REASONS TO BUY A HARNESS HORSES,,REASONS NOT TO BUY HARNESS HORSES

[LUCPARK]

PLS POST GOOD POINTS IF ANY  IN OWNING

AND THERE MANY BAD POINTS,,

MY COMMENTS WILL FOLLOW LATER

PLS POST PLOPPERS

[Sweet]

Even though it's a correctly used term, it feels so unnatural "owning" another creature like they're property even though they are.

I'd love to have the sire and dam, and have a family if they could.

Maybe they'd even race only if they were 100% healthy and above their peer competition so they wouldn't have to be pushed.

Sad with all the horses that need a good home and are retired - they didn't, can no longer perform, then treated poorly, and have a bad or no future.

I appreciate that your horses always landed in a good home, racing, not racing, or stayed with you.

[dougie]

PLS POST GOOD POINTS IF ANY  IN OWNING

AND THERE MANY BAD POINTS,,

MY COMMENTS WILL FOLLOW LATER

PLS POST PLOPPERS

When I first got my horses at Pompano, my two partners and myself were so excited. Going to the barn to watch them train in the early morning. Breakfast at the track kitchen. Chatting with trainers and drivers at the qualifiers was so much fun. We soon realized that owning four cheap claimers was the wrong thing to do. But despite us losing money, I wouldn't give up the experience of owning horses. I just tell people now who want to "jump in the game" to have enough money for at least 6 months of bills. And to have a good relationship with the trainer, groom, vet, and farrier. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And don't be a schmuck either. Most "investors" lose money on this venture. But despite that fact, you can still have a great time enjoying owning horses.

[Kirby's Ace]

Very hard to be a new owner wanting to get into the game. It almost forces you to seek out and hire a chemical trainer to make bills and a few bucks. Real horseman trainers are facing a uphill battle to just get the owner even unless you have one with unlimited funds..

[toothman]

PRO:
Presumably, we're talking about the 70'd thru 90's when a friday night crowd drew 15-20000 which created a buzz of excitement under the lights as soon as you walked in. 
And if you were a railbird and saw the drivers silks under the lights and were able to absorb the wafting "aroma", you may have gotten the bug..
and if you lurked around the winners circle wondering what the "thrill of victory" feels like, you got the bug...
And if you were an excitement junkie and/ or a gambler, it doesnt matter if its a 5 claimerf or a 50k claimer, nothing beats the thrill of winning and cashing on your own horse...
Being around the backstretch and making friends and acquaintances of some hardwoirking people who love the animals...that rubs off...Bringing kids and friends to feed the horses down the shedrow...and developing a relationship with your horse..
next thing you purchase a baby (horse, that is, I'm no trafficker) and watch her clear each hurdle on the way to making her race track debut--what could be better than a win?
But for me, it was the ability to actually participate at whatever level- walking him,  up to jogging him or even participating in an amateur or exhibition race.
Thats my pros--done typing...

[JT]

Great topic Rocco.. good luck at Hoosier this year by the way.
I've posted this on here before, but what got me into harness racing the most, even more then growing up in Delaware,and even though our high school is nicknamed the pacers ..was my grandparents and parents. They were small time owners when I was just a little JT. I think the most they owned at one time was about 10. Some of my best memories as a kid were riding in my grandparents old El Camino and traveling the state of Ohio to watch their horses race. All the kids wanted to ride rides, I wanted to be in the barns and grandstand. The look on my Grandfather's face when one of his horses won was priceless. Going out to the farm to watch them train. Also my parents calling me in sick to school during LBJ week
So to answer your question,  the best part of owning is the memories that are made with family and friends

[BrokenHeadPole]

Purses are very good at many tracks. But an owner's fear of paying $5000 to $6000 training bills is real. We'll never know the true #'s. But there are more horses on deals at many of the tracks than people would imagine.

[Checked Up]

To buy I believe that 1st and foremost is "Love for the game " !  A reason not to buy is"To make money ". I also think that it's very important to know someone who is already successful in the sport THAT IS HONEST to answers your questions and bounce ideas off of!

[tumbleweed]

To buy I believe that 1st and foremost is "Love for the game " !  A reason not to buy is"To make money ". I also think that it's very important to know someone who is already successful in the sport THAT IS HONEST to answers your questions and bounce ideas off of!

Very true assessment!

[rainman2]

To buy I believe that 1st and foremost is "Love for the game " !  A reason not to buy is"To make money ". I also think that it's very important to know someone who is already successful in the sport THAT IS HONEST to answers your questions and bounce ideas off of!

100% correct!   

My first experience was in 2004!

I talked my girlfriend at the tine(RIP) into going into partnership on a $ 4000 claimers. I told her it was a losing proposition, but she went through with it knowing the results ahead of time. She enjoyed the experience as she knew very little about harness racing.  Our first trainer had the time for us to answer questions and get insight. It also wasn’t a business deal. We went to dinner occasionally as well as other events. We also bred a horse before she passed away. My current trainer took and broke him sight unseen and not even meeting me. The best experience of my life. I got to learn more as I got better horses to own. He also takes time to answer back as to how the horses are doing as well as questions in the past of harness racing including his experiences. I also got to hitch a few rides on race day with him to watch the horses I owned a part of race. How many trainers would do this!
I’m having the best experience my life now. I get a chance to meet the other partners in the stable. It’s more of an extended family where everyone roots everyone else on as we all have different partners on different horses. No animosity at all. 
Find the right trainer and you can have fun!  As my trainer says-as long as you don’t get hurt financially, it’s a good thing.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to PM me here.