Day Fee - Finger Lakes

[Norm]

Anyone know the average or typical 'day fee' at Finger Lakes ? Any input would be welcomed.

I find that a useful bit of handicapping info. It's interesting to watch how a trainer maneuvers a horse that is not earning its oats. I know the 'day fee' for all the tracks I play, but not Finger Lakes. It must be kinda low, the typical purse is around $8.5k with a winners share of $5.1k.

Thanks in advance.

[GameTheory]

Any chance you could post those day fees for the tracks you are aware of?

[Norm]

Any chance you could post those day fees for the tracks you are aware of?
Here are the day rates for the tracks I frequent. Keep in mind that these are averages, each trainer establishes his own rate. Also, vet expenses and farrier bills are extra.

AQU, BEL, SAR - $90 (SAR is often higher because of it's 'elite' status.)
MTH, MED - $75
PHA - $60

At-the-farm rates are about half or a bit less.

There have been some very helpful discussions on this forum for this subject in the recent past. Here are a couple of links.

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44045&highlight=day+Rate (http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44045&highlight=day+Rate)

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42934&highlight=day+Rate (http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42934&highlight=day+Rate)

There is also a chart in the back of the latest TOBA manual which is a bit out-of-date (2002), but can be adjusted for inflation, for any track or circuit when you don't have first-hand info.

[Kelso]

At-the-farm rates are about half or a bit less.
Norm,
Does "at-the-farm" refer to giving the horse a break ... i.e., no real training, just some R&R at the trainer's place?

Thank you.

[Murph]

Norm,
Does "at-the-farm" refer to giving the horse a break ... i.e., no real training, just some R&R at the trainer's place?

Thank you.You really don't know, Kelso?
Maybe you could go visit a horse farm, talk to the stable manager and see with your own eyes what happens when a thoroughbred runner is "at the farm." Might even help you to be a better handicapper and we could all use a little of that, I believe.

Murph

[Kelso]

You really don't know, Kelso?
Yes, I really don't know. That's why I asked.

Wondering why the day rate would be 50% or so the of not-at-the-farm day rate.

[Norm]

Norm,
Does "at-the-farm" refer to giving the horse a break ... i.e., no real training, just some R&R at the trainer's place?

Thank you.
I was thinking of the minimum condition where the horse gets a stall, feed, bedding, a turn-out and some minimal attention from a groom, a little lunge-line exercise or maybe none at all. The trainer is not involved. That would be opposed to an off-track training facility where some light to medium training is involved. Training facilities are not cheap. As handicappers, we don't need as much information as the owner's accountant would demand. We just need an approximate idea of whether or not the horse is paying his way and if not, what is the owner / trainer doing about it. A trainer can be on the 'hot-seat' six ways from Sunday if a horse is earning far below it's costs. (A trainer's job is a lot more complicated than most casual horseplayers realize.)

[beenacoach]

First of all, in the old days being "at the farm" for R&R and not in training was called "Lay up". Using the term, lay up, made it very clear what the situation was.

Secondly, I have very little info on lay up costs but I do know that there are some places in MI and OH where lay up can be as little as $230 per month.