This season, we’ll review a list of changes in the briefest way possible so you know what you need to know as quickly as possible.
If you prefer an hour of Bryce and Ryan discussing these changes and more, you can listen to the Photo Finish™ Season 22 Twitter Spaces on Monday, November 18, at 9:00 a.m.
A reminder: time change means foals will again be born at 10:00 a.m. EST! Just as God intended.
Expanded Race Availability
- Additional “Pickable” Races: Many races are now available without pre-funded pools, setting the stage for future Simulcast/OTB streams.
- Strategic Timing: Major qualifiers, grade-restricted events, and G2/3 races are scheduled during global “pub” times, creating a consistent cadence for key races.
Weather Forecast Visibility
- For freeroll races, weather conditions will only be visible once registration opens, adding an element of surprise to your race strategy.
Grade-Restricted Stakes
- The S+ Grade Restricted stakes have been replaced by Open GR stakes, making high-level competition accessible to all until the population grows enough to reintroduce gated S+ races.
Randomized Race Timing
- Non-simulcast race types are better randomized throughout the day, giving players worldwide more chances to participate.
Crown Allocation Updates
- We’ve cut the amount of races with $CROWN by ~13%, making it more valuable than ever.
- New $CROWN Price: $CROWN amounts in payout events now use a $0.40 valuation.
Senior Circuit Updates
Silver Stakes
- This event has been moved to the final Thursday of the season to encourage L28 horses to race through their senior years.
Grade-Restricted Volume
- The number of grade-restricted races has been reduced, allowing for more varied competition opportunities.
Benchmarks
- Benchmarks are now integrated into the schedule, giving all horses a fair shot, regardless of age or grade.
Streamed Events
- While unavailable on Day 1, streamed races will adopt the “After Dark” model, where 10% of the WIN pick pool supplements race payouts. This provides more incentive to participate in and cheer for these streamed events.
Claiming Races
- Juvenile Claimers: These races won’t start until Day 4 of the season, creating anticipation and strategy opportunities for juvenile horses.
Benchmark Races
Expanded Opportunities
- An additional 80 BM races have been added to the schedule.
- Under 60 Benchmark Horses: More consistent opportunities for struggling horses across all age groups to compete and gain experience, using weights in an allowance by benchmark model.
G1/2/3 Updates
Kingmaker Finale
- All profit-boosted G2/3 races through the season now operate under a “Win, and You’re In” model for the Kingmaker Finale:
- Juveniles: Run on the last Saturday of the season.
- Aged 3+: Compete on the last Sunday.
- Each archetype has its own dedicated race.
Major Qualifiers
- The schedule and volume of major qualifiers have been streamlined, ensuring:
- Three qualifiers every 2 days for every major race.
- Equal amount of qualifiers for each major.
