Why Do / Don't You Own a Racehorse ?

[TheGoose]

Ogy vs JSSSR on under card?

[Beatthevig69]

I have aroud 6-10 claimers in the mid-atlantic.I pay roughly 2,300$ a month per.Since 2002 Ive made positive money every year thanks in VERY large part to the over-inflated purse structure at Philly and Delaware.Honestly,I dont understand why others dont do it.However,this gravy train aint gonna last forever as Harrisburg is already talking about next year being the end of subsidized racing as we've known it.

Would you consider your success to be average or above average for the area where you race?

You got that right just look what has happened up in Canada in Ontario and in Jersey. It's too bad The horseman and Track operators could only care about pulling the pennies out for themselves not planning or changing business model .If you starve the cattle you aint goona have a ranch anymore!

[Alaidekman]

Actually, my expenses in So Cal run around $3000 a month including trainer, vet, shoes, transportation and incidentals. (That is when in training. Layups off track around $500 a month). One could argue I don't have a top trainer, but success of a trainer is due in large part to the quality of his stock and amount of money his clients have to spend. Mine certainly does well when he has a decent horse, and is also honest (important) and as far as I know a non-cheater (also important).

If you are careful, you have a shot to not lose money in So Cal racing. Can't do it with bottom level claimers, purses too small and expenses for both cheap and good horses are nearly the same. But claimers in $20-40,000 range race for big enough purses to pay the bills if you can win 15-20% and place the same percentage. (And with often small fields at the mid claiming level, you just have to be an average horse to win 15-20% of your starts. ) Then if you get lucky and one moves up to alw or stakes ranks (I've had 3 of these) you actually do very well.

Good idea to have partners. Just as exciting in a group of 3-5 owners, financial risks are a lot less. Frankly, owning (and winning) is about the most exciting thing I've ever done . In no other sport (except bridge, to my knowledge) can a group of average guys compete at the TOP level. You can't get a bunch of friends together and challenge the Lakers. And if you somehow could, you'd have no chance to win. (OK, Lakers maybe you could win, not the Clippers). In racing, a group of guys can buy a horse for well under $100,000 and have a shot to make it to the top (Funny Cide, I believe). We claimed one for $16,000 and won two grade 3's and ran in the Big Cap. Claimed one for $40,000, won a Grade I and would have made it to the BC but he hated the Belmont track when we took him there for the Vosburgh. In fact at the time we had a two horse stable and had each one in a $500,000 race on the same day (Goodwood and Vosburgh, but had to scratch out of Goodwood due to injury). Can't put a price on that. Of course, have also run off the board as favorite in stakes -- not much fun. But even if you have a $16,000 claimer that you're running for $20,000 it is stil pretty exciting.

Bottom line, you can have the biggest thrills fo your life for a modest investment. Does any other sport offer that? In fact, am currently looking for a mid-level claimer with a small group, so send me an email Vince if you're ready.

Al

[Igeteven]

Al

That's good response, it tell it like it is.

[Trackmomma]

Kid I will not repond to you , because writing to you is useless


Mindnboxx,


I sat at clockers corner and talked to Mel S, Bob B , and several other trainers a year ago early in the morning, they all told me that.

Now what do you want me to believe, the Kid or you

You got to be kidding, anyway, I be at SA within a few weeks and be looking for you and to chat with you face to face.

I believe Baffert told you that but not Mel. I happen to know what he charged over the years and it was nowhere close to that unless there was a problem.
As far a Baffy goes, he told you what he charges, Not what is average. And he included meds and vet work that He uses but that others may not. When you ask questions of a trainer that caters to the very rich, you will hear inflated prices. I would think this would be obvious.

And, just so you know, the training fees at Los Al are much lower than the big tracks because the expenses are lower.

Please use arguments that are based in fact, not supposition. Thank you.

