HORSEPLOP.COM
General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Open bridle on August 09, 2025, 10:53:35 AM
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I think the greed of the breeders have push supply past demand. The owners base is shrinking. The big stables are the only ones left with the deep pockets to try and prop up prices. The little guy can only afford a fraction of a horse now. The training bills are too expensive and it's almost impossible to make a profit.
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The high end will continue to be there - the stock market is at ATH’s and there was an insane amount of wealth created post 2020. This group is largely not affected by inflation as well
I have expected the middle and lower end stock to suffer for the last few years for all the reasons you outlined. That has not really been the case - maybe as people trickle down the heirarchy - one time high end buyers now become mid tier and so on. Partnerships are more prevalent and that also may be a reason
You are seeing fewer trainers in the mid to low tier - many who have been doing it for generations. In Ohio you basically have to have grand circuit stock to race at the raceways (open II trot last night went in 50) and even a 204 2 year old trotter is likely 3rd or 4th at the fairs when guys drop sire stake stock in for a weekday cash grab
Like everywhere else money continues to get consolidated into the few
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How does a trainer talk to a prospective trotting yearling buyer about powerful breeding when a Six Pack (up until the hambo not much of a sire) out of a pacing mare blows away all that power of the high cost Walners, Chapter Ones, Muscle Hills, and such away ????
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The thoroughbred sales are setting all time records. I think standardbred sales increase also showing the increasing interest in the sport. tmbz1
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How does a trainer talk to a prospective trotting yearling buyer about powerful breeding when a Six Pack (up until the hambo not much of a sire) out of a pacing mare blows away all that power of the high cost Walners, Chapter Ones, Muscle Hills, and such away ????
Name the last high priced colt that won the Hambo. The highest priced horses usually aren’t the most successful but buyers keep paying for them.
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More than one breeding farm routinely runs up their horses in the ring, especially if they or their spotters find harris or Luc Blais on one. Just criminal year after year and yes Ive bought many that went past my bid only to come back to me. I'll never buy from two in particular and have shared that info with a couple of friends that shop at the yearling sales. As for this year, i suspect pacers not dual eligible will suffer the most. The Europeans always ensure a strong trotting market. As for owners that I know, myself included, nobody has the interest they once they for the sport. Spiralling costs, empty grandstands and the reality that you either hit it big or you break your horse down trying. A once chancy proposition is now Russian roulette and I just can't justify torching 100+K annually for that kind of risk. When you take Determination, Harris and Jacobs out of the pick it would get ugly quick for most farms not named Hanover.
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I bought into Downbytheseasides the first few years. I don't remember there being maybe 25 available between Ohio and Lexington. Paid a hefty price for both for a small time owner and never came close to breaking even. Last year I counted at least 76 just between those two venues. Who knows how many this year and they haven't been that dominate at the stakes level anymore either. So who is going to paid a premium price for one anymore. Not me.
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I bought into Downbytheseasides the first few years. I don't remember there being maybe 25 available between Ohio and Lexington. Paid a hefty price for both for a small time owner and never came close to breaking even. Last year I counted at least 76 just between those two venues. Who knows how many this year and they haven't been that dominate at the stakes level anymore either. So who is going to paid a premium price for one anymore. Not me.
Seaside is an extremely tough sire to buy from . He throws a huge range of performers from stars to complete garbage with little in the middle . A lot are either great or no good . That’s actually bad because when you miss on one , he REALLY makes you miss, and generally speaking you had to pay a lot so it really hurts . Ask me how I know . lol . I think his prices are on the verge of tanking . Look at his all time top performers too . 7 or so of his all time top earners were in 1 stable , and that’s Burke . Burke is really the only one that’s had a ton of success with him and most of them actually came in his first crop