Why would anyone keep shipping and racing an 11 year old mare who:
has won once in 85 starts;
took 4 years and 37 starts to get that maiden win back in 2010;
whose last in the money finish (3rd) was 18 starts ago;
and has taken 9 years and 85 starts to earn $56,338
[QUOTE=suffolk2002;8606003]
Why would anyone keep shipping and racing an 11 year old mare who:
has won once in 85 starts;
took 4 years and 37 starts to get that maiden win back in 2010;
whose last in the money finish (3rd) was 18 starts ago;
and has taken 9 years and 85 starts to earn $56,338[/QUOTE]
I don’t know of a single track in the US that only pays out through 3rd place. Most pay out through at least 5th or 6th place, and in many places all horses running receive at least a “start fee” that basically equates to the cost of the jockey.
When they say a horse was “in the money” because he/she finished on the board, they’re talking about wagerers’ money. Unless you are playing a superfecta or another special exotic bet, 1st-3rd place finishes are the only places that pay the bettor.
As for your question of why, I can’t say. But I can give you some reasons I’ve experienced in the past:
-Maybe the owner/trainer are eternally optimistic and believe she has a good excuse everytime she doesn’t finish well.
-Maybe the owner/trainer are dependent on the small amounts of the purse she is taking in every race.
-Maybe she really appears to be happy on the track. Some horses actually thrive in the environment, even if they are talent-less.
-Maybe she is bringing in just enough money to pay her training bills.
-Maybe the owner/trainer keep her in the barn because she is sound and can run regularly, despite not finishing well. There is generally an expectation at the track that each “stall” a trainer is allotted will make at least 1 start per month. If you’re not fulfilling that quota, the stall man can take away your allotted stalls and give them to someone else. The owner/trainer might have another horse who can’t run quite that regularly, so this mare is picking up starts to keep the numbers up because she can handle it.
-Maybe they’re hoping someone will claim her.
-Maybe they really love her and want to keep her in the barn.
-Maybe they are nefarious asshats who are milking every last penny out of her.
Really, I have no idea.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8606027]
I don’t know of a single track in the US that only pays out through 3rd place. Most pay out through at least 5th or 6th place, and in many places all horses running receive at least a “start fee” that basically equates to the cost of the jockey.
When they say a horse was “in the money” because he/she finished on the board, they’re talking about wagerers’ money. Unless you are playing a superfecta or another special exotic bet, 1st-3rd place finishes are the only places that pay the bettor.
As for your question of why, I can’t say. But I can give you some reasons I’ve experienced in the past:
-Maybe the owner/trainer are eternally optimistic and believe she has a good excuse everytime she doesn’t finish well.
-Maybe the owner/trainer are dependent on the small amounts of the purse she is taking in every race.
-Maybe she really appears to be happy on the track. Some horses actually thrive in the environment, even if they are talent-less.
-Maybe she is bringing in just enough money to pay her training bills.
-Maybe the owner/trainer keep her in the barn because she is sound and can run regularly, despite not finishing well. There is generally an expectation at the track that each “stall” a trainer is allotted will make at least 1 start per month. If you’re not fulfilling that quota, the stall man can take away your allotted stalls and give them to someone else. The owner/trainer might have another horse who can’t run quite that regularly, so this mare is picking up starts to keep the numbers up because she can handle it.
-Maybe they’re hoping someone will claim her.
-Maybe they really love her and want to keep her in the barn.
-Maybe they are nefarious asshats who are milking every last penny out of her.
Really, I have no idea.[/QUOTE]
And some tracks offer health insurance if you have a certain number of starts per year.
[QUOTE=lily04;8606058]
And some tracks offer health insurance if you have a certain number of starts per year.[/QUOTE]
Really? That is one I have never heard!
I kid you not when I say health insurance (or lack thereof) was one of the biggest reasons I stopped working at the track.
[QUOTE=lily04;8606058]
And some tracks offer health insurance if you have a certain number of starts per year.[/QUOTE]
Penn? 30 starts per year?
Some people are in this for kicks and giggles, with no eye towards the business (money making) part of it. She is a battleship, that’s for sure.
