Is this a stupid idea?

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Shrek-Eventing-SW

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Okay, so I went racing at Wincanton yesterday and one of the horses in the parade ring caught my eye. It looked a lot more classy than the others in the same race, looked like it belonged in a dressage arena at Badminton, rather than at a racecourse.

So I looked into the horses previous record and it does not appear to be very successful at racing.

This horse is in training with the best NH trainer in the country.

Would it be rude if I emailed the trainer or owner asking whether the horse will be sold if it does not "make it" as a racehorse?

I don't want to sound cheeky, but if there is a slight chance that the owner wants to sell it due to lack of results then maybe they would consider it?

I'm not sure how it works with unsuccessful horses in racing, obviously you hear all the time that the "rubbish" ones are sold straight from the yard. But I was just wondering if any would consider selling when they are approached.

Thank you and feel free to shout at me for asking such a stupid question.
 
It really is such an impressive horse though. I was like WOW and took about 1 million pictures of it! I think the groom leading it around thought that I thing for him as the camera was pointed permantly in his direction! Haha Thank you
 
Well if you don't ask you don't get but don't get your hopes up. If it is with a really good trainer chances are if it is still running they may consider it still has potential. Or if it is as nice as you say they may have plans for it to be reschooled already. A trainer near me sent one to an eventer to train on and sell so they could realise decent mony for it rather than it just being a bog standard ex racer.
 
Yeah, it hasn't had many runs, but it wasn't fancied at all on the day. It really wouldn't suprise me if they did send it to an event yard. I think the reason they are keeping it in racing is that it's half brother is a VERY successful high class chaser. At the moment though, this horse is untried over fences and isn't showing promise over hurdles.
 
Personally, I would go for it! I did read somewhere (on here? Can't remember) about horses literally being given away at the end of races if they have been unsuccessful. Sadly, I never seem to be in a place where this is happening! I seem to have an eye for failing racehorses - the only times I've been racing I've picked the ones who were rubbish!
If a horse is proving to be unsuccessful on a regular basis, I would think you stand a good chance. Let us know how you get on!
 
You could drop an e mail now and say that if they were ever interested in selling it for another discipline you would be interested.
 
You never know what they might do - could be one of the lesser talented ones on the yard, or it could be the most talented one on the yard :p

Does no harm to ask, and you might even find that they have other impressive ones on the yard needing to be sold :)
 
only_me said:
You never know what they might do - could be one of the lesser talented ones on the yard, or it could be the most talented one on the yard :p

Does no harm to ask, and you might even find that they have other impressive ones on the yard needing to be sold :)
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It most certainly is not the most talented horse on the yard. With the likes of Kauto Star and Denman a few stables away. ;)
 
lol, then probably not :p

Still, with horse's like those he may be able to afford to let a less promising young tb away to a better home ;)
 
Realistically Graham Roach is not going to give up on a horse like that so quickly! He has been quite unruly I think and ran off the track in his bumper so I think you might have to wait a bit partic as they keep entering him up at grade 1 tracks!:D:D:D:
I can imagine he's a good looking horse though as Dark Moondancer was a nice type and My Will is very elegant
 
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Like photo_jo - I had also sussed out which horse you were on about. Hes not exactly well tried - only been hurdling since November. i would think he will be on the track for a few years yet. However you could always email the trainer saying if he does come out of racing for any reason, if he/the owner would consider giving you first refusal.
I saw the horse at Cheltenham and yes he certainly is very smart.
 
Also just because its not a useful hurdler does not mean it will not go chasing. It could be slow over hurdles etc but ideal for chasing. Hurdles are more forgiving for a novice horse learning its trade.

Keep an eye on it and if the results are PU etc then I would enquire.
 
