Won my first horse race tonight!

[JohnnyB]

There are upfront only partnerships that only pay a small percentage of purse money back.

This is what this one was. Probably the type I would prefer.

And I wouldn't be doing this for probably 6 months at the earliest.

 

[sd2]

I was thrilled with the victory and the purse pays enough to cover the bills for a few months.

If a small owner can pay even half the huge bills with the purses he's miles ahead. One may dream about another Smarty, but the great majority of small owners are the true improvers of the breed. Or, at least the improvers of the lifestyles of the trainers, vets, exercise riders, etc

But congrats. The Thrill of Victory makes it all worthwhile.

 

[sd2]

GB,
I just get a little tired of all the accusations because by people saying Scott is a cheat, his owners are transitively cheats as well. So I tend to take it a little personally. If people were to ever see how his operation runs, it's an incredible machine. He is non-stop 24/365. His program is not for everyone. It is VERY aggressive and his costs run much higher than others relative to the circuit he's running at with the exception of NYRA. I have the bills to prove it!

Lake was suspended some years ago, I think in Illinois, for having been caught with hypodermic needles in his barn.

Many think he doesn't run much in NY because that state has tougher drug rules and testing than the others.

Lake has somehow beaten the system. I guess he's to be congratulated for that.

Most small owners have no real idea as to what is going on with the training of their horses. (While others will just tell them "to win, I don't care how.")

Trainers treat owners as a used car salesman treats customers. With great respect outwardly, but secretly regard them as pain in the ass necessary evils.

One step US racing commissions should take is to ban all race day medications. Like Europe does. But, it ain't gonna happen. Money not only makes the mare run, as the old saw has it, it makes the whole US game go. And drugs, licit and otherwise, are an intricate part of American racing. One racing commission top vet told me, in so many words, that there is no way racing can stop the proliferation of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

None of which is to tell anyone that a small owner should not thoroly enjoy his or her participation in the sport. You can't cure racing's problem, enjoy it as it is.

 

[Labeeb]

SD,
To the best of my knowledge, Scott has run all of one horse in Illinois. Thunderello in the BC Sprint, running second to Orientate. He's a Mid-Atlantic guy and has never had a string of horses in the Midwest. If you can produce the suspension information, I'd be surprised.

As to why he doesn't run much in New York...he doesn't have the kind of stock for the types of races NYRA puts in their book on a week in week out basis. Lots of maiden special weights, preliminary allowances and turf races. Not exactly his bread and butter. Owners aren't going to want to stable in New York if they can only run once every 5 weeks because of races not going, etc.

I love how guys like Pletcher, Frankel, Drysdale, Baffert, et al. get free passes from the public and racing press.

 

[sd2]

SD,
To the best of my knowledge, Scott has run all of one horse in Illinois. Thunderello in the BC Sprint, running second to Orientate. He's a Mid-Atlantic guy and has never had a string of horses in the Midwest. If you can produce the suspension information, I'd be surprised.

As to why he doesn't run much in New York...he doesn't have the kind of stock for the types of races NYRA puts in their book on a week in week out basis. Lots of maiden special weights, preliminary allowances and turf races. Not exactly his bread and butter. Owners aren't going to want to stable in New York if they can only run once every 5 weeks because of races not going, etc.

I love how guys like Pletcher, Frankel, Drysdale, Baffert, et al. get free passes from the public and racing press.

Labeeb,
I will provide you with the information when I can find it. I orignally saw it online, an article on Lake in the Phila Inquirer. I hope it is still online. It happened quite a while ago, before Lake hit the bigtime.

Personally, I think all these guys, including the top brand name trainers, will use every edge they can get, and if they think they can get away with illicit drugs, they will not hesitate.

I don't know if the CHRB ever nailed Darrell Vienna, as I no longer regularly read the racing press. I know they had an active interest in him a few years back. And remember Frankel and his excuse as to why cocaine showed up in the system of one of his horses: a groom fed him a poppy seed bagel! One owner I know said he wanted to ask Frankel if it came with cream cheese and lox.

I got a lot to do, but I will look for the Inquirer story on Lake. (Remind me if I forget, I don't make charges without proof.)He's singled out because he is so successful with the claiming platers, and thus popular with the average bettor. But it is hard to believe that he can so dramatically increase a horse's speed with an easy training schedule, mostly consisting of long slow works.

Europeans call American racing "the battle of the best designer drugs." I'm afraid they are right, and by breeding from these crippled stakes winners we are sure as hell not improving the breed - just the opposite. But it is what it is, and it doesn't mean those that love the game should not participate. Cripes, without the many small owners the biz would collapse.