How Does Driver Assignment Work ?

[makingit]

When the trainer puts the horse into entry box, does he also mark down who he wants to drive that horse? Or, after the race is full, the trainer puts down who he wants to drive and the driver selects the horse he wants? How do the drivers know if that horse wasn't already selected by another driver? Does the trainer have the final say? Does the race secretary ever assign drivers and get the trainer mad. Does the trainer have to O K the assigned driver that the secretary assigns. I have no clue and may be complicated but I would like to learn. Is it done in person, over a telephone call, or computer/internety?

[MTP1972]

When the horses are entered the trainer will put down his 1st choice as driver, sometimes a 2nd choice. When a driver is put down on multiple horses, he will call the judges and tell them which horse he'll drive. Sometimes drivers are committed to certain trainers and will almost always take their horse even when he listed on multiple horses in the race. If a trainer's 1st and 2nd choice of drivers are already taken, it's his job to select an available driver.

[makingit]

Thanks. Sounds pretty clear. Do you know if the tracks use a website for the trainers to check on who the drivers selected if listed by numerous trainers or does the trainer have to keep calling the race office on the telephone?

[MTP1972]

The entrees normally come out anywhere from 3 to 5 days in advance depending on the track. When all the drivers have made their choice if any horse's still need a driver the judges will contact the trainer unless he calls himself to find out.

[makingit]

Thank you !

[Trigger]

I think you'll have a ball on this site, all the basic rules about entering a horse and trainer and driver policies:

https://playmeadowlands.com/horsemen-information/

Plop is definitely the low down, the work around and the reality, these guys life it.  While typically universal, each track might have small differences in their handling. 

[makingit]

Thank you. At Yonkers tonight Bartlett won the first 5 Races all on favorite. I don't know if he made them the favorite by driving them or they were the best horse in the race no matter who drove them. All won pretty handely. I see he switch off the Engblom horse in the 5th after driving the first two races for Engblom. I guess Bartlett knew what horse was better and had a better chance to make more money. I thought a driver would be more loyal to a certain trainer if the trainer puts him up on good horse. You think Engblom is mad at Bartlett for not taking his horse in the 5th after coming in 1st in the first two race on Engblom's horses?

[Trigger]

Thank you. At Yonkers tonight Bartlett won the first 5 Races all on favorite. I don't know if he made them the favorite by driving them or they were the best horse in the race no matter who drove them. All won pretty handely. I see he switch off the Engblom horse in the 5th after driving the first two races for Engblom. I guess Bartlett knew what horse was better and had a better chance to make more money. I thought a driver would be more loyal to a certain trainer if the trainer puts him up on good horse. You think Engblom is mad at Bartlett for not taking his horse in the 5th after coming in 1st in the first two race on Engblom's horses?

Of course not, once in a while the driver change doesn't work and you get off a winner.  Unless they're contractually obligated it happens all the time, you can't be on 3 horses for 3 trainers and if the trainer has 2 in that are your you can't drive both, typically the trainer holds no ill will.  They have horses in different states same driver, hey different scenarios.

Long time owners no but some owners may get angry though if a driver jumps, the trainer will have to deal with that fall out.

[makingit]

Appreciated.  I always like to get the inside behind the scenes stories.  Interesting sport/business/hobby !

[Trigger]

Appreciated.  I always like to get the inside behind the scenes stories.  Interesting sport/business/hobby !

If they're gambling sometimes they'll go with a "B" driver for obvious payout reasons.  Yonkers, the pools are dead and the purses are big, but some of them a greedy pigs and want it all.

[firhill]

Most drivers feel entitled, in that it's OK for them to choose another horse over yours but GOD forbid you switch from them to another driver (more so if it leaves them with no drive in the race).

I say what's good for the goose is good for the gander though I agree that if the driver won the previous start on the horse he should probably get the drive again.

[racing123]

if a driver is listed on multiple horses, does he select which one he'll drive before or after the post position draw??

[MTP1972]

He doesn't know he's named on multiple horses until after the entrees come out which are in post position order

[MCR]

Horses are entered in to race by the trainer who can list up to 3 drivers.  Wether the driver is his choice or owners who knows.  Most big stables have their go to guy.  After the draw you see who is entered and with who listed to drive. At the point if a driver is listed on multiple horses he calls the judges and makes the choice of who he wants to drive.  At that point the trainer can select from who is left available

[AgentQ]

90% of the drivers are detrimental, in one form or another, to the sport both from an owners perspective as well as the gambler. As an owner, I find them to be unbearable to the point where i rarely even acknowledge their presence when traversing the paddock or at the local sales.