How to use this Help / FAQ


The information below is structured around the $100,000 Triple Crown Contest main functions. Use the Table of Contents below or the "Find" feature in your browser to locate information. Please also read the Rules.

Having problems with your Password or username? Click here.

Table of Contents
To advance to information about each function, click on the link below:

Register for FREE

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  1. Do I need to pay money to play?

    No. It's completely free.

  2. Do I need to be registered to see who else is playing?

    No. Click on the "Standings" link to see who's currently leading. People are represented by "usernames" so you won't necessarily know who the people are in real life.

  3. I haven't registered yet. Can I play anyway?

    No, please see below.

  4. How do I register?

    You just need to become a member at win4real.com. Join now!

Log In with Your Username and Password

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  1. I'm having problems logging in, what should I do?

    Have you registered as a member on win4real.com yet? If not, you must do so before you can log in. Join now!

  2. How can I tell if I'm logged in correctly?

    Your username appears at the beginning of contest link menu.

  3. The username on the link menu is not mine. What happened?

    Someone else was logged into the contest before you from the same computer. If you click on the "[Change User]" link that appears after your user name on the link menu, you will be taken back to win4real.com where you can switch to your own account.

  4. How do I switch to another account so that my husband/wife/son/daughter/sister/brother/friend can also play from the same computer?

    Click on the "[Change User]" link appears after your username on the link menu.

Enter/Change Picks

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  1. How do I enter my picks?

    Go to the Enter/Change Picks page and follow the instructions you see there. Once you've submitted your picks AND you see a web page confirming that your picks have been processed, you're officially entered.

  2. When is the submission deadline for entering my picks?

    The submission deadline for entering picks for the applicable Race is posted on the Enter/Change Picks page and (usually) on the Schedule/Field page.

  3. When and how often may I change my picks?

    You may change picks as often as you like provided you submit your changes before the applicable pick deadline.

  4. How do I change my picks?

    When you go to the Enter/Change Picks page your picks should be displayed. Change any of your picks and then submit your changes.

  5. May I see who else has entered picks?

    Yes. On the Standings pages you can see who has entered picks. To check who has entered picks in your group(s), you would click on your group name on the Standings page. The list of contestants is updated periodically so you may not see yourself or your friends until after some time has passed.

  6. How are my Points calculated?

    You will earn the number of Points specified for your answer for each of your correct picks.

Standings

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  1. How do I see my standings in the contest?
  2. Once you are logged in, go to the Standings page and you will automatically show up on all pages of the standings (possibly in the VIP section at the bottom). Standings are updated periodically, so if you don't show up immediately after making your picks, don't worry.

  3. How are the rankings determined?
  4. You are ranked by your Points. Your rank in a Race is determined by the number of Points you earn for that Race. If the contest includes more than one Race, your Overall rank is determined by the number of total Points you have earned for all Races. See the Schedule/Field for the list of Races.

  5. Can there be ties in the Standings?
  6. Yes. Please see the Rules for a full explanation of how ties are handled.

  7. How do I see other people's picks?
  8. On the Standings page, click on the pencil & paper icon in the results table for the contestant whose picks you would like to see. You can only view others' picks once the pick deadline has passed.

  9. How do I see how I'm doing in my group(s)?
  10. On the Standings page at the top of the table there are navigation options for your group(s).

  11. What is a "VIP" and why do I show up as one when I log in?
  12. VIP stands for "Very Important Person". We think you qualify. As a VIP you always show up on the standings tables if you are logged in.

  13. What does "Center on You" mean?
  14. This scrolls the standings table up or down so that you show up in the center. This lets you see who is close to you in the standings.

View Picks

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  1. How do I view someone else's picks?
  2. On the Standings page, click on the pencil & paper icon next to the person whose picks you wish to view. Note you can only view others' picks after the pick deadline has passed. Use the "Find" command to advance the standings to a contestant whose username you know but who does not appear on the first page.

  3. When I try to print my picks they do not show up. How can I print them?
  4. Depending on your browser type and version, you may need to change your browser Page Setup preferences on the File menu to "print backgrounds" and/or "print table backgrounds".

