Rival Stars Horse Racing: Tips to help you flying out of the gate

There are really only two controls in Rival Stars Horse Racing: steering and sprint. Each race is all about balancing the two out. It's important to steer to get yourself in the best position to move up in the race. It gives off an authentic vibe because that's what happens in real races. 

Jockeys will steer horses into proper position to allow them to run past other competitors. This is now the time put those hooves into overdrive and become legendary (well maybe not yet). Once in a good spot, hit the sprint button and watch your thoroughbred fly. 

Make sure to watch the sprint meter at the top of the screen. Make sure you don't use it all at the wrong time. It might be a good idea to use it down the home stretch. If you know you have a chance to win, here's a perfect opportunity to blaze past your opponents as their jaws drop to the ground in disbelief. Just remember; spend the spring meter wisely. 

Training your horse will be key to your success on the track. Doing this will improve his/her attributes, giving you an edge in races. These consist of Speed, Acceleration, and Sprint Energy. Speed, of course, focuses on how fast you go at top pace. Acceleration aims towards how fast you pick up said pace and Sprint Energy essentially determines the duration of your sprint meter. 

In the beginning, you'll be able to upgrade your attributes for free once you complete your first race. After that, however, it will cost you, but the price isn't too bad. There is a currency that you can earn that can help you with upgrades and they give you a solid amount to start. 

The catch is that you may be required to have a special item on you to make your payment for the upgrades. This means you'll need to participate in some more races, but don't worry, usually by the third race or so you should have your horse's attributes levels up by a few. Your horse will be Secretariat in no time. 

Although they are mentioned in the tutorial, preferences can sometimes get overlooked. They aren't necessarily the ultimate determining factor for if you win or lose, but they help. The two main things shown are "position" and "track surface". Position is about where the horse likes to be on the track while track surface is about the types of grounds the horse likes. 

So, if your horse enjoys being in the middle of the track, then this will benefit them if you stay near the middle. And if the horse likes firm grounds, then that can give them a slight boost too. In that instance, be sure to take a look at the track settings before beginning the race, as it will tell you the type of ground you're working with. 

Again, these won't impact your performance in a dramatic way, but it's just something that's important to keep in mind. Any little help you can get counts. Take advantage of the situation. Never be afraid to be observant before beginning your run towards greatness.

Another thing that gets overshadowed is the starting meter which you use before leaving the gate. Get the cursor in the green zone to come flying out. If your timing is on-point, then you can have yourself an early lead. It's all just a matter of if you can keep it. 

Having a lead, especially a good one, can be nerve-wracking. I'm sure you know the feeling when you race in other games, thinking you have a cozy lead. You then get nervous after a while because you never know when someone else will creep up on you and overtake you. And if we're talking car races, then they could easily spin you out and that always sucks. 

But, in Rival Stars Horse Racing, if you play your cards right, you can keep your lead wire-to-wire. Just be smart and remember your horse's position preference and also remember to use your sprint.