Unless it starts pulling up alot or falling they will prob stick at it with him. He is a decent jumper but runs keen early on and is running his race before the race gets going. I would hazard a guess he'll go chasing, go over a few more different distances to figure him out and try a good few other options before they give up. Right now he is still worth money as a racehorse
 
Just a question then, when do they "owner or trainer" decide that a horse is no longer good enough. My horse only ran 7 times, over hurdles, but she fell her last 2 times. She came 5th in her bumper and was in the lead in her last race until she fell at the last. Was it the fact that she kept falling that she was retired? What makes a trainer decide to put a horse over fences if it isn't doing well over hurdles?
 
Shrek-Eventing-SW said:
Just a question then, when do they "owner or trainer" decide that a horse is no longer good enough. My horse only ran 7 times, over hurdles, but she fell her last 2 times. She came 5th in her bumper and was in the lead in her last race until she fell at the last. Was it the fact that she kept falling that she was retired? What makes a trainer decide to put a horse over fences if it isn't doing well over hurdles?
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It depends entirely on the owner/trainer. SOme give up quicker than others and sell out of racing or a different trainer takes them on. Some that appear useless with one trainer will go great for another due to different regimes etc. A big factor at the moment is money....owner can't pay the bills so trainer sells horse to try a recoup some of his losses.

Re: your mare pm me her name if you like and i'll see what I can find out.

Re: fences after hurdles, a good hurdler is a quick low jumper that doesn't waste time in the air. A chaser will be a good scopey jumper. Hurdling is a great education for a youngster prior to chasing especially if the horse hasn't pointed. Or it could simply be about money. We have one 6 yr old horse that won 2or3 points, is now hurdling and has won a small fortune already but is actually a much better fence jumper than hurdler yet he has won a maiden, a novice and been placed in Grade 1 & 2 company. He will have the rest of 2011 hurdling before going novice chasing simply because he enjoys it, is successful at it and when we can run him for €70K pots why not!!
 
amage said:
It depends entirely on the owner/trainer. SOme give up quicker than others and sell out of racing or a different trainer takes them on. Some that appear useless with one trainer will go great for another due to different regimes etc. A big factor at the moment is money....owner can't pay the bills so trainer sells horse to try a recoup some of his losses.

Re: your mare pm me her name if you like and i'll see what I can find out.

Re: fences after hurdles, a good hurdler is a quick low jumper that doesn't waste time in the air. A chaser will be a good scopey jumper. Hurdling is a great education for a youngster prior to chasing especially if the horse hasn't pointed. Or it could simply be about money. We have one 6 yr old horse that won 2or3 points, is now hurdling and has won a small fortune already but is actually a much better fence jumper than hurdler yet he has won a maiden, a novice and been placed in Grade 1 & 2 company. He will have the rest of 2011 hurdling before going novice chasing simply because he enjoys it, is successful at it and when we can run him for €70K pots why not!!
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Thank you. That has made it much more understandable. :)
 
Shrek-Eventing-SW said:
Just a question then, when do they "owner or trainer" decide that a horse is no longer good enough. My horse only ran 7 times, over hurdles, but she fell her last 2 times. She came 5th in her bumper and was in the lead in her last race until she fell at the last. Was it the fact that she kept falling that she was retired? What makes a trainer decide to put a horse over fences if it isn't doing well over hurdles?
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Yours was running in mainly mares only races and then was running in sellers for the last two which probably reflected where the trainer thought she might pick up a place. Both times she was beaten when she fell so prob decided not worth the training fee-doesn't mean to say she isn't nice though and plenty of ordinary racehorses have gone onto be brill in another discipline :D:D
 
The horse has been pretty unruly and keen so they are teaching him how to be a racehorse and settle at the beginning of the race to save his energy. I am not suggesting that they aren't trying with him, but some horses take longer to learn their trade than others and have to be shown what to do in stages whereas others pick it up strajght away. Just because he isn't winning at the moment doesn't mean that he lacks ability and each race is getting better. He cost £100,000 as a 2 yr old so I doubt they would give up on him too quickly if he has shown anything at home and if he hadn't it is quite likely that he would have moved on already. Also Paul's partner events so they would know his value as an eventer assuming his temperament is suitable.
 
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