FOR REVIEW - (Beta) Guide to the Spring Racing Carnival

[Kiralynn]

Greetings!

Here is the current draft of the full schedule and event info for the Spring Racing Carnival. Please let me know if you see any problems with the schedule. Is it easy to read and understand? Thank you for helping to proof this! =D

There is a chance that the Formation Riding Team Demo and Rodeo may start half an hour earlier than listed here. (I should know for certain by Sunday, with any luck.)


Event Schedule

Event	Event Description
EVENTS.IN.THE.SHIRE
Smell the Roses Shire Sprint 10:00am-10:45am Michel Delving Host: Lilikate	Join us for a challenging steeplechase around the Shire. The first 19 entries will be accepted. Pre-register by sending in-game mail to Lilikate. CLICK HERE to view the race route. Prizes are 15 gold + 1,000 Turbine Points for first place, 10 gold + 500 TP for second place, and 5 gold + 500 TP for third place. Band: Bit's Pieces
Smell the Roses War-Steed Sprint 11:00am-11:45am Michel Delving Host: Lilikate	Ride your war steed on an exciting steeplechase course. The rules and course from the previous race will be used. Prizes are 15 gold + 1,000 Turbine Points for first place, 10 gold + 500 TP for second place, and 5 gold + 500 TP for third place. Band: ??
Middle-Earth Rare Breeds Parade Noon-12:20pm Michel Delving Host: Harperella	Listen to wonderful music as you enjoy a parade of rare breeds and beautiful outfits. Band: Lilikate's Creatures
Westfarthing Horse Show 12:30pm-1:15pm Michel Delving Host: Harperella	In this mounted fashion contest, riders show off their favorite steeds and matching outfits. The audience votes for the winners. Click here for the rules. Contact Harperella to register before 12:30pm. Prizes are 15 gold + 1,000 Turbine Points for first place, 10 gold + 500 TP for second place, and 5 gold + 500 TP for third place. Band: Lilikate's Creatures
BREAK 1:15pm-2:30pm	Lunch break.
King of the Wind Sprints 2:30pm-4:00pm Shire racetrack Host: Aldekim	Four qualifier sprints will determine which riders can participate in a final race to prove who is the King of the Wind. See the race rules below. Entry will be limited to the first 16 riders to register by contacting Aldekim by in-game mail including a one gold piece entry fee. Registrants who do not make it into the races will have their entry fee refunded. Prizes are 500 Turbine Points for first place in each qualifier, and 500 TP for first place in the final race. In addition, prizes of 5 gold will be awarded to the winner of each qualifying race, and a prize of 10 Gold plus all entry fees from competing racers will be awarded to the winner of the final race. Band: Die Meisterbarden von Bree
EVENTS.IN.BREE-LAND
Formation Riding Team Demonstration 4:30pm-5:00pm Horsefields Host: Craicwyth	Celebrate the beauty and harmony of horses as the Windy Acres Ranch formation riding team performs dressage on war steeds. The Horsefields are located north of Bree-town near the festival grounds. The riders will perform on Hobnanigans field #1. Band: Andune
Hengstacer Stampede Rodeo 5:30pm-7:30pm Hengstacer Farm Host: Kiralynn	Enjoy the thrill of war-steed barrel racing. Laugh with The Sore Thumbs, the rodeo clown comedians. Participate in Name-that-Steed and Name-that-Song contests. Register with Kiralynn starting at 5:30pm – specify which event(s) you wish to participate in. Prizes are 15 gold + 1,000 Turbine Points for first place, 10 gold + 500 TP for second place, and 5 gold + 500 TP for third place in each event. Band: Just Abby's
Hengstacer Sprint 8pm-8:20pm Hengstacer Farm Host: Kiralynn	The final qualifier race for the championship cup. This is the last chance to earn an invitation to the most prestigious race in LOTRO. See the race rules below. To register, contact Kiralynn after 7:30pm. Prizes are 15 gold + 1,000 Turbine Points for first place, 10 gold + 500 TP for second place, and 5 gold + 500 TP for third place. Band: Just Abby's
Bree Championship Cup 8:30pm-9pm Hengstacer Farm Host: Kiralynn	An invitation-only race where the best riders of LOTRO compete to be known as the best jockey in Middle-Earth. This is a fast-paced war steed race where all speed enhancements are allowed. Contact Kiralynn after 8:00pm to confirm your participation. Prizes are 50 gold + Steed of the First Marshal + 3,000 Turbine Points for first place, 25 gold + Steed of the First Marshal + 2,000 TP for second place, and 10 gold + Steed of the First Marshal + 1,000 TP for third place. The audience can "wager" on the race. To place a "bet", simply /tell the Bookie the name of one rider you think will win. One lucky fan who guesses the race winner will receive 1,000 Turbine Points. Band: The Remediators
Carnival Concert 9pm - til Hengstacer Farm Host: Kiralynn	The finale of our day-long equestrian extravaganza. Enjoy music by The Remediators, dancing, and fireworks.

FAQ

Can I use speed enhancers, perks, or riding traits during the races?
The King of the Wind Sprints and Bree Championship Cup allow all forms of speed bonus, including those purchased from the store. All other races restrict the use of speed bonuses, and riders who have purchased a speed-enhancing riding trait must activate their "Smell the Roses" skill.

Who Can Race in the Bree Championship Cup?
The top three winners of the Smell the Roses sprints, King of the Wind final race, and Hengstacer Sprint will be invited to participate in the Bree Championship Cup. The following riders have qualified to participate during the normal racing season - Kikilaa, Cirthalon, Eliwren, Artemieth, Hoboin, Louellana, Mornareth, Tinylea, Craicwyth, Gonda, Limilniel, Mellime, and Meneladan.

