- This topic has 5 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by
.
- Posts
I am considering venturing into NH ownership for the first time. Whilst I live in northern England, I also have connections in Ireland.
I obviously have favourite trainers and have drawn up a shortlist on both sides of the Irish Sea taking into account records, costs etc.
Has anyone got any views, or even any experiences that would lead them to recommend one place over the otherOnly views, no experience I’m sorry to say. And the views are fairly obvious; not too much insight.
I think it all comes down to enjoyment – yours, of course. You will be spending a lot of money for it, so it has to be a lot more fun than nuisance.
Where can you find a trainer you like so much you know that he/she will help you enjoy it.
Would you enjoy travelling to Ireland, just to see your horse(s) canter in the morning, or would you prefer a thirty/sixty minute drive?
There are fewer days racing in Ireland, but higher levels of prize money.
I wish you all the best of luck with your project. Have fun.
It all depends what you want out of ownership:
a) see your horse run regularly
b) a good gamble
c) monetary success in terms of prize money (still highly unlikely wherever it’s trained)
If it were to be c) you’d be better off in France and b) is something you can do in the UK or Ireland whilst a) would probably be easier in the UK.
I bought shares in a pointer last Spring as I love Point-To-Pointing, whether I bought shares in a rules horse or a pointer I would be unlikely to make a profit on the horse and as such I’d prefer to see a horse running at a variety of different courses, it’s with a very good trainer and with a group of lads who love their raicng, form study (both rules and pointing) and who I’ve plenty in common with whilst the horse showed ability under rules and was rated in the low 100’s (competitive off that mark too) but just needed a step up in trip to 3m+ which he’s done quite successfully, only run once for us but he was 2nd to a useful horse with plenty of winners in behind that day.
Do you know who’s on your shortlist in Ireland? Chances are if it’s a Northern trainer – say Roy Wilson, Gordon Elliott, Jimmy Lambe etc. then they’ll be keen to run the horse in the UK anyway, particularly at the Northern courses so you’d have the best of both words.
As it is I’d massively recommend a very very good young trainer in Wexford in Colin Bowe – he trains a mix of pointers and rules horses and has an exceptionally good record with Mares. I appreciate that’s not what you asked for in the opening post but it’s another suggestion if he’s not already on your list.
Martin
I’ve always said if I could afford a horse it would go to Paul Nolan’s yard, but that won’t be for a while!!
However, if i could afford now, and I wasn’t McManus and didn’t own 99.9% of animals that might possibly be equine, I would want somewhere i could go and see, and if something went wrong, I could drive up and talk over options, rather than do it over the phone.
I’d see if you have any good, not necessarily big yards like Nicholls or Pipe, but a nice yard, with decent staff who’ll look after you and the horse, within an hour/hour and a half of you.Most trainers will be pleasant and friendly so long as you make regular payments.I would suggest that you visit about five or six yards before making up your mind.Get used to talking with trainers.Talk about money and payments.How much and how often.Ask for a copy of the contract with details of added value.Schedule a visit at their convenience.Speak to the racing authorities in general and get a feel for the personalities of the trainers.Avoid a yard with Arab connections.You will be small fish in big pond.Personally I prefer lady trainers they seem to do better in customer service and treatment,more of a feeling for what an owner wants.Don’t let trainers pick horses for you to buy,(they may pick ones for you to look at).Have someone who knows horses with you when talking to trainers.If not I would get to know someone quick. Perhaps the local vet.Trainers buy horses and pass them on. They want good horses so what they buy will normally be healthy Sometimes there may be the danger that you,a new owner will get the left overs.If more than one horse spread them around.It keeps trainers real.Spend some seious time before buying the horse and picking the trainer getting your expectations clear.By the way how much profit did you make on your last vacation? That is the way with a racehorse.He is for pleasure not profit.
Given the way the economy has gone over here, there are plenty of Irish trainers who will be able to cut you a good deal at the moment.
I’d second Irish Stamp’s reccomendation of Colin Bowe. Paul Flynn is another small young trainer on the up. He has a good record with his English raiders too.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.