Can a good horse really overcome a bad trainer?
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Mood Swings
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Can a good horse really overcome a bad trainer?
How many people believe this to be true? I know people who swear that if the horse has any talent he/she will be successful regardless of the management. I personally disagree however I realize there are so many contributing factors that there are going to be exceptions.
"People come and go but horses leave hoofprints on your heart"
Really great question that I have given much time and thought to. Actually, the angle I often wonder about is: Take a horse that is on a second-tier track running for a tag, say a 5,000 dollar claimer. Give him to a Pletcher or Clement or Kimmel or Frankel... and what happens to the horse? This becomes a discussion about class, but it makes you wonder the importance of training. Obviously the quality of horses going to the top trainers is vastly different than the horses going to small stable trainers.
i wonder about this stuff because sometimes I see beautiful horses running at these smaller tracks, and they run well, good times, and look fantastic (to my untrained eye). It makes me think... why not claim it and give it to a very talented trainer to give it a go. By the way, many people love to claim off of certain trainers, they believe they can improve a horse because of the lack of talent in the trainer, not horse! In Woody Stephens book he said he liked to get horses from trainers who kept running 6 furlong sprints with a horse that he KNEW would relish the distance. I would think this practice goes on to this very day. Trainers thinking that "their way" is the "best way" drives the sport forward. And even the best can learn a thing or two. I give you Miesque’s Approval, Lava Man.
Back to the question... if a talented horse was given to a "capable" trainer... any "capable" trainer be it large or small stable, then I do believe we would see that horse live up to it's potential. However, give it to a bad trainer and I guarantee even a talented horse would suffer greatly. Can this horse overcome a bad trainers weaknesses? Depends on the weakness and the horse. I believe the same thing holds true for jockeys... and this is a heated debate. Some trainers could care less who pilots the horse, others seek out the ones they feel most comfortable with. My take: jockeys matter, and a bad ride/jock can lose you a race... just as a good ride/jock can help win one. It's a whirlwind of events and circumstance.
i wonder about this stuff because sometimes I see beautiful horses running at these smaller tracks, and they run well, good times, and look fantastic (to my untrained eye). It makes me think... why not claim it and give it to a very talented trainer to give it a go. By the way, many people love to claim off of certain trainers, they believe they can improve a horse because of the lack of talent in the trainer, not horse! In Woody Stephens book he said he liked to get horses from trainers who kept running 6 furlong sprints with a horse that he KNEW would relish the distance. I would think this practice goes on to this very day. Trainers thinking that "their way" is the "best way" drives the sport forward. And even the best can learn a thing or two. I give you Miesque’s Approval, Lava Man.
Back to the question... if a talented horse was given to a "capable" trainer... any "capable" trainer be it large or small stable, then I do believe we would see that horse live up to it's potential. However, give it to a bad trainer and I guarantee even a talented horse would suffer greatly. Can this horse overcome a bad trainers weaknesses? Depends on the weakness and the horse. I believe the same thing holds true for jockeys... and this is a heated debate. Some trainers could care less who pilots the horse, others seek out the ones they feel most comfortable with. My take: jockeys matter, and a bad ride/jock can lose you a race... just as a good ride/jock can help win one. It's a whirlwind of events and circumstance.
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Rokeby Forever
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The answer is NO!!!
A good trainer keeps a horse happy, sound, and gets the most out of it. There are plenty of good trainers around - not necessarily high profile, but day in, day out, they win races. John Servis is a good example - he's got a barn full of lower level claimers and does a tremendous job with them - but give him a good one like Smarty Jones, and he can have a horse compete with the best of them.
Some trainers just stink. What did Reggie Cornell do with Calumet stock back in the '70s?
A good trainer keeps a horse happy, sound, and gets the most out of it. There are plenty of good trainers around - not necessarily high profile, but day in, day out, they win races. John Servis is a good example - he's got a barn full of lower level claimers and does a tremendous job with them - but give him a good one like Smarty Jones, and he can have a horse compete with the best of them.
Some trainers just stink. What did Reggie Cornell do with Calumet stock back in the '70s?
What synthetics are to California racing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb0mxcpPOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb0mxcpPOU
Can a good horse really overcome a bad trainer?
In my opinion, no. In order to overcome a bad trainer it needs to be a GREAT horse.
To wit, a horse that can outrun its pedigree, its connections, and run despite the improper training or treatments it might receive.
In my opinion, no. In order to overcome a bad trainer it needs to be a GREAT horse.
To wit, a horse that can outrun its pedigree, its connections, and run despite the improper training or treatments it might receive.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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Rokeby Forever
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Oh Wilf!! 
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Rokeby Forever
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