Top/Correct Picks

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  1. What does the Top/Correct Picks page tell me?
  2. It shows you, for each question, what percentage of the contestants have picked each possible answer. For example, if the stats show "Answer A 25%", then 25% of all contestants who have entered so far have picked Answer A for that question.

  3. If an answer shows "0.0%" of the contestants picked it, does that really mean that nobody picked it?
  4. Not necessarily. Percentages are rounded to tenths of a percent.

My Summary

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  1. How do I stop/start getting email sent to me from the contest?
  2. The "My Summary" page has a facility to change your email preference settings.

  3. Why did you send me a pick reminder after I already picked or after the pick deadline?
  4. For many reasons beyond anyone's control, email on the Internet sometimes gets delayed. Usually email gets delivered within seconds or minutes of when it was sent. But occasionally it will be delayed for hours or even days. You can usually tell when an email was sent by looking at the mail headers. If mail for you is delayed consistently (including mail not only from the contest) then you should let your service provider know. We try to send out reminders several days before the pick deadline to account for possible delays.

Group Membership

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  1. What are groups?
  2. Essentially, groups are collections of people -- friends, colleagues, co-workers, whomever -- who have agreed to have their own private pool within the larger contest. You can compete against the people you choose while also competing in the larger contest simultaneously. You can set up your own group and invite friends and co-workers to join. Each group member will still be participating in the larger contest, but will also have access to a special group standings table that only members of that group can see. Plus group members can chat with each other using the Trash Talk feature.

  3. Are there prizes for groups?
  4. No, though you can always decide to give your own prizes out to your group winners.

  5. How do I set up a new group?
  6. Go to the Group Membership page and fill in the "Create a Group" section. Note that Group Passwords are case-sensitive, and will show up as *'s when you type them, so remember exactly what you've typed. Once you've successfully created a group, tell whomever you wish that they may join the group (see below on how). Don't forget to tell them the group name and password.

  7. How do I join a group?
  8. Go to the Group Membership page, and select the group you're interested in joining. Then type in the group password and click on the "Join the Group" button.

  9. How do I remove myself from a group?
  10. On the bottom of the Group Membership page, there is a section called "Remove yourself from a Group". Simply check all groups you want to remove yourself from, and click on "Remove me from Selected Groups".

  11. How do I find out a group's password?
  12. The person who created the group has to tell you what it is. If you were not invited to join the group, then you won't be able to join. If you are feeling left out, you can always make your own group and invite your friends to join :-)

  13. How many groups may I join?
  14. 5, including any groups you have created yourself.

Trash Talk

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  1. What is Trash Talk?

    It's a chat facility that lets you communicate with your fellow group members through the contest. All messages are posted on the Trash Talk page (not through email) and are separated by group. Anyone who is in a group can read all messages in that group, but nobody outside that group can.

  2. How soon after I post a message does it show up?

    Messages are updated as soon as you hit "Send Message". However, anyone who began reading messages before you posted yours will have to reload the page for your message to show up. Same goes for you when reading a new message from someone else.

  3. How do I change which group I am working in for Trash Talk?

    Use the Group links at the top of the Trash Talk page.

  4. How many messages are saved for my group before they get deleted?

    10. Messages are deleted beginning with the oldest first. Once messages are deleted they cannot be retrieved, so if your message needs to be saved, you should use private email instead.

  5. Is there a limit to how long a message can be?

    Yes. Approximately 255 characters. Once this limit is reached any subsequent characters are not posted.

  6. Can I delete or edit a message myself that I posted earlier?

    No.

  7. Can I reply directly to a message that someone else posted?

    No. This facility is a simple bulletin board system. All messages are posted for all to see (within that group).

  8. Is Trash Talk moderated, or can I say anything I want?

    It is not moderated, however you are on your honor to behave in a civil manner towards your fellow group members. You may also wish to review the Rules (which you agree to by registering), since they explicitly forbid obscenity, slander, and other objectionable forms of speech within the contest.

Prizes

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  1. What prizes are available?
  2. The Prizes page has this information. Please see the Rules for information on prize eligibility and restrictions.

Technical Support / Feedback

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    If you've read all of the relevant sections here and are still having problems, or you would simply like to give us some feedback on the contest, please use our Technical Support page.