Ocean Downs - Harness Racing

HOME

PUBLICITY

EVENTS

SIMULCAST

DIRECTIONS

WEATHER

CAMBRIDGE TC

The Racing Game

Here are a few steps to help you if you want to make your way into racehorse ownership:

Finding a Trainer:

1: Finding a trainer: It is best to find a trainer before you get a horse. To accomplish this, contact the race secretary of your closest race track, or your state's horseman's association. A list of all tracks and associations can be found in the USTA's Trotting & Pacing Guide, published annually.

Making a Purchase:

2. Making a Purchase: There are several options once you decide to buy a horse: go to an auction, go through a private sale or claim a horse.

· Auction: A horse goes to the highest bidder. Sales can feature racehorses, broodmares and stallion prospects, as well as yearlings.

· Private sale: Brings one buyer together with one seller. Can include one owner, partnerships or limited partnerships where winnings--and losses-- are limited to what your total investment, and a controlling partner makes decisions.

· Claiming race: A horse can be purchased right out of a race for a stated price. A qualified buyer files "a claim" and puts up the amount of the claiming price before the race, and the title to the horse changes immediately after the race.

What To Look For :

3. What to look for: You can spend between several hundred and several thousand dollars on a Standardbred, so it is best to use the advise of a trainer or veterinarian. As a general rule, look for the following:

· Breeding: The best racehorses come from the best breeding: A prominent and productive stallion mated to a well-bred mare with a history of producing top horses.

· Conformation: Conformation, or how a horse is put together, is also important. Experienced buyers look for such things as: wide-set eyes, a wide jaw, a massive neck, powerful chest, and straight legs and feet.

· Trotters v. pacers: Trotters make up one in five Standardbreds. They take more time and patience to develop. However, talented trotters have less competition, while having the opportunity to win as much, or more, than pacers. Pacers, on the other hand, get to the races faster meaning a faster return on investment. However, it takes a very fast pacer to be truly successful.

Spending Money: Training fees buy three things: a trainer's services, basic feed and a groom. After the training fee, there are a variety of other charges that will include the blacksmith, veterinary and medication costs and licensing. Monthly costs usually run between $1,220 and $2,180 for a horse starting 30 times over a nine-month period. Additional expenses may include:

· Insurance: based upon the value of the horse, rates are estimated between $3 and $7 per $100 of value.

· Staking: Most of the richest pots for Standardbreds are for 2- and 3-years-olds. To compete, you must invest money in those races in the name of your horse to keep your horse eligible. Most payments start when the horse is a yearling and do not end until you enter them for the race.

· Transportation: If your horse trains at a farm, away from the racetrack, there will be costs involved in shipping him to the races. Also, a stake horse will have to travel to numerous different tracks for stake events. Short trips average about $1 per mile, although the rate likely goes down for longer trips.

· Membership: Every breeder and owner must become a member of the U.S. Trotting Association. It costs $60 to join and $45 to renew annually. Many owners also opt to join their local horsemen's organization that work on their behalf.