Partnership - By Dan Liebman

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

ZipsSecret — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:39:41 GMT

I've commented on the subject of partnerships before and I will do so again. As an past owner through a partnership, which if I mention the name of the partnership I know this will not be included as several in the industry turn a blind eye and ear to what is going on with partnerships. I also own nearly a dozen hunter/jumpers and manage them on my own through the use of good competent trainers who really care about the animals and understand my plans/goals. This was my experience with the partnership and the relationship/communication with the trainers that the minority partners had. Basically NONE, you have no input into their care or where they are placed. We had a situation on one horse where he needed to have a chip removed, a pretty common procedure which would require surgery and a layup. However, the majority partner and trainer decided that it was in the best interest of the partnership (not the horse) that the horse just be dropped in for a low level claiming tag so the medical issue became the new owners problem. I protested, I still believe to this day that what was done was not in the best interest of that particular horse and because of this I would never be part of another partnership. I think if you truly care about the horses and their interests you can't be part of a partnership. The author is correct, the owner and trainer need to have common goals and interests for all to enjoy the relationship, which is what it becomes.

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Cal Owner — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:53:29 GMT

The Thorobred Owners of California has had on their website a link to many of the statistics mentioned. It is worth taking a look at.

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Scott — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:13:46 GMT

Advice to owners. If you have one or two horses, stay away from the big trainers. If your horse is not on the top, the horse will get lost in the shuffle. With a big trainer, they only have so many stalls, and there are always more to come in. So the trainer does not mind losing the cheaper horse. A small trainer, needs to make every horse in the stable count. Remember, bottom line, this is a numbers game. No matter how you look at it. We are always looking at the numbers. Just like any other sport. There is one very good execption to that rule. In the Mid Atlantic region, Dale Capuano looks at every horse, every day no matter what the class. (for anyone who knows this phrase-"Jogging!"

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Golden Gate — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:57:49 GMT

As a new owner in the business (less than 4 yrs) I have already had some interesting experiences with trainers and it has cost me a bundle. However I have learned what to ask and look for.

It is not only the trainer a owner has to watch out for but also who they use to care for your horse...the veterinarian,the exercise riders, the groom, etc.

It is good to know the reputation of everyone who has direct contact with your animal.

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Joe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:07:50 GMT

For Toouvhstone farms. Not exactly what your are looking for but I picked up a copy of the 2009-2010 Directory of Thoroughbred Trainers compiled by Monticule at the Keenland Sale. It has addresses and contacts numbers for most trainers as well as the areas they train in by region. You can contact Monticule at info@monticule.com

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

da3hoss — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:57:29 GMT

Funny you use She Be Wild as an example...they wanted to dump her, she had sore shins so her trainer put her in a claimer as a "workhorse" (his words not mine) and she was better than all of them...

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

nmclean — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:41:13 GMT

I think a trainer has to be honest with their owner(s). When you start the BS the relationship doesn't have a good foundation to weather the disappointments that can occur to a racing stable. Being upfront is always the best.

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Touchstone farms — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:38:12 GMT

Dan,

As usual you write articles of substance that need addressing, congratulations once again.

Having said that it needs to be taken one step further: Owners need to be able to reference a computer generated list for trainers which will give them the phone number, jurisdiction where they are based, Day rate, and their race history positives and what class, whether they train claimers/stakes/condition horses specialize in 2 yr olds. etc.

Trainers should be able to access the same database for information on problem owners, ones that don't pay their bills, have had their licence suspended etc. etc. In short a repository for Trainers & Owners! If the jockey club wishes to rule and regulate everyone it should be encumbant upon them to set up this registry and make it available ONLINE!

When an owner calls a race office in any jurisdiction inquiring as to a trainers phone number 9 times out of 10 they decline to give it?

Should an owner be held responsible for a trainers positives? Sure Mr. Phipps as long as the OJC has made all the trainers background information "Readily Available" prior to the trainer being chosen!

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

Christian — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:52:28 GMT

A good relationship between owner and trainer has to be nurtured. Trust has to be earned and continually earned on each side. If an owner wants to be involved he has to find a trainer that welcomes the involvement. Many do not. While there are lots of statistics available finding local or national trainers is not about statistics alone. Racing jurisdictions do not publish trainers names and contact information the way they do jockeys and jockeys agents information. This is a particular obstacle for new owners. They can't even find all the possible choices they have let alone qualify them as a trainer they might get along with. If they want to check a trainer's drug positives or suspensions (Jockey Club Chairman Phipps said he thought an owner was equally guilty in a positive if they choose a trainer with a history of positives)where is such information published and easily available? It can't be available for only those in the know.

re: Partnership - By Dan Liebman

fb0252 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:43:56 GMT

the key to the trainer/owner business relationship, and the only stat that matters is what % of the particular trainer's stable makes it through the year without injury. our good sport has yet to keep that stat. Hence, the owner-trainer "problem".