NTRA Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. Saying the name of this game is as exasperating as playing it.
To quickly assess the game, I'll compare a couple of BS's claims with reality.
BS Claim: We have worked closely with NTRA officials and North American racetracks in an attempt to simulate the exact details of the Thoroughbred racing experience.
Reality: "Watching" the experience, yes. Participating in it, no. Players cannot perform some of the most basic functions of owning and racing Thoroughbreds, such as naming one's own horses, breeding one's own horses, or participating in the training of one's horses (beyond specifying the type of training). BS Claim: You are in control of everything from the name of your stable, the colors and patterns of your silks, the training and breeding of your horses and the stable’s participation in different racing events.
Reality: This is meant to sound inclusive of a wide array of options, but what's listed is, in fact, all you can control. You'd think that in 2005, they'd come up with a way to call you something other than "Player"...
Horse characteristics are extremely overgeneralized, as is the gameplay. It's as though the focus of this game is on the wagering and the scenery, which isn't all that great. Anything to do with the horses seems to have been included as an afterthought. There's no feeling of real action, as any excitement one tries to feel is derailed by numerous loading screens and the chore of having to manually skip through races, either to get to the one (of eight) in which one's horse is actually racing, or when one is attempting to rest fatigued horses for a week.
Horse racing fans, just say NO to this lame excuse for a horse racing sim. It offers NO player involvement, NO excitement, and NO fun - except as a frisbee.