[Tonythepony]

You'll never have as much fun as watching your won horse win anykind of race. Along with that comes equity that you must be willing to lose. Cause lemme tell you 1 thing, it cost major dinero to own any horse either whole or partial.

You can always own a horse for a minute and ten seconds , and that cost from 10 cents upwards

With that being said...Phil Marcantonio used to say about owning horses..."Its not a game for sissys or people with short pants"

Vince...... Do you know that Gramaldi has a special buy 3 pies get 2 slices free when the Brooklyn Nets win a game by more than 30 points

[Igeteven]

TM

Believe it, it's true, I first sat down with Mel, we talked, then he told me the price, referred me to his son because he was not training anymore or talk to Bob B, Then I talked to BB who was sitting one table away., he advise me around 4 grand per month.

Then BB and I talked about baseball ,

[Vince P]

Vince...... Do you know that Gramaldi has a special buy 3 pies get 2 slices free when the Brooklyn Nets win a game by more than 30 points

Cuz,

Serious question:

Do you think if racetracks gave away a Gramaldi's Pizza to every winning owner, there'd be more horses per race?

I think you're onto something. Let me call Dutch and see what he thinks about this.

Vince P

[Hollywoodmike]

Actually, my expenses in So Cal run around $3000 a month including trainer, vet, shoes, transportation and incidentals. (That is when in training. Layups off track around $500 a month). One could argue I don't have a top trainer, but success of a trainer is due in large part to the quality of his stock and amount of money his clients have to spend. Mine certainly does well when he has a decent horse, and is also honest (important) and as far as I know a non-cheater (also important).

If you are careful, you have a shot to not lose money in So Cal racing. Can't do it with bottom level claimers, purses too small and expenses for both cheap and good horses are nearly the same. But claimers in $20-40,000 range race for big enough purses to pay the bills if you can win 15-20% and place the same percentage. (And with often small fields at the mid claiming level, you just have to be an average horse to win 15-20% of your starts. ) Then if you get lucky and one moves up to alw or stakes ranks (I've had 3 of these) you actually do very well.

Good idea to have partners. Just as exciting in a group of 3-5 owners, financial risks are a lot less. Frankly, owning (and winning) is about the most exciting thing I've ever done . In no other sport (except bridge, to my knowledge) can a group of average guys compete at the TOP level. You can't get a bunch of friends together and challenge the Lakers. And if you somehow could, you'd have no chance to win. (OK, Lakers maybe you could win, not the Clippers). In racing, a group of guys can buy a horse for well under $100,000 and have a shot to make it to the top (Funny Cide, I believe). We claimed one for $16,000 and won two grade 3's and ran in the Big Cap. Claimed one for $40,000, won a Grade I and would have made it to the BC but he hated the Belmont track when we took him there for the Vosburgh. In fact at the time we had a two horse stable and had each one in a $500,000 race on the same day (Goodwood and Vosburgh, but had to scratch out of Goodwood due to injury). Can't put a price on that. Of course, have also run off the board as favorite in stakes -- not much fun. But even if you have a $16,000 claimer that you're running for $20,000 it is stil pretty exciting.

Bottom line, you can have the biggest thrills fo your life for a modest investment. Does any other sport offer that? In fact, am currently looking for a mid-level claimer with a small group, so send me an email Vince if you're ready.

Al

Sounds like you were referring to Truly A Judge and Unfurl The Flag Al!

[Thinkinproblem]

One can invest in season tickets to MLB, or god forbid the NBA, or the NFL, and, what have you, watch the team score the touchdowns, and win the game, etc. . . .

But as an horse owner, you ARE the team. In my mind there is no greater thrill than standing in the winners circle getting your picture taken. You know at least the purse money will take care of the bills for the time being, and you probably had a nice score on your horse that day. And when you go home you can at least hang a picture on your wall. Better than hanging a ray lewis poster on the wall for goodness sakes.

So while you and a bunch of guys could never pool up your money and buy an NFL team, you could purchase a decent racehorse or two.