Trainers and Owners

[Robert Goren]

Do trainers win at a higher percentage for some owners than they do for others? Is this something that the handicappers needs to look at?

[pondman]

Do trainers win at a higher percentage for some owners than they do for others? Is this something that the handicappers needs to look at?

Yes. It's important at the higher end of the game. Many trainers only win purses when they've got a high dollar owner. They often get a horse that's been at a hotel and basically saddle the horse. If you are playing New York, then it's all owner.

[Clocker]

Another slant on that is, do trainers win more with horses they own than with those owned by others. One reason for that is that in racing his own horses, he has more liberty to place the horse at the right level without having to keep owners happy who think too much of their horses.

[mountainman]

In many cases, the owner actually does the training, while the listed trainer is just fronting. Watch who stands where in the winner's circle. That's a good indicator of who calls the shots.

[jwb]

Worth tracking, for sure. I maintained a data base for a few years and found that many trainers have a noticeably higher percentages for certain owners/connections (ITM). Home breds, deep pockets, good eye, well placed... take their time.

[Ocala Mike]

Jonathan Sheppard with Augustin Stable's horses come to mind. Look up "deep pockets" in the dictionary, and you're likely to see a picture of George Strawbridge, Jr., Augustin's owner.