Horse Trainers: Why DOES My Horse Keep Losing

Interesting headline. 

Most of us don't own a racehorse. However, we do like to bet and make an assessment to the given chance of a horse. When betting, it is important to have some measure of assessing whether a horse is likely to hit the jackpot. You fancy its chance and place a bet. How did it go?

Win, lose or stuck in the stalls, you take an interest and if you worked the oracle collected cash.

Betting on horses can be frustrating but imagine owning a horse. It is costly. You can buy  a horse quite cheaply but the training is a killer. Not only does the trainer collect training fees but they use their ''skills'' to place the horse to win. Well, that is how it should go. 

No one is perfect. Horses are not machines. They are all susceptible to many variants. As punter we know very little about the good, bad and ugly. Perhaps owners have a little more access because they pay the bills. I doubt many have too much input into the placing of horses which is understandable. Too many cooks and that. 

However, we have all seen times when horses are placed over a distance that doesn't look to suit, a change of tactics, or ridden wide to the point of being ridiculous and the horse tires out of contention. 

Is this simply a mistake, circumstance or is their a lack of knowledge?

Let's face it, trainers are busy. They have to manage lots of things, people, horses.They delegate, but they are responsible. I guess if you calculated the time it takes to get a horses ready to race it would be a surprising number of hours. All the admin, correspondence between owners, jockey, transport, declarations. The list goes on.

It makes me think that many trainers would benefit from an expert who could assess each horse and find the right race. When you consider how much it costs to get a horse to the race track, you really don't want to waste money. True, not ever horse can win. There's only one winner unless it is a dead heat. But would a trainer benefit from having an expert who places horses to win? It may well happen with trainers big and small. I imagine they wouldn't want to publish the fact because it could be viewed in varying ways. 

But would it help a trainer's win and place stats. 

Eric Winner studies sprint horses and the amount of times he questions the decisions of trainers does suggest that they often make wrong choices. Perhaps there is a hidden agenda, so it is actually the right decision (we will be unlikely to know). 

What do you think?  

Horse Trainers & Professional Gamblers?

Who knows the most about horse racing?

Trainer.

Bookmaker.

Form student.

Pro gambler?

It's an interesting question.

Well, it should be if you have an interest in trying to win money gambling. The gold miner follows the seam hoping it will lead to rich pickings. 

A pot of gold. 

You could search for the end of the rainbow!

Gambling, successfully, is all about following the money. Surely. But what comes before the money? Knowledge. 

When you think about it, horse trainers must be in the best position to benefit from what they see on the gallops. If not, it is a very good starting point. You hear of horses being morning glories, brilliant on the gallops, but just never show that abundance at the race track. 

As far as knowledge goes, trainers are the source of information. A rich seam of gold, perhaps. It's like insider trading. In theory, if a horse trainer cannot make money with their wisdom it shouldn't give the rest of us much hope. 

However, is it that easy? Probably not for the simple reason that you never quite know who is in opposition. But trainers must have a huge edge. They may have to wait years for the ideal opportunity but they come with time.

I remember Julia Feilden, who trains at Newmarket. I have met her on a few occasions and she is a lovely lady. She runs Newmarket Equine Tours Racing Club. Exceptional value and a great way to taste the luxury of being a racehorse owner at an affordable price. She is a talented trainer. But, like so many, she is only as good as the horses she has in her care. I don't know if they are a gambling stable. I guess all have their day. 

On average, her horses are handicappers. However, she had one horse who really was class: Spirit Of Sharjah. 

This bay son of Invincible Spirit must have looked like a wonder horse when galloping at Exning. He must have been the nearest thing to poetry in motion. It may have been back in 2007, but that two-year-old season must have been one of the most amazing moments of her life. Finally, a horse that shines as brightly as they come. 

Back to a trainer and the opportunity to bet and win good money. 

Spirit Of Sharjah was a horse made for a gamble. 

Why? 

Because she doesn't train many top-class horses. 
Doesn't have a great strike rate on debut.
Not known for talented two-year-olds.

Never limit a person. Becuase they will show you how wrong you are. And every trainer, who trains long enough, has their day. 

Spirit Of Sharjah made his debut at Newmarket. 

What price do you think he started? 

50/1, 25/1, 16/1...

Opened 16/1 backed to 10s. Who did they book to ride? Mick Kinane! I suspect I haven't looked, that it was the only time he has ever ridden for the stable. I don't know if the stable bet, but I would be amazed if this wasn't one of those rare purple days.

Spirit Of Sharjah won a Conditions Stakes race by two-and-a-half lengths. Beating future top sire Dark Angel in the process. 

That must have been such a wonderful day. A day owners, trainers and punters wait a lifetime to enjoy. To hit the headlines. 

I bet Julia's purse was bulging ten minutes after that debut on April 18th, 2017. 

Good luck to her. 

Spirit Of Sharjah. A star horse. 

He won his first two races, taking a Listed race at Goodwood in ready fashion. 

In many respect, his third race was the pinnacle of his career. He finished third at Royal Ascot's Norfolk Stakes Group 2. Losing by just over two lengths behind Winker Watson and Art Advisor. In truth, he could have gone very close to winning, finishing well. 

As Sir Francis Bacon said: ''Knowledge is power''.