

Dead Heat II is a browser-based thoroughbred horse racing simulation. Each player manages a stable of horses, enters them in races, earns prize money, and competes for points on the leaderboard. The game is administered by a small team of admins who create races, assign horses, and manage the economy.

All players are expected to conduct themselves with good sportsmanship. Unsporting behaviour, abuse of other players, or attempts to exploit the simulation may result in suspension or removal at admin discretion.

Each player owns and manages a single stable. Horses are assigned by admins or acquired through the transfer market.

• Realistic names must be used for your player name. No numbers or symbols allowed in player names.
• Each horse has a set of racing traits known only to the admin and your trainer.
• Owners receive trainer notes rather than raw statistics — read them carefully.
• Trainer notes are written with a small margin of error. Your trainer is good, not infallible.
• Coat colour and genetics are visible to all owners.

Races are created and scheduled by admins. Owners enter eligible horses before the closing date.

• Races range from 5-furlong sprints to 18-furlong marathons on grass or dirt.
• A horse’s racing style (Front, Close, Steady) affects how it performs at different stages.
• Surface preference matters — a grass horse on dirt will underperform.
• Distance suitability matters — running beyond a horse’s comfortable range costs performance.
• Each race produces a full turn-by-turn commentary visible to all players.
• Results are final once a race is run. No replays or protests.

Each race carries a prize purse and a points allocation set by the admin. Prize money is credited to the winning owner’s stable balance.

• Points are awarded to the top four finishers in each race.
• Prize money is split between the top finishers at a ratio set per race.
• Career points and earnings are tracked on the leaderboard.
• Prize money can be used to purchase horses via admin-managed transfers.

Breeding is managed through the admin. Owners may request pairings subject to availability and admin approval.

• Only stallions and mares may breed. Geldings are excluded.
• Foal traits are inherited from both parents, weighted by each parent’s Blood Potency.
• Coat colour follows real-world equine genetics across six loci.
• Breeding outcomes are not guaranteed — some foals will exceed their parents, others will not.

Admin decisions are final in all matters relating to race results, horse values, transfers, and rule interpretation. The admin team reserves the right to adjust balances, reassign horses, or suspend accounts where necessary to maintain the integrity of the simulation.