Harrisburg

[Open bridle]

I can afford to buy any yearling I want.  By not being able to compete I meant the trainers I use can’t compete as I tell them “ a positive and The horses gol. “ and the big boys have the stake drivers locked up so we are forced to use locals who for the most part are intimidated by them.  Also, where I race there are 2 levels of the stakes program. The big stables have 2 or 3 top horses and there is usually just 1 , rarely 2 divisions of the top class so the others go in the next division down so they go as fast as the lesser division.
So, it is what ot is, I’ll just race out the horses I have and then watch by the wayside.   
New owners ? Yes, a very few playboys that are keeping the breeders happy.  But some the prices you see at the auction ,I believe, are manipulated.

I agree the big stables have squeezed out a lot of the little guys. They dominate the top yearling sales and forced the less desirable yearlings into the smaller stables.   They then monopolize the Ohio stakes money and push the other better horses down to the stallion and even fair level where it becomes almost too competitive to make money with a mid level horse.

[hoosierboy]

When you got cassie getting 5% of the purchase that thing is going to go HIGHHHHHHHH

Yeap exactly that’s a $50k pay.  She never had a trotter make it to the races

[augustaandy]

the million trotter didn't look as good as his brother, I don't believe he'll be a big winner

name a top trotter Harris ever had

#82 out of Mission Brief went for $525,000, all previous 4 foals sold for a lot, did very little

#53 looked stunning and well bred, huge residual value, not as big a risk as many think

[Equus Caballus]

the million trotter didn't look as good as his brother, I don't believe he'll be a big winner

name a top trotter Harris ever had

#82 out of Mission Brief went for $525,000, all previous 4 foals sold for a lot, did very little

#53 looked stunning and well bred, huge residual value, not as big a risk as many think

Waitlifter K only finished a length back in the hambo final in 16’…

[SeattleSlew]

5 Walner horses pulling some HUGE numbers today (with 4 others > 6 figures.)

$1,000,000
$   760,000
$   525,000
$   460,000
$   450,000

Captain Corey and Perfect Stings a bit sticky.

[Scooteroo]

In my opinion spending that kind of money on a horse is fool hearty because most of them don't pan out. You'd be better off buying 4 or 5 horses at $100,000 instead of overpaying for the next potential superstar that usually ends up a bust. Going back a few years ago, Nancy Takter paid $800,000 for One Eight Hundred who turned out to be nothing special and I'm not sure he's even has earned half of that back.

[Ramone]

In my opinion spending that kind of money on a horse is fool hearty

Absolutely. Rene's mother is only buying inexpensive yearlings and they will likely pace sub 1:40.

[SeattleSlew]

In my opinion spending that kind of money on a horse is fool hearty because most of them don't pan out. You'd be better off buying 4 or 5 horses at $100,000 instead of overpaying for the next potential superstar that usually ends up a bust. Going back a few years ago, Nancy Takter paid $800,000 for One Eight Hundred who turned out to be nothing special and I'm not sure he's even has earned half of that back.

I strongly agree; however, going back to the 1800's when the wealthy would pay big$$ to be able to win street races and throughout the thoroughbred racing seasons for the past 100 years, people do not always use ROI in a strict financial sense, but enjoy the trophies and winners' circle photos, which account for at least some of the "financially" irrational bids.  For a few of the larger stables, like the Burkes and Svanstedts, their continued success over a long period of time has left them some residual values in sires and broodmares (they have then bred) who have gone on to generate good $$ on the racetrack.

Additionally, over the years, certain owners have been "generous" in granting ownership interests (sometimes just a token) and/or breedings to trainers (and even a few drivers); however those trainers and drivers do not wind up sharing the losses ;>>)

[Scooteroo]

I realize for a multi-millionaire, it's not about the money, it's more about the thrill of winning. Tony Alagna has one of the biggest stables around and many of his horses cost alot of money and turn out to be busts. He hasn't had many top horses in recent years to justify the amount of money he's spent. You'd be better off using a more low-profile trainer who can devote more time to your horses than Tony can.

[Call Sign Merlin]

$1mm for the dam of Jiggy Jog carrying a full brother or sister.  Smart move on the owners part - not sure you could sell at a better time