Excuses given by trainers

What are the best excuses given by a trainer to you for a disapointing run. Here's a couple to start with and what was really meant.


Needs more ground ( Truth - about six feet of ground should suffice )

Educational run ( Truth - It is you and not the horse who should be wiser after the rum )

Should improve next run ( Truth - if it doesn't we're stuffed )



Trainers are most welcome to contribute to this thread.

Was green truth we sent it every week to the pens and grass but still cant run

"needs more ground" "needs gelded" "poor ride by the jockey" "needs blinkers" "remove blinkers" "did not act in going" "going too hard, feeling his joints" " will try over the jumps" "will try Bloemfontien?"

"hangs badly, suggest a piece of led in the left ear", "how do we insert"? "a gun usually works the best"

"sorry but its a piece of shit" "thank you for your honesty"

cheers Mark, keep them coming.

She just needs time to mature(it's a colt!!)

Honest horses...dishonest game...money talks

What i am about to write is sad/funny but true.


About 15 years ago myself and some partners took a horse to Andre Kotze. the horse in question had been with Mike Azzie and arrived at Andres yard in imppecable condition and ready to run.
we explained that after its last start the jockey had said "stick blinkers on"

Andre said "blinkers is for moffies"

When asking Andre about feed and supplements we were told " my horses eat miellies and thats that"

we moved on

Will battle to win a race. Will try and sell it as a hack.Couldn't find a buyer. Buys it himself. Wins 3 races with it. Excuse: it had an absess under the hove, and was a rig, only found out later.

stopped the horse,heard rumours about all the money you where having on and lost my bottle