We all must have been watching today. Even my non-horsey husband made a comment about her.
OK, I’m curious… What’s the mare’s name?
[QUOTE=Real Rush;8606859]
OK, I’m curious… What’s the mare’s name?[/QUOTE]
I’m not passing judgment - I’m just curious and asking questions to see what people think.
http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=7453869®istry=T
Not to sound too much like a bleeding heart but the same connections have kept this horse for the career. Is it just possible that the horse likes the work and the people like the horse???
I know it sounds silly but lots of trainers like to keep horses they cherish if nothing is wrong with the system. Maybe it doesn’t need to be a profitable venture for them and this horse. They own it so no owners to please. Stalls are free at the track and even running on the frequency she has, earning a ‘paltry’ $663 a race is still enough to feed, bed, and care for her off of.
The trainer (on Google results) is a small outfit with a handful of horses. I’m sure we’d all like different outcomes for many horses we see from a distance on the internet or paper, but I don’t see the owners of this horse doing anything wrong. It’s not been run hard nor does it appear to be in great amounts of distress. It had 2012 off entirely and came back to life in 2013 pretty much like 2011 had looked.
~Emily
Well, from what little I know, she appears to be pretty nicely bred. She might make someone a broodie- if only for sport horses- if you want some iron in your breeding program!
Ive seen people show their horses for years with barely a white ribbon to show for it. Some people just enjoy competing with their horses.
Given the trainer/owner’s had the horse its entire career…she likes the horse, the horse likes working even if she’s not good at it, chances are no one is going to claim a horse like that…Doesn’t do the horse any harm.
It’s very possible that they owner/trainer likes her. She might be the type that isn’t happy at the farm. She’s slow but she doesn’t appear to be overused.
Some trainers will keep a horse racing because they have to have X number of starts to retain the [free] stall. Once a trainer loses a stall (usually a smaller trainer with little influence), it might be hard to get it back.
So, even if a horse does not have a great record, it might be worth keeping and running to keep stall space. (At least I have heard this reason from several trainers – I am sure that active trainers can comment on it.)
I agree with Lord Helpus. It’s about keeping stalls. I know trainers with similar horses who run them to help tracks “fill cards” and they get to keep their stall that way.
She isn’t going to be claimed. I just hope they have a retirement plan for her. She’s a War Horse and deserves it.
[QUOTE=SaratogaTB;8610875]
I agree with Lord Helpus. It’s about keeping stalls. I know trainers with similar horses who run them to help tracks “fill cards” and they get to keep their stall that way.
She isn’t going to be claimed. I just hope they have a retirement plan for her. She’s a War Horse and deserves it.[/QUOTE]
Given that the owner/trainer took the time to pose her and put the resulting photo on her Pedigreequery profile, it seems they are at least somewhat fond of her.
Parx too.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8606142]
Penn? 30 starts per year?
Some people are in this for kicks and giggles, with no eye towards the business (money making) part of it. She is a battleship, that’s for sure.[/QUOTE]
Parx too.
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;8607201]
Well, from what little I know, she appears to be pretty nicely bred. She might make someone a broodie- if only for sport horses- if you want some iron in your breeding program![/QUOTE]
Is this her listing on Canter USA page 11?
[QUOTE=Pippigirl;8611810]
Is this her listing on Canter USA page 11?
http://canterusa.org/horses/1194/double-shadow/[/QUOTE]
It pretty much answers the majority of the questions.
This little lady has been owned by the same person most of her life and as hard as it is to see her move onto a new career, she knows it’s time - she consistently runs mid-pack in her races and shows no desire to run up front. Her trainer says she is the type of horse who wouldn’t hurt a fly and would make a great riding partner for a junior. She prefers the long distance type of races but unfortunately not many exist.
Sounds like they really care for her.
And while I’ve never met this mare, based on her race record, the description in the CANTER listing, and her pedigree, someone looking for a riding partner would be a fool not to snap this horse up! A horse has to be of incredibly sound mind and body to last until 11 years of age and for 85 starts.
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