No wonder they can't sell Horses

Just look at the great stakes owners get now compared to 2003 -
a MR 97 was 80k- training was around R2200 pm from most smaller stables.
Yesterday a MR 92 was R112 000 but training fees from smaller stables now R6500 pm
Stakes gone up 40% in 15 years roughly yet training fees up almost 300%
Now I don't have the figures but I wonder how much tote turnover has increased from then until now!!!
I would rather remarry my ex-wife than buy a horse again as her financial pain is far less than owning a horse!
I was looking on my wall and a horse I had shares in won a Maiden in 2008 for 70k - training was around 3.5k a month
Nine years later a Maiden is 95k and with that stable I would pay almost double in training fees.

Mr Hawaii at R6500 a month I think you are on the lower end of the scale. I was chatting with a friend who has horses in one of the big yards in the Cape. Training fees are R9200. Vets bills are rarely less than R3000 a month per horse. There are additional charges for horse blankets, "race preparation" of R1500 per race, race nominations and acceptances, and fees for grooms "overtime". Then he pays 10% each to the trainer and jockey on stakes as well as 1% for the groom. On top of this 1% the groom gets a "present" if the horse wins or places.

There is a very good reason why the lower to middle market does not exist any more, the figures do not add up.

Over the Air wrote: Mr Hawaii at R6500 a month I think you are on the lower end of the scale. I was chatting with a friend who has horses in one of the big yards in the Cape. Training fees are R9200. Vets bills are rarely less than R3000 a month per horse. There are additional charges for horse blankets, "race preparation" of R1500 per race, race nominations and acceptances, and fees for grooms "overtime". Then he pays 10% each to the trainer and jockey on stakes as well as 1% for the groom. On top of this 1% the groom gets a "present" if the horse wins or places.

There is a very good reason why the lower to middle market does not exist any more, the figures do not add up.

I was making the point that smaller stables normally attract entry-level owners who now cannot join the game as the numbers are too far skewed in favour of the operator... That's the reason so many horses went unsold the other day - Your 15k turns into big numbers that you can never recover unless you are extremely lucky - The idea that is often floated is that owners get money back from a succesful punt!! HA Ha - That hardly happens - those coups that go wrong are not disscussed. No, better a punter than an owner. Rather use your 7k a month to punt other people's horses.

Is it not 12k on average now in the big centres ?

Bob Brogan wrote: Is it not 12k on average now in the big centres ?

No the smaller trainers often charge less to try and attract owners

mr hawaii wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote: Is it not 12k on average now in the big centres ?

No the smaller trainers often charge less to try and attract owners

And land up deep in the shit when the potential July winner turns out to be a squib.

And I wish I could find out how Vet bills have increased and feed costs - And then Jocks were only getting 7% if I recall now way more depending on who you use

I have heard from an owner in a big stable that the fees get put up without even consultation with the owners , imagine that happening elsewhere , makes me think , who is the real mug in this game :dry:

In Sep last, Michael O'Leary moved all sixty of his horses from the Mullins yard because his trainer increased costs by 10%, the first increase in ten years. The value of O'Leary's stock was said to be about 10 million euros.

Maybe China can save us?

Summerhill Stud owner Mick Goss, so often a pace-setter in the South African bloodstock industry, has taken the drastic step of slashing the fees of several of his stallions by between 33 and 40%.

Michael Clower writes on www.goldcircle.co.za that Gr1 winner Brave Mary’s sire Brave Tin Soldier comes down from R15 000 to R10 000 while Capetown Noir, Linngari and Willow Magic are reduced from R20 000 to R 12 000. Seemingly substantial discounts are available on others.

Goss said: “Too many horses are not making their production costs in the sales ring and we invite you to talk to us about your needs so that we can see what we can do to accommodate them. We’d like to think we have the capacity to surprise.”

But Goss has also reiterated his belief that export protocols will soon open up and in May he said: “I will be pretty bullish that we’ll have something concrete in place by December.” He was buoyed by a prominent French breeder saying that the European Union will look again at South Africa’s equine export position before the end of the year.

Multiple Gr1 winning son of Western Winter, Capetown Noir
Indeed there is growing optimism among many in South Africa that the Export Task Team will be able to make a breakthrough in the near future and the ETT has been boosted by the recent addition of Cape Thoroughbred Sales boss Adrian Todd.

It is not just in Europe that the breakthrough could come. Two months ago thoroughbrednews.com.au boss Rob Burnett wrote on this page how Hong Kong is eyeing South Africa for the purchase of 1 500 horses needed to expand the Chinese racing industry.

The Sydney-based Burnett, a regular visitor to the July and the Met, believes that there is a realistic possibility of Hong Kong admitting South African horses without first having to undergo quarantine elsewhere.

Over the Air wrote: Mr Hawaii at R6500 a month I think you are on the lower end of the scale. I was chatting with a friend who has horses in one of the big yards in the Cape. Training fees are R9200. Vets bills are rarely less than R3000 a month per horse. There are additional charges for horse blankets, "race preparation" of R1500 per race, race nominations and acceptances, and fees for grooms "overtime". Then he pays 10% each to the trainer and jockey on stakes as well as 1% for the groom. On top of this 1% the groom gets a "present" if the horse wins or places.

There is a very good reason why the lower to middle market does not exist any more, the figures do not add up.

This is more accurate and was even in place when I owned a few years ago.