> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.bakedalaskanracing.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.bakedalaskanracing.com/beginner-info.md).

# Beginner Info

## Initial Info

### Sign Up

If you haven't already, go ahead and [sign up](https://signup.photofinish.live/?referralCode=8AWJGED3) for photofinish.live and you'll get a free trainer horse to enter into free trainer races!

* You can run your horse 1 time per 24 hours in a free trainer race
* They cannot be used in racing that takes $DERBY to join races

## Currency Explained

There are 2 types of currency that [photofinish.live](https://signup.photofinish.live/?referralCode=8AWJGED3) runs on:

* $DERBY - The currency the game runs on. All race entries, wins payouts, bets and market purchases use $DERBY. You can get derby by using $USDC on Solana or via credit card to purchase $DERBY on the official website. This is not a coin traded on a blockchain, in game only like xbox/sony cash for example.
* $CROWN - This currency is only obtained by finishing a paid race. It's a side bonus for entering a race. This currency can be used for Track Ownership which generates $DERBY monthly by staking with 1 of the active tracks. Each month you get paid derby and could re-invest in more $CROWN on the blockchain to use in track ownership staking.

## Track Types

There's 3 factors that make up the track type for a horse. You can certainly run a Left horse Right or Right horse Left (same for dirt/firm) but may see less performance doing so depending on your horses's stars and stats. 

### Turn Type

Left or Right - Does your horse run Left or Right best? That's all this is!

### Surface Type

Dirt or Turf - Does your horse like Dirt or Turf best? That's all this is!

### Weather %

Firm or Soft - Weather comes in 5 flavors from dry to wet:

* Fast (0-40%)
* Good (0-60%)
* Yielding (0-100%)
* Soft (40-100%)
* Sloppy (60-100%)

This chart shows the average stats for how often each type comes up for the rain chance % for that race. If you drill down on a race before the weather is determined at entry closing, you can sometimes get a better preview of what the weather might be like depending on the icon listed.

<figure><img src="/files/UpZM2GMzgyEmf0HYLtTD" alt=""><figcaption><p>Stats on 5/9/2024</p></figcaption></figure>

## Horse Bloodlines

NFTs were fused together to create the first horses known as Gen0. When you look at a horses bloodline if the last two parents are NFTs instead of horses, you know the horse before that was gen 0.\
\
Here's [an example](https://photofinish.live/marketplace/1528e23c-209e-42da-9534-55834b1e2cfb) of a pure blood Generation 2 horse named Arcane Ultra showing off it's Gen1 Parents, their Gen0 Parents and the NFTs used to create them.

<figure><img src="/files/r0ee4rfqLsNcBDm7KMt1" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Gen 0

This first chart is one we found helpful from discord describing the flaws with Gen0 racers (ie: any horse created with 2 NFTs to make a gen0 original horse) and what they lack at each track type:

<figure><img src="/files/eRJtXaf8Poo97P0itP5w" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This is a quick reference for how weather typically shakes out. To see updated stats visit the [site here](https://gapdata.racing/weather/).

### 1/1 NFT PFP Names

Here's a chart of the common names for 1/1 PFP's:

<figure><img src="/files/dkiP9xmSl2ZOlTXEIkmg" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>PFP Name Chart</p></figcaption></figure>

### Female 1/1 Horses:

Blue (RDS F): [https://photofinish.live/horses/hmmzwCTfVGY32GtJS2HHV9g41YR448xAv9hYWos8NaM…](https://t.co/Rbv82yI8Eo)&#x20;

Churro (RTS M): [https://photofinish.live/horses/GonS85Axpt24LNnDC5LtinMDYwjZgzz9V6uEMSMa76dg…](https://t.co/oX7yHuQfpq)&#x20;

Tony Rigatoni (RDF M): [https://photofinish.live/horses/Huib9rSEZ3CFiyQeNDXX9vWM49WevBF74znibvzY8kMu…](https://t.co/QlWuBkpX1A)&#x20;

Zoom Zephyr (RDF M): [https://photofinish.live/horses/6dcY4qqoos338aMjNWDeTeEQUkG7qHeZNAQDj5jwjXZr…](https://t.co/drGJJq50Ku)

Rose of Zion (LDF M): <https://photofinish.live/horses/8EE2PKijwUmgELi41zy9PKNcvbCFSZC9spXzKjk5XMPS>

## First Races

There's always some guessing that goes into picking the first races for an unraced horse. Looking at the parents and guessing at the best stats is a common way to decide which races to go for first. Here's some notes we've captured on first races:

<figure><img src="/files/gGZ0vcotjIbP5g0y1sHi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Above Average Juvenile FF

<figure><img src="/files/5U66mYmVaqJG6vrx9n4z" alt="" width="510"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Breeding

Here is every retired S grade horse split by parent grades with on track performances. Final columns are average percentile times by distance (low=good):

<figure><img src="/files/Cj19vwE9dYK4WQ3jQEa9" alt=""><figcaption><p>From <a href="https://discord.com/channels/1166407711659933756/1238576615101825046/1249308821260730420">here</a>.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/IuO6tO2W5oXbHKqbhtK2" alt=""><figcaption><p>From <a href="https://aipaddock.com/understanding-optimal-distances">here</a>.</p></figcaption></figure>

## TMI

There is a lot of info!! Take it slow, learn a few things at a time, get better before buying a horse.

* Don't buy a horse right away, run a trainer and learn.
* Pick one track type and focus on it!!
  * Below is a chart showing how things started 15 season ago with Gen 0 horses. Much has changed via breeding since then but older horses still have some of these flaws. You can use this info to research and determine which track type to get horses on for your budget.
  * Don't make the mistake of getting into too many horses. Horse value drops continuously for the most part so you're always catching a falling knife buying a horse!
* Join discord and when you purchase your first horse look into the beginner races for new players that happen monthly!


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