The British Horseracing Board has today launched an interactive online game; The Order of Merit Fantasy Racing Manager. Designed to promote and raise awareness of the Order of Merit, players build their own Jump Racing team to challenge all-comers over the course of the season.
The free to enter game will cover all 63 Order of Merit races starting with this Sunday’s bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase at Aintree, and culminating with its final race, the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April.
Teams can be registered at the Order of Merit Fantasy Racing Manager microsite, www.fantasyorderofmerit.com and will score points based on the performances of their selected jockeys, horses and trainers in all Order of Merit races.
The Order of Merit Fantasy Racing Manager involves picking a team of three horses, three jockeys, a trainer and a bonus race in which players can score double points.
Transfers for horses and jockeys can be made each week, allowing players to strengthen their teams throughout the season. There is also the opportunity for teams to set up their own mini-league and compete against each other.
The Overall Winner of the Order of Merit Fantasy Racing Manager will receive a day out for 20 people to the Vodafone Derby at Epsom Downs. They will have a superb view of the big race from their very own open-top double decker bus. The winner will also receive 2 VIP tickets to the BHB British Jump Racing Awards ceremony in May 2006.
Registration of teams can be made at any time before or during the Order of Merit series, with VIP raceday prizes on offer to the highest scoring team each month.
BHB Marketing Director Chris John said: “Fantasy Racing Manager is a modern and exciting way of engaging racegoers with the Order of Merit. It has the capacity to generate a large following by challenging Jump Racing fans to select a team of horses, jockeys and a trainer to compete, for exciting prizes throughout season. The aim is to raise the profile of Jump Racing, by putting its leading performers in the public spotlight”.