What is the Name That Breed contest?
A rider will mount up on a rare breed of horse. The first people to correctly /shout out the breed of that horse score points. After a dozen horses are shown, participants who earned the most points win prizes. It is important to use /shout to avoid a bug associated with /say which could prevent the host from hearing your answer. The breed of the horse is its name from the Mounts panel. For example, "Yule festival snow", "Prized dark chestnut", or "Red-clad steed of the Gap".

What is the Name That Song contest?
The band will play a country western song. The first people to /shout the correct song title score points. After a dozen songs are played, participants who earned the most points win prizes. It is important to use /shout to avoid a bug associated with /say which could prevent the host from hearing your answer. Do not wait for the end of the song to /shout your answer. The band will stop playing and move to the next song after several people have shouted the correct answer.

What is barrel racing?
Participants must navigate their war steed around three obstacles in a particular clover-leaf pattern. Turn right around the first obstacle, left around the second and third obstacles (<em>see below</em>). Hobbit "barrels" in orange outfits will mark the obstacles. The clock starts running the moment the horse crosses the fence line and enters the field, and stops as soon as the horse reaches the fence line again. Touching an obstacle results in a time penalty. The riders with the fastest times win prizes.



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Hengstacer Sprint Rules

* Riders must register to participate in the race. Registration closes 5 minutes before the event begins.
* Riders must be at the start location at least 5 minutes before the race begins.
* Riders must join a raid fellowship with the judges and remain in it until the race results are announced.
* Only standard (+62%) horses and ponies will be allowed. Goats are not permitted.
* No mount speed enhancers will be permitted. All buffs (temporary ability enhancements) must be cancelled before the race begins. Participants with a riding trait must activate "Smell the Roses".
* Riders must only use their horse for transportation. Stables, milestones, wayfaring, camps, rally points, acorns, mustering horns, summons and all other non-mount forms of travel are forbidden.
* Spamming fellow riders, giving a false start signal, having allies ride in the wrong direction to mislead riders, and all other forms of unsportsmanlike behavior will result in disqualification.
* Riders must clear all checkpoints in the proper direction and order. Course judges are the final authority in determining if a checkpoint has been properly cleared. A decision can be appealed if screenshots or video can be presented immediately after the race.
* If a rider falls from his horse, he may mount up again and continue the race. He will not be disqualified for swimming if he is dismounted at a water crossing.
* The winner will be determined by the first rider to cross the finish line, not the first mount.

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King of the Wind Sprint Rules

The Lonely Mountain Free Press will be sponsoring the King of the Wind Sprints, a no holds barred series of sprint races intended to determine who is the fastest in all of Landroval.

Past races have concerned themselves with fairness and the cost of obtaining the best buffs for racing. Long known as “The Sport of Kings” the King of the Wind Sprints recognize that some speed buffs are quite expensive, but will have no limits on what types of mounts and buffs are employed. This one day series of sprints is intended to determine “who is fastest” and no restrictions will be placed on entries other than number of entries accepted and the following rules.

Rules for racing are as follows:

1) Entry will be on a first come first serve basis, beginning May 1st.
2) Entry will be limited to the first 16 riders to register by contacting Aldekim, publisher of the Lonely Mountain Free Press, by in-game mail including a one gold piece entry fee. Racers not making it into the races will have their entry fee refunded.
3) Riders will be expected to be on hand at the Shire Race Track to join a raid no later than 15 minutes prior to the posted 3 p.m. start time.
4) A waiting list will be kept from entries not in the first 16 to replace any riders entered who do not show up at the race at the appointed race time. In the event that 16 racers do not enter in advance, entries will be accepted on the day of the race on a first come first serve basis.
5) There will be four qualifying races on the day of the event with the winner of each qualifier advancing to the final race. Each race will consist of four riders.
6) Each race will consist of one lap around the lake at the center of the Shire Race Track, starting and finishing at the Shire Race Track starting line. Riders dismounted during the course of any race will be disqualified from winning that race.

Prizes of 5 gold and 500 Turbine Points will be awarded to the winner of each qualifying race, and a prize of 500 TP and 10 Gold plus all entry fees from competing racers will be awarded to the winner of the final race. The winner of the final race will also be recognized and announced as the “King of the Wind” in the Lonely Mountain Free Press. The Free Press recognizes that the prize amounts are small. This race is not about the prize money, it is intended as establishing bragging rights and recognition for the fastest racer in all of Landroval.

In the end it is simple. Start fair, ride fast, finish first! Will you be recognized as “King of the Wind?” Contact Aldekim on Landroval if you have questions about this event.

[Aldekim]

The King of the Wind Sprints cann be moved up to a 2:30 start time if you wish, Kiralynn. Each finalist will be awarded 500 TPs and the overall winner will earn another 500 TPs for a total 1000 TPs.

[Lilikate]

Hi I like my details well enough, only one small concern is the prize fund. I was working with 40g as my slush fund but prizes of 5,10 and 15 Gold in each race a total of 60g.

I was working on the premise that I would fund half the prize money myself, the LMB the other half. So I'd need to ask for another 10gold from funds and raise 30g in total myself. Which I feel is easily achieved in the time we have.

I will be working on the race details this weekend, but I may get called away and be delayed.

[Kiralynn]

Aldekim -- I have adjusted the prize text for your event to reflect the 500 TP award for the final race. I should know very soon if the event start time will change.

Lilikate -- We have the funds available, no problem!

[Lilikate]

I like it then! 5, 10 and 15 g it is...

[Kiralynn]

It looks like we will have making the 30 minute time adjustment to the schedule. Please review post #1. Thank you!

[Lilikate]

I am inviting the Rocks to play the War Steed Sprint. More on that later.

[Kiralynn]

Okay, sounds great! Please let me know when they confirm so that I can add their name to the schedule.