I have seen a couple of producers putting on these "virtual" barrel races.  You set up a pattern (they give you the measurements), you timed your run and sumbitted with a fee. Although it sounds like fun I just can't see how it can be fair. So many variables! What are your thoughts? 

No way!!! It might be a fun way to pass the time but no way would I pay a fee or take a RUN off my horse for something like that. I can imagine explaining to my vet my horse is crippled because of my virtual barrel racing run. Lol. I guess if the ground is crap, you only have yourself to blame. Lol 

The ones I have entered were from videos of previous races

People are bored...why not?  It's just money.  

There is one in my area that is using a small pattern - to allow those that have smaller areas to be able to do it.

Did your area just use a common standard pattern that you run on all the time?

Myself and a lot of friends in my area are doing the virtual barrel race and they are not charging an entry fee. They are giving sponsored prizes and it's just something fun for us to pass the time.

I feel sure everyone will be very precise in setting up their pattern and honest in reporting times.

The one we are doing you have to video setting up the pattern and video the timer with your run. I'm sure people will be dishonest, but it's free with no entry and just something fun for us to do to pass time. 

Yeah, one was where you entered and all your times from certain races (same pattern) counted. Others were any year but at a certain event (barrel bash Topeka, brf open race)

I'd never make a run in my own arena to enter but I did pay $20 to have all my runs from one venue count for the last two years. Wasting $300 every other weekend the past two years might actually pay off!

Ok, so I'm going to sound dumb here and I'm sorry, but HOW do these virtual barrel races work? I've been seeing them advertise on FB but haven't seen the actual rules. I'm confused how you use your horse for this sorry

I'm sorry I find it hilarious even a barrel racers personal ground isnt good enough and a disadvantage. (I'm joking not being rude)

Serisouly though it's just for fun to give us something to do and keep barrel racing in such a hard mentally draning time. I've not seen one charge a fee but heck if I didn't have a couple feet of snow I'd pay a fee to do it and feel like I'm not just letting my futurity horse sit like I currently am lol. 

Just something to do to pass the time. And besides I blow q lot more money on a lot stupider stuff than pretending to have a barrel race, I've really enjoyed all my FB friends videos of thier runs.