Today I’m exploring Sulky racing, also known as standardbred harness racing, and how to create a programmatic visual model to simulate the races. Sulky racing consists of a sulky, which is a lightweight two-wheeled cart pulled by a horse, and the sport has been around since around the 16th century in Europe. In the United States, sulky racing has become a popular part of horseracing, with large tracks in many states.
The goal of this project is to create a programmatic visual model to depict a Sulky race. Using Java language, the program will include a track layout that is specific for Sulky Racing, including starting and finishing lines, markings that divide each race into quarters, and designation of the Sulky paths. Furthermore, it will also indicate the Sulky velocities of each participant. This graphical visual model should demonstrate the Sulky race accurately, depicting each participant at different velocities and at different points on the track.
The program should be built step by step. It should begin by defining the entry-level objects and the program specific constants needed to set up the track and to define the characteristics of each Sulky. In addition, the program needs to randomize the starting classes of each participant. As the program progresses, the track setup needs to be completed, placing the starting line, the finish line and the Sulky paths, and setting up the hurdles they have to overcome.
Finally, using the data gathered while setting up the race, the program needs to implement a graphical representation of the Sulky race. In this stage, the program needs to simulate each participant’s velocity and should be able to present a wider visual context, encompassing the whole race with a smooth animation.
Once the program is finished, it can be used to predict the outcomes of Sulky races or to study and compare the Sulky racing techniques. This program could be an excellent simulation tool which could be improved and used by students as well as experts alike.
To sum up, this project consists of creating a programmatic visual model to simulate Sulky racing and it has two distinct phases: the setup of the interface and the visual representation of the Sulky race. It should be a challenge both technically and graphically, and if done correctly it’ll be a fun way to learn about this type of sport.