I’m just wondering if I am running in to bad trainers or what down here at Delta Downs in Louisiana but I can’t find a trainer down here that will pay over 200 to 250 a week and it’s a little hard for me to work for that. If I was single and no child at home it would be ok, I could take a tack room at the track.. Sorry I was rambling but does anyone know if this is normal pay scale for the backsides of the racetrack or is it just my area? And this is not my first job at the track. I've worked both on and off track. Thanks on advance.
Christy
pay rates on backside
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
Payment really depends where you are,how old you are,what you do.200-250 a week sounds like prety cheap wages in any neck of the woods.I am unsure about Louisiana but that sounds on the low side.Best thing to do is to ask around to other people working their and what their bosses pay.For 200-250 a week hope you dont have to do much for that.
"The easiest way to end up with a million dollars in the horseracing business is to start with 3 million!"
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
Sulpherfire,
Unfortunately, you are probably being paid a fairly normal rate for most areas of Louisiana. Additionally, I think you will find that the life on track is quite hard and rarely can you expect any type of loyalty, rather you are a number, a warm body, a babysitter. Try missing a day or a few days and see what happens. Do you have health insurance? A retirement program? My hat goes off to those who work on the backside and while the industry is currently engrossed with the insurance plight of the jockeys, the backstretch is still not going to see improvements.
I am guessing you are fairly young and have some education. For many of your co-workers the computer, the internet, and the ability to use good grammar and sentence structure is foreign (both literally and figuritively). Use the skills to your advantage.
I think you will find some of the stallion farms, lay-up facilities, etc. probably pay somewhat better and are more than likely to be much more stable. Opportunities will vary greatly, as will responsibilities, but stability and the opportunity to learn and grow do have value. Also, some of the bigger players (Kentucky Farms) are looking to possibly have a presence in Louisiana, these types will offer better pay, better working conditions, and possibly even some benefits.
Also, start trying to find ways to latch on with one of the bigger fish at one of the bigger tracks. Put together a solid resume, complete with cover letter, and track down some of the trainers who are known to pay better... or at least offer some type of advancement. Another very good resource could be the racing secretary's office and / or some of the other track personnel, especially the track chaplain. The track chaplain, if he has been around for a while, will probably know as much about the backstretch as anyone else, and he / she will probably be quite willing to help get you started in the right direction. Make connections, get to know people, find opportunities to show you can read and write effectively, find ways to get your resume in front of the right people... I know what you are thinking... resume? On the backstretch? Well, that is exactly my point... to get paid better, to get treated better, to have an opportunity rather than a job, you need to separate yourself from the rest... need to demonstrate you are not just another warm bodied babysitter.
Good luck! I truly hope you can find, follow, and realize your dreams, whatever they may be.
Unfortunately, you are probably being paid a fairly normal rate for most areas of Louisiana. Additionally, I think you will find that the life on track is quite hard and rarely can you expect any type of loyalty, rather you are a number, a warm body, a babysitter. Try missing a day or a few days and see what happens. Do you have health insurance? A retirement program? My hat goes off to those who work on the backside and while the industry is currently engrossed with the insurance plight of the jockeys, the backstretch is still not going to see improvements.
I am guessing you are fairly young and have some education. For many of your co-workers the computer, the internet, and the ability to use good grammar and sentence structure is foreign (both literally and figuritively). Use the skills to your advantage.
I think you will find some of the stallion farms, lay-up facilities, etc. probably pay somewhat better and are more than likely to be much more stable. Opportunities will vary greatly, as will responsibilities, but stability and the opportunity to learn and grow do have value. Also, some of the bigger players (Kentucky Farms) are looking to possibly have a presence in Louisiana, these types will offer better pay, better working conditions, and possibly even some benefits.
Also, start trying to find ways to latch on with one of the bigger fish at one of the bigger tracks. Put together a solid resume, complete with cover letter, and track down some of the trainers who are known to pay better... or at least offer some type of advancement. Another very good resource could be the racing secretary's office and / or some of the other track personnel, especially the track chaplain. The track chaplain, if he has been around for a while, will probably know as much about the backstretch as anyone else, and he / she will probably be quite willing to help get you started in the right direction. Make connections, get to know people, find opportunities to show you can read and write effectively, find ways to get your resume in front of the right people... I know what you are thinking... resume? On the backstretch? Well, that is exactly my point... to get paid better, to get treated better, to have an opportunity rather than a job, you need to separate yourself from the rest... need to demonstrate you are not just another warm bodied babysitter.
Good luck! I truly hope you can find, follow, and realize your dreams, whatever they may be.
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
reply to KALs post
Thank you for your words. I try my best to stand out and let the quality of my work speak for me. I have a resume ( needs a cover letter, though) .Also I just started back to college, its online but still an accredited school, two years left to get my Bachelor's in Business Administration.
Just one more comment as to your tag about my dreams, they involve working in the breeding industry. And that draem had been mine since a young age. The good thing to me about that dream is there is hope with every foal that is born, that this may be the one, the big horse of your career.
And again to you, and all who have replied Thank You for your comments.
Christy
Just one more comment as to your tag about my dreams, they involve working in the breeding industry. And that draem had been mine since a young age. The good thing to me about that dream is there is hope with every foal that is born, that this may be the one, the big horse of your career.
And again to you, and all who have replied Thank You for your comments.
Christy
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
Well at the moment I'm in between jobs, mainly focusing on my classes, but last season I worked in one barn, one of the trainers was Arriola.What I did was work part time for the other trainers in that barn when they needed help because Tommy said he couldn't keep me busy. Before that I was taking care of an owner's horses offtrack before the season opened and I went with his horse that raced when he went to Arriola's barn.
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
Check to see if the Groom Elite program is up-and-running at your track. The HBPA can tell you when and if it's available. Many of the better trainers who pay their staff and have loyal workers insist on hiring Groom Elite graduates, or making their staff attend when available. It also usually involves a pay raise and looks great on any resume for farms or tracks.
Rocking H
-
sulphurfire
- Allowance Winner
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:33 pm
- Location: southwest louisiana
- Contact:
Yeah, that's about right. Unfortunately it doesn't pay much and is hard work. Some people work up to assistants and trainers after starting at that, but it takes hard work and time. If you really want to work in training at some point, bite the bullet and spend a few years as a reliable, willing helper for a good trainer. Show up for work everyday and maybe after a few years, some better things will happen. Try and learn from the best around. Good luck.
-
Intrinsic Worth
- Starters Handicap
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 2:27 pm