I want to buy a racing horse... where?

Question

I want to buy a racing horse... where?

Answer 1

Hi There,

What part of the world are you living, I'm a 42 year-old Ex- jockey living in Australia and I can put you in touch with the right people. if you like.

If you want to Know more about me goto http://www.ex-jockeymail.com/about.html

Regards

Kim

Answer 2

I would save your money, but it's your choice.  Trainers will charge you $40./day for the cheaper horses and tracks, $200./up/day for the good tracks.  Plus, you have to pay your own vet bills.  If you go for the cheaper tracks, you go for less money.  If you go for the big money with a big name trainer, you will be shuffled around (unless your horse is something special it won't get attention there.) I could go on and on, but I will answer your question.  Go to any track and talk to 'public trainers'.  Most tracks will let you get a pass at the gate and go barn to barn.  Sometimes trainers will cut you deals and buy a horse with you or find you your own horse.  The big trainers will go to auctions with you, but they want to spend money! They want the next Derby winner. They won't buy $5000, horses like the cheaper tracks would, they take the sheiks to spend millions!  I know other countries only race certain times a year, but if you're in the States you will always find a race track open.  Best thing, if you MUST have a race horse,  try to get some other people together to share the cost.  You will still have the fun of ownership and win photos, but all the costs will be split! Good luck

Answer 3

Although the answers you have been given thus far are in some part correct along with the pros and con's, I suggest getting to know a few trainers or perhaps better yet someone that already owns race horses. From them you can gain better insight as to who there trainer is and what they think of them. What there paying for a day rate and so on. You should know that it costs the same to pay for the up keep on a good horse as it does a not so good horse.  When buying or claiming a horse the main concern isnt weather or not he might be worth more but, is he worth at least what the price for him is. When you claim from a race you don't get to have a vet look him over and the trainer that works for you really should have some history on the horse if possible. A sale is a good place but i dont suggest purchasing a young horse that has never started. They have what we call baby problems and it could take months and longer before your able to get him to the races. Once you have decided on a trainer you and they should shop around. be it from other trainers and owners at the track your trainer is stabled at or other tracks the trainer might be familiar with. It's a good idea also at the very least take xrays of legs, scope for breathing problems and if your buying a filly/mare and think in the future you might want to breed her have her checked for that as well. First time buyers are truely at the mercy of others so if you enter into a private sale, be sure that you are the one talking money to the people you are buying from. Then you can feel confident in giving your trainer a finders fee, normally between 5 and 10% of the price. Sometimes they won't except it if they know the horse is going to them to train.  One other thing to keep in mind. if you buy at the complete bottom and something goes wrong then your already at the bottom and have no room to move. If you buy in a mid range and something goes wrong you have a little room to drop in class and may still come out ok.

Answer 4

fred mertiun of st. pilos

Answer 5

any auction, most thoroughbred auctions will be listed on the BloodHorse website.  Currently is Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale in Timonium MD (Oct 1-3)

also, you can buy a horse pretty much at any racetrack across the country, on any day where there is live racing.  Just pick up a program and look for races labelled "claiming".

That means each horse entered in that race is for sale, and the sale price is listed in the conditions of the race.  Low level claimers can be claimed for as little as $4K.  Check with the racing office to see how claims work, but I think you have to be registered as an owner, and have hired a trainer to make the claim on your behalf.