Claiming a Horse

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I've decided that I want to do more than just watch and bet on the horses, it's finally time for me to be a horse owner. I've been talking with a friend of mine who is a trainer here in northern California and I've decided to go in with him and another friend to claim a horse. For those of you that have been in this business a while, what advice would you give a newbie owner? I've talked with several friends in this business and I understand the "business" side of things but I still don't know everything and would love the input of you DTers that have done this a while. Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

As strange as it may sound, some of the most consistent claming horses are often times the most unsound. If you are just looking at their Form, they may look like a relatively safe claim. But in reality you are playing russian roulette with a lot of these. Any race could be the final race of their career.

[GBBob]

I told a guy today that my biggest surprise about owning horses is how hard it is to just getting to run in a race. Whenever the phone rings and it's Chuck I figure something bad has happened. Assuming you want to run a sound horse each time, be prepared for the worse and be thrilled when you get to run.

I have claimed many horses and I usually try to adhere to two rules that I was taught by two guys that certainly know about the game.

1. Vladamir Cerin once gave me this tip. Always watch the films on a horse you are thinking of claiming. Not just his last race. But several races back. If his stride and action are not very similar. Beware. The current trainer may have done some vet work on him for his most recent race that you cannot do everytime and that could for a race or two at best mask some bigger problems that might soon resurface.

2. This one I got from Bob Bone. DO NOT claim a horse from a trainer that brings a horse to the paddock fully well knowing that horse will be claimed that day. If a guy really doesn't care if he loses his horse. Do you really want him?

3. This one's from me. There is ONE an only ONE reason to claim a horse for any price. FUN & ACTION. If making a profit is your goal. Don't do it. Chances are you won't. At one time I had all or part of 23 horses in training. I won at a 40% clip for a six month period and broke even. Claiming and then running back your claims is one of the coolest things ever invented. But it MUST be a recreational pastime done with disposable income. Pick a trainer you can interact with and have a role in the decision making process. Which race and who rides. That's the stuff that make it fun. When your horse is in invite all your friends out and make it a party day at the track.

Got Get Em!

Good Luck

VJS