If you're going to buy a horse racing game, give this one a shot (G1 Jockey 3 (PS2))

Member Name: RoleySkate

Product:	G1 Jockey 3 (PS2)
Date:	21/06/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, simple concept, well explained

Disadvantages: Can get boring after a while

I've tried a number of racing games for the PS2 and none come close to this one.
Initially, the game might seem quite difficult because the controls are hard to master as it relies heaving on correct timing and co-ordination of your fingers so it would be quite easy to just give up on it but trust me, once you have mastered the basics (which can all be learned in a very good tutorial) you'll enjoy it.
You can play this game on your own in a story mode, on your mode arcade style or with a friend arcade style in both flat and jump races.
The tutorial is very helpful and I do recomend that you go through it because, as I stated previously, the controls can be hard to grasp at first. You will also learn how you can get the best out of your horse during the race as different horses have different running styles. It will give you a written explanation and then a chance to put your newly learned skills into practice. The game booklet is also quite helpful to look at too.
You have the option of two versions of the controls, one where you can use the analogue sticks to speed up, slow down and steer the house (supposedly as you would a real horse) or you can use the triangle and X button instead, which in my opinion is a lot easier. You can also buy an attatchment for your controller so that you can control both analogue sticks at once which makes the first version of controls a little easier.
During the story mode you start out by picking your jockey colours, the difficulty level, whether you want to be able to restart the race after it has started (which can prove helpful in some instances because it is difficult to recover from a bad start), whether you want to be able to save during a race meeting (at the paddock) or not, whether your horse can suffer a fall and risk injury or not and whether you want to face stewards enquiries for impeding an other jockey and face a suspension. Then you will get to pick which trainer you wish to ride for.
You are a student jockey and you and four other jockeys are coming to the end of jockey school. After the initial four "practice" races you will have to negotiate with trainers for horses to ride. You will be offered horses by only your trainer at first, but eventually more trainers will become available. If you wish to ride a horse that isn't offered to you, it will cost you Jockey points which you gain by riding well in races. Unlike some other games, you don't have the option to bet on horses which would be a nice addition for G1 5 perhaps. Basically, the aim is to ride well and win races to gain awards at the end of the season and impress other trainers into offering you horses to ride. You will sometimes be challenged into mini competitons by your fellow jockeys too. During the each season you will have the chance to "create" your own horse. By create, I mean that you can pick its parents and try and breed your own little champion hurdler or sprinter and name it whatever you'd like. You then have time to train it up and increase its skills 4 or five times per game month until his or her's first race which is a nice feature :)
Graphics wise, its probably the best out of the horse racing games that I've played but they're not amazing really. Sometimes the horses can feel like they're on a rail and the track scenery is a little flat and lifeless. To me, it didn't bother me too much because the game itself is good.
To sum up, in my opionion G1 Jockey 4 is the best horse racing game out there. The controls are hard to get at first but are cool once you get the hang of them. It does get a little boring after a while as it is a little samey but I'd thoroughly recommend it anyway. The graphics aren't amazing but the game play is enough to make up for it.

Summary: Best horse racing game so far