Norman gets six-month suspension

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Scav

as far as getting paid, come on people, please don't be nuive(?) enough to think that Assmussen isn't getting his due, it is called, as Randy Moss said, "Straight cash homie", and if it isn't that, like the owner can't give him a 'bonus' or Blasi couldn't 'loan' Assmussen some money.....Play the game, or get played, PLAYA......

We're talking about serious money in this case. Asmussen horses will probably make around $4 million over 6 months. That means that Blasi gets $400,000. Asmussen can't force Blasi to give him the money back. I don't think that Asmussen would ask him for the money any way, but let's just say that he did. If Blasi refuses to give it to him, there's nothing Asmussen can do. What would you do if you were Blasi? Would you give him the money back? I doubt it. You would be better of walking away with the $400,000 and then going out on your own. Assistants usually go out on their own eventually any way. That would be a sure way to get a guy to quit if you tried to force him to give you $400,000 back.

All this talk is silly because I don't think that Asmussen is going to ask Blasi for the money.

I'm stunned that he didn't get more time!!! Meche was suspended for appox. 1 year for not going to the whip... WTH??? This guy is banned in Calf. already! Now he has 2 positives and he gets only 6 months??? He should be getting life!!!! He has laughed in the face of the racing commisions!!!

[Rupert Pupkin]

This actually reminds me of a story about a trainer who I will not name. I'm not going to go into any details because I don't want to say anything that might give away the trainer's identity. I don't want to get sued.

A certain trainer decided that he no longer wanted horses running in his name for financial reasons. He did not want to show the income. I'm not going to say why. Anyway, all the horses started running under the name of a close associate of this trainer. They had a deal where the associate would eventually give the trainer the money back. So the horses ran in the associate's name for at least a year or two. To make a long story short, the trainer and the associate had a huge falling out and the associate refused to give the trainer any of the money. There was nothing the trainer could do. He had no recourse. They had a secret agreement that was not legal, so he didn't get paid a dime.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

We're talking about serious money in this case. Asmussen horses will probably make around $4 million over 6 months. That means that Blasi gets $400,000. Asmussen can't force Blasi to give him the money back. I don't think that Asmussen would ask him for the money any way, but let's just say that he did. If Blasi refuses to give it to him, there's nothing Asmussen can do. What would you do if you were Blasi? Would you give him the money back? I doubt it. You would be better of walking away with the $400,000 and then going out on your own. Assistants usually go out on their own eventually any way. That would be a sure way to get a guy to quit if you tried to force him to give you $400,000 back.

All this talk is silly because I don't think that Asmussen is going to ask Blasi for the money.

In all due respect, you are way off here; on many levels.

Eric

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by ELA

In all due respect, you are way off here; on many levels.

Eric

What am I getting wrong? Please fill me in.

[ELA]

I wouldn't even know where to start. Just for starters -- it was and still is Steve Assmusen's barn, as a business. It's his business, his operation, his equiptment, his toothbrush that they use to apply hoof dressing -- everything is his. He got suspended. He still owns the business. He was the one who put Blasi there and gave him the "job" so to speak. Also, it's not 10% period. Ask any trainer if they are "keeping" the entire 10%. Especially in an operation this size.

So, who do you think the owners are paying their bills to? Prior to the suspension let's say the owners were paying their bills to the "Steve Assmusen Stable" or some corporate business name (I don't know because I don't have horses with him). So all of a sudden -- Scott Blasi opens up a new business and is geared up, 100% ready to hit the ground running -- payroll, workers comp insurance, liability insurance, health insurance, and the so many more things that a multi-million dollar business needs. I have paid training bills to suspended trainers. The bills are paid to the very same entity at the very same address and the very same person (stamp) endorsed the check when it was deposited.

Your example is very different.

Eric

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by ELA

I wouldn't even know where to start. It was and still is Steve Assmusen's barn. It's his business, his operation, his equiptment, his toothbrush that they use to apply hoof dressing -- everything is his. He got suspended. He still owns the business. He was the one who put Blasi there and gave him the "job" so to speak. Also, it's not 10% period. Ask any trainer if they are "keeping" the entire 10%. Especially in an operation this size.

So, who do you think the owners are paying their bills to? Prior to the suspension let's say the owners were paying their bills to the "Steve Assmusen Stable" or some corporate business name (I don't know because I don't have horses with him). So all of a sudden -- Scott Blasi opens up a new business and is geared up, 100% ready to hit the ground running -- payroll, workers comp insurance, liability insurance, health insurance, and the so many more things that a multi-million dollar business needs. I have paid training bills to suspended trainers. The bills are paid to the very same entity at the very same address and the very same person (stamp) endorsed the check when it was deposited.

Your example is very different.

Eric

You are right that it's not 10%. Most trainers now charge either 12% or even 13%. The extra few percentage points are for the groom, the assistant, etc.

I agree with you that the business is Asmussen's business and they will still use all of his equipment. But as far as I know, the terms of these suspensions are that the trainer is not entitled to profit from the business during the suspension. That is the point.

By the way, since Asmussen's business is a bit of a family affair, he is obviously still in daily conatct with his family. His family is obviously in daily contact with Blasi, so I would have to imagine that at the very least, Asmussen has indirect daily contact with Blasi.

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

You are right that it's not 10%. Most trainers now charge either 12% or even 13%. The extra few percentage points are for the groom, the assistant, etc.

The trainer gets 10% (the only way you do make money cause day rates don't cut it) then you have stable stakes ...which goes to the assist trainer, groom, gallop boy/girl and sometimes depending on the operation the hot walker may get some. I've often found that the help makes more than the trainer... I'm not kidding!!! Peanut Butter and Jelly are staples in a trainers home!!!

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Samm

The trainer gets 10% (the only way you do make money cause day rates don't cut it) then you have stable stakes ...which goes to the assist trainer, groom, gallop boy/girl and sometimes depending on the operation the hot walker may get some. I've often found that the help makes more than the trainer... I'm not kidding!!! Peanut Butter and Jelly are staples in a trainers home!!!

Trainers will always tell you that they don't make a profit on day rates. This is somewhat misleading. It is true that they are not making a profit after all the expenses are paid. What they don't tell you is that the expenses not only include the salaries of all the employees, but they include the trainer's salary too. The trainer's salary is included in the expenses. The trainer gets a salary. They forget to mention that when they say that they don't make anything on day money.

There are plenty of trainers out here that have 15-20 horses and win maybe 10 races a year. The total purses for all their horses is around $150,000(10% of that is only $15,000). Some of these trainers have a wife and two kids. They have a nice car and a decent house. Do you think they're surviving on $15,000 a year? Of course not. They are taking a salary of about $50,000 a year, in addition to the 10% of the purse money. So while it is true that they spend the whole $85 a day per horse, part of that money they spend is going to their salary. So it's very misleading when they say that they don't make anything off the day money.