Questions which some of us may not know about the SO series and some which probably all newcomers have no idea about either. So I thought we could all contribute a mini SO FAQ so if any of you know the answers or have any other puzzling questions then please contribute.

1) Does choosing a different jockey make a difference? Do they have different 'stats'?
2) What's the advantages/disadvantages of Small, Average and Large build horses?
3) How do you know when and what type of headgear to choose from?
4) How often should you run you 2yo without ruining it's future?
5) When do I put my horses out to grass? Why should I do this?
6) My horse only seems to run well at one distance how can I improve it over other distances?
7) I'd like to learn more about jockey tactics. What do each of the jockey tactics actually mean? What type of horses should I use them on? And how would I be best using them in a race

Go easy -
Drop out early -
Hold Up -
Slight hold up -
Even pace -
Race Handy -
Force the pace -
Pacemaker -

Dont lead -
Miss break -
Dont trail -
Dont go clear finish -
Challenge earlier -
Challenge later -
Hands and heels only -

The arrows on the racecards, what do they mean?
9) How do I know which handicap races would be best suited to my horse?
10) Is there any particular path I should take for my horse's career or is it a case of enter it into whatever is available at the time?
11) Apprentice/retainer jockeys - do I need one?
12) What's the advantage of A) having more staff? B) paying them high wages? C) Giving my horses higher grade food?
13) Why do I need the car park, extra feed barn, onsite trainer accomodation, office building, a gardener, staff accomodation? Do these have any bearing on anything else?

Just a few to get us started there.

Assuming you're playing the UK flat game, it depends on what rating your horse gets after its maiden run. If it wins its maiden, and gets a fairly high mark, you should be looking at stepping straight into a conditions or listed race, or a high-value handicap. If it struggles and gets a lower rating, you can work your way up the handicap classes. To start with, you should probably look for a race over a suitable distance, and on suitable going, where the horse will receive a fairly low weight (but still within the handicap), preferably just over 8st. If your horse struggles, then it's all about persevering (slightly different distances etc) in the hope it will eventually improve, but if it runs well and increases its rating, you can gradually work your way up the handicap classes to class two, with the valuable class two feature handicaps being the highest handicap level in the flat game. If it does well in those races, you can step up to listed or group class.

What to do when your jockey keeps saying didn't have the pace over and over again.

step up in trip it needs further

some great questions, i hope they all get answered because there's a lot of those i would love to know.

The arrows on the racecards, what do they mean?

It's the paddock indicator red/pink or blue. It lets you know how worked up or relaxed the horse is.

One thing I would like to know is how 'important' are the additional stats? Is potential ability the most important aspect or do the finishing ability, battling qualities, cruising pace really make a difference?

My best horse so far hasnt been the best 'potential ability' horse and didnt have as good other stats as similar horses. On the flip side, I have had a horse with a lot of 'potential ability' but never showed it on track but DID have poor other stats.

I would be very interested to know what anyone else has noticed.

1 - Personally I have never noticed any difference between jockeys, bar maybe the claimers who seem to get it wrong more often if they arent given instruction. They did get better as they rode more winners and were as good as any when they had lost their claim imo.

2 - I have always been led to believe that small is better for tight tracks with sharper corners (because they can change direction easier) and the large build horses are suited to the more galloping tracks. I personally only breed for normal or smaller in the flat but I suppose large build may be a good thing for NH players.

3 - Never used headgear so couldnt tell you I am afraid. I just sell them if they need it.

4 - I have never experienced any problems with 'over-racing' 2yo's. However I would definitely make sure they have their fitness/condition bar full just to make sure. I tend to run mine between 4-6 times depending on how good they are. IE the best ones will run in a couple of extra G1's.

5 - Im not that far in yet so not sure, but I have only put my horse out to grass when they have had a serious injury or if I think they have had enough racing for the season.

6 - I think this game is more flexible with distance, but I would still try and stick to whatever that set distance is as I dont think its possible to increase it? As a horse gets older its stamina does increase.

7 - The jockey instructions are the same as last year and can be found several times on the forum if you search it.

The rest will have to wait as I need to get back to work!

I have noticed that on the primary stats Potential rating is the all important although there are many others that may be important. Confidence seem to be important as well. Very few horses have high battling qualities. Found 1 with around 70% level but yet to breed one with that kind of level to compliment high potential. Also few horses with high distance adaptability. Found 1 with 60% level and trying to breed it into 1f2 horse to try if the horse can run a range of distance.

But in general those with multiple G1 winners will have high potential and confidnce *90% each( to complient other high stats.

I think you're right about the potential. I played another couple of seasons last night and the best ones always have the highest potential, which is kind of obvious but at least it works.

Not convinced by the others yet though, I have had a horse with the max going/surface adaptability not be suited the AW and also I had a horse in a group race show a great turn of foot and battle to win, but actual had the lowest level of battling qualities, finishing ability and only mid extra speed (or whatever the name is!). Its possible that he was just the better horse and the rest were just as bad but seems a bit strange to me.