Training Day rates
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
Training Day rates
I realize the trainers day rate for big name tracks is going to be higher than for smaller tracts. Anyone want to repond with what the general day rate is for the tracks they are racing at? I'm running in the mid-west and it is approx $50 / day. I'm particularly interested in PA rates.
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Worksoplad
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photofinish
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the range i've seen in PA and WV range from $45 a day to $65 a day but I'm sure you can find trainers outside that range .
And, I believe the young "getting started " $45 a day trainers have an incentive to keep you happy, and enough time to give your horse personal attention.
griff
And, I believe the young "getting started " $45 a day trainers have an incentive to keep you happy, and enough time to give your horse personal attention.
griff
"We has met the enemy and he is us" [Pogo]
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wilf
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It costs just about the same to train a horse anywhere ,the variables can be Worker's Comp in each state and the high cost of hay in Florida . Training for $50/day is a waste of time unless you have stock that can win regularly and earn a % for the trainer. Trainers are often villified for their practices but rarely do we hear of the owners that are months behind while a trainer still goes about his business in hope that perhaps the horse can win out the bill. That never happens with me as most of my owners realise that I am supporting their horses for the month by paying bills weekly and monthly that their horses have incurred. If I am into the 3rd week of the next month and have not heard from the owner then a phone call will quickly decide who will be feeding the horse that night. It's getting brutal lately with the cost of hay doubling almost overnight and sweet feed up about 33%. The yearling breakers have many ways of keeping costs down and I have used them to prep my own horses up to a gate work as I found that I could not do it any better nor cheaper but at the track there is hardly any margin these days for a trainer if he charges $50/day. Hay is going to be at a premium as the winter progresses and I personally am cutting down drastically on numbers.
I don't think the price of feed is the driving force behind day rates.
I'm in the mid atlantic and you can buy pretty good grain feed for $20.00 per 50# bag; less per ton and even less again with a standing order..
If my math is correct that's $6.00 per day for a 15# ration
Non Alfalfa hay is $145 per ton and alfalfa is $232 per ton. Small three string orchard grass/alfalfa mix runs around $8.50 per bale, less per ton.
so $6.00 per day for grain + $5.00 per day for hay and another $4.00 per day for misc supplements, and any magic you use, comes out to around $15.00 per day.
There are of course other expenses and a trainer and his help need to make a decent living but if you can clear $400 per horse per month, or approximately $13.35 per day per horse; 10 horses will net you $48k per year plus your share of the purses your horses win. And while 20 horses will give you a much bigger gross you will also need much more help.
If you are hitting the board 60% of the time, your share of the purses should be decent; if you are hitting the board 30% or less your share of the purses are not going to amount to very much. In addition the trainer hitting the board 60% of the time is usually also going to get the better horses.
And that is one reason I like young getting started trainers. They are usually training fewer horses which means you and your horses are both getting more personal attention and the young trainer is trying like hell to break into the 40% to 50% "hit-the-board" group.
And a trainer hitting the board 50% to 60% of the time can demand and get better than $50 a day; however, hitting the board 30% or less is not going to put you in high demand.
griff
This are rough calculations, and i have been known to make bad assumptions; so please double checkand tell me where I have gone astray.
griff
I'm in the mid atlantic and you can buy pretty good grain feed for $20.00 per 50# bag; less per ton and even less again with a standing order..
If my math is correct that's $6.00 per day for a 15# ration
Non Alfalfa hay is $145 per ton and alfalfa is $232 per ton. Small three string orchard grass/alfalfa mix runs around $8.50 per bale, less per ton.
so $6.00 per day for grain + $5.00 per day for hay and another $4.00 per day for misc supplements, and any magic you use, comes out to around $15.00 per day.
There are of course other expenses and a trainer and his help need to make a decent living but if you can clear $400 per horse per month, or approximately $13.35 per day per horse; 10 horses will net you $48k per year plus your share of the purses your horses win. And while 20 horses will give you a much bigger gross you will also need much more help.
If you are hitting the board 60% of the time, your share of the purses should be decent; if you are hitting the board 30% or less your share of the purses are not going to amount to very much. In addition the trainer hitting the board 60% of the time is usually also going to get the better horses.
And that is one reason I like young getting started trainers. They are usually training fewer horses which means you and your horses are both getting more personal attention and the young trainer is trying like hell to break into the 40% to 50% "hit-the-board" group.
And a trainer hitting the board 50% to 60% of the time can demand and get better than $50 a day; however, hitting the board 30% or less is not going to put you in high demand.
griff
This are rough calculations, and i have been known to make bad assumptions; so please double checkand tell me where I have gone astray.
griff
"We has met the enemy and he is us" [Pogo]
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wilf
- Breeder's Cup Contender
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Yes Griff you have a point and if you can keep costs down without compromising the quality of care then I agree,however it's all rather a regional viewpoint and local taxes ,licence fees ,stall fees , cost of employees vary immensely. In Ontario you have 15% tax on everything across the board and winning a couple of races every year would not even cover costs . You make it sound too good to be true. I guess that I suffer by giving my own horses time off every winter and end up back at square one. My own shipping costs tend to be astronomical and eat away at any purse money earned. Need any help?
just said it was not the cost of feed that is driving the train. And I did include $4.00 per day or $120 per months for misc supplements and magic.
A young knowledgeable trainer that pays attention to business can still do well in this game, especially if he/she stumbles across a couple of good horses.
and get a contract that allows you to sell any horse 90 days behind in payments. If he's making money the owner will pay; if he's not good enough to pay his own bills and the owner will pay his bills you are wasting your time. Time you could be devoting to a paying horse/owner
griff
A young knowledgeable trainer that pays attention to business can still do well in this game, especially if he/she stumbles across a couple of good horses.
and get a contract that allows you to sell any horse 90 days behind in payments. If he's making money the owner will pay; if he's not good enough to pay his own bills and the owner will pay his bills you are wasting your time. Time you could be devoting to a paying horse/owner
griff
"We has met the enemy and he is us" [Pogo]
Griff,
Even if I could feed a horse for 15.00 a day at the track (which I can't) what about bedding, is that factored in somewhere? Plus I'd need about $15 a day for an exercise rider and another $27 per day for grooming and about $8 for a hotwalker.
The going rate at Woodbine is $80 and up... I wouldn't want to take all that risk and put in those kind of hours for a potential profit of $5 a day on my day rate.
Even if I could feed a horse for 15.00 a day at the track (which I can't) what about bedding, is that factored in somewhere? Plus I'd need about $15 a day for an exercise rider and another $27 per day for grooming and about $8 for a hotwalker.
The going rate at Woodbine is $80 and up... I wouldn't want to take all that risk and put in those kind of hours for a potential profit of $5 a day on my day rate.
The day rate is a composite of costs, each of which is important and contributes to, and drives, the day rate. There is feed, supplements, hay, bedding, groom, hotwalker, exercise rider, insurance, payroll taxes, etc. To say that the cost of grain does not drive the day rate is simplistic. It is not the only factor, but it IS a factor.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....