System and method for generating and displaying a horse racing form for use with a virtual horse race

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for generating and displaying a horse racing form for a completely virtual horse racing environment. The present invention stores a database of values for a virtual horse, each value corresponding to an attribute typically listed in a published daily racing form. In order to simulate horse racing performance, calculations are applied to the values, which are adjusted to account for an individual horse's running style, track preference, track condition preference, age, or other factors. The results of these calculations are then displayed on a horse racing form. Users of the present invention will be able to place educated bets, or handicap, using the horse racing form. The form may be used in a number of open or closed environments. As a result, the present invention provides a complete virtual horse racing environment based upon fully calculated and realistically weighted mathematical algorithms used to generate the horse racing form.

1 . A method for performing a virtual horse race simulation comprising:
 storing data for each of a plurality of virtual horses, the data including attributes typical of a horse racing form;   simulating a race of at least two of the plurality of virtual horses, wherein performance of the at least two virtual horses is in part responsive to the data for the virtual horses and in part responsive to a random variable;
 modifying the data for the at least two virtual horses in response to their individual performance in the race; and 
 displaying the data. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , including displaying the data in a racing form format. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data includes physical characteristics for each of the plurality of virtual horses and performance information from at least one virtual race. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performance is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the behavioral characteristic is one of frontrunner, stalker or closer. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the race has track characteristics and track conditions as a factor, and the data includes data corresponding to performances in at least one previous virtual race on a track with different track characteristics or under different track conditions. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data is selected from a list consisting of date of a race name, a race track name, a race track condition, a race number, a race date, a race type, a race purse amount, a race distance, previous race, race number, track at which race was run, track condition, race name, a horse's name, a horse's owner, a horse's breeder, a horse's jockey, a horse's trainer, a horse's sire, a horse's dam, a horse's performance at a previous race, and a horse's current prize earnings. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including an algorithm for providing odds and wagering information for the at least one virtual race that is responsive to the data. 
   
   
       9 . A method for simulating a virtual horse race comprising simulating a race of at least two of a plurality of virtual horses, wherein the performance of the at least two virtual horses is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic for each of the at least two virtual horses. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the behavioral characteristic is one of frontrunner, stalker or closer. 
   
   
       11 . A computer program product for simulating a virtual horse race, the computer program product encoded in a medium and including instructions for implementing:
 displaying a horse racing form for a virtual horse, the horse racing form including a list of virtual horse attribute values that are modified after performance of the virtual horse in a simulated race; and   calculating horse attribute values for the horse racing form, wherein calculating is in part responsive to a random variable, in part responsive to the performance of the virtual horse in a previous simulated race, in part responsive to the track conditions and track characteristics of the virtual race, and in part responsive to the performance of a second virtual horse in the virtual race.   
   
   
       12 . A computer program product for simulating a virtual horse race, the computer program product encoded in a medium and including instructions for implementing:
 simulating a race of at least two of a plurality of virtual horses, wherein the performance of the at least two virtual horses is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic for each of the at least two virtual horses.   
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the behavioral characteristic is one of frontrunner, stalker or closer. 
   
   
       14 . A computer program product for rendering a simulated horse race, the computer program product encoded in a medium and including instructions for implementing:
 rendering a three-dimensional rendering of a horse race track; and   rendering a three-dimensional rendering of a plurality of virtual racehorses traveling around the horse race track, wherein the position of the virtual racehorses is based upon the application of a statistical algorithm on horse attribute values stored in a database, the algorithm responsive to values descriptive of the track, the individual virtual horses and the track conditions.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , further comprising rendering a three-dimensional rendering of various perspective views of the simulated horse race, wherein the views comprise overhead views, jockey views, quarter-track views, finish line views, starting line views and spectator views. 
   
   
       16 . A method for performing a virtual race simulation comprising:
 storing data for each of a plurality of virtual contestants, the data including attributes corresponding to each contestant;   simulating a race of at least two of the plurality of virtual contestants, wherein the performance of the at least two virtual contestants is in part responsive to the data for the virtual contestants and in part responsive to a random variable;
 modifying the data for the at least two virtual contestants in response to their individual performance in the race; and 
 displaying the data. 
   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , including displaying the data. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the data includes physical characteristics for each of the plurality of virtual contestants and performance information from at least one virtual race. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the performance is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the race has track characteristics and track conditions as a factor, and the data includes data corresponding to performances in at least one previous virtual race on a track with different track characteristics or under different track conditions. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further including an algorithm for providing odds and wagering information for the at least one virtual race that is responsive to the data. 
   
   
       22 . A method for performing a virtual race simulation comprising simulating a virtual race of at least two of a plurality of virtual contestants, wherein performance of the at least two virtual contestants is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic for the virtual contestants. 
   
   
       23 . A computer program product for performing virtual race simulation, the computer program product encoded in a medium and including instructions for implementing:
 simulating a race of at least two of a plurality of virtual contestants, wherein performance of the at least two virtual contestants is in part responsive to a behavioral characteristic for the virtual contestants.   
   
   
       24 . A computer program product for rendering a simulated race, the computer program product encoded in a medium and including instructions for implementing:
 rendering a three-dimensional rendering of a race track; and   rendering a three-dimensional rendering of a plurality of virtual contestants traveling around the race track, wherein the position of the virtual contestants is based upon the application of a statistical algorithm on contestant attribute values stored in a database, the algorithm responsive to values descriptive of the track, the individual virtual contestant and the track conditions.   
   
   
       25 . The computer program product of  claim 24 , further comprising rendering a three-dimensional rendering of various perspective views of the simulated race, wherein the views comprise overhead views, contestant views, quarter-track views, finish line views, starting line views and spectator views.