I'm new to horse racing but love simulation games - such as Football Manager and Out of the Park Baseball. How is this game for a "sports management" game? Is this the best horse racing simulation on the market? Are there others I should consider?

Thank you!

Brian

You can bet your Boots, House, and your beaten old Car on it Brian, but don't tell anybody, we all here are trying to keep it a secret from the rest of the world because we all are a bit clicky, if you know what I mean

There aren't many horse racing games on the market in general. Most that do get released are either really cartoony, very inaccurate, never get updated, or only get one version (no sequels). Starters Orders is now on v6 and has has the same developer the entire time. I'd have to say it certainly is the best out there. Mark, the developer, also gives good support and takes our suggestions. Even if there was a better one out there released by a larger studio, I'd likely still keep to Starters Orders.

I've been playing the series since SO2 and my only irritation was with SO2 and Softwrap. Used to have an annoying DRM with only so many activations per game. I had to contact support on a regular basis to get more activations because I had to keep reinstalling my OS at the time. My issue was with Softwrap, not Mark and Starters Orders, though. Given my irritation with other game companies in the past year, I'm a lot happier with Mark and Starters Orders.

What also makes a lot of people happy with this game is the modability of it. A good many of those here make their own mods and release them on the mod forum. I was dabbling with horse reskins before putting it on the back burner some months ago. Now with American Pharoah's triple crown win, I might do one of him and maybe other triple crown winners. Just have to find the time.

Yep, I think it's good. Good support....and being a smaller community you get a more one on one experience if you have a problem.
It's quite in-depth with breeding and racing. There is jockey mode as well.
Buy it...it's not expensive and good bang for your buck!
Cheers