http://www.horseinfo.com/cart/howtoownsb.htmlFound the direct link. Now the questions Sir Paul.
Exactly how many horses have you been involved with either directly or indirectly and how many trainers have you used. You also claim to know a lot of the drivers as well.
Just looking for a little justification for your posts both past and present. As a 30+ year old in the biz for a fair share of my life I've seen and been around a ton but am still learning everyday.
Have you ever experienced the life of a groom? Sat behind horses for a jog or trip? Understood equipment and the effects it has on a horses performance? Have you ever spoken to vets who perform work on horses or studied the effects of drugs both the legals and the narcotics out there?
Again simply trying to justify your opinions which you seem to post here on a regular basis. Actually would love to take a look at your book and see the sources you quote for information or if its simply an account from your eyes. Everyone who reads your posts needs the justification of your experiences in the game to understand your background in the sport.
I'm tempted to suggest that you cough up $25 to buy the book, which will answer all your questions. Â
However, I'll succinctly outline the relevant information (at the risk of TC popping off some wisecrack about my posting my resume here Â
):
(1) My father was a big harness racing fan, who frequently went to Roosevelt and Yonkers. He introduced me to harness racing by taking me to Freehold one day...probably about 47 or 48 years ago...so I've been a fan for close to 50 years.
(2) I bought my first horse (as part of a partnership) almost 20 years ago.
(3) I haven't tried to keep count, but I've probably owned, solely or in partnership, close to 100 horses over the years. Horses I owned have raced for purses from $1,500 to $600,000, and everything in between, in every class, claiming price, and numerous stakes.
(4) I've never formally worked as a groom, but i have "rubbed" some of my own...from getting to the barn before dawn to feed, to bathing, cooling them out after a training trip or a race, "dressing" them for jogging or racing, etc. I have sat behind them to jog a few times, but never cared for it, figured the trainer was getting paid to break his neck, not me. Â
(5) I ran a private stable for a few years complete with a trainer who worked only for me. I was at the barn daily, and was involved in all decisions on vet work, etc., bought all the feed and tack, paid the blacksmith, handled all finances, etc.
(6) I've bred a couple of horses...not very successfully.
(7) I've probably had about 6 or 7 different trainers. Maybe a few more because there were a couple who didn't last very long for a variety of reasons.
(8 My first winner was driven by John Campbell at the Meadowlands. The majority of my horses were driven by Campbell, Cat Manzi, Herve Filion, Walter Case, Jr. and Ron Pierce. Some by Howard Parker, Jack Moiseyev, Joe Schwind Richie Silverman, Mike Lacahance. A whole bunch of others drove mine once in a while. When I had the private trainer racing at Pocono, Freehold and Garden State Park, he (a young guy you've never heard of, Jim Baucom, Jr.) also was the principal driver.
(9) I'm a graduate of the Judges/Stewards school run at and by the University of Louisville jointly for the USTA, the Jockey Club and the American Quarter Horse Association. I was a certfied judge, but let that drop as I never worked as a judge.
(10) I was a freelance repoter and columnist for the national harness racing magazine Times:in harness for a while before it ceased publication.
(11) The USTA is the principal customer for my book. They buy it in bulk as a suggested purchase for particpants at the new owner seminars they conduct.
Any further questions?
