What happens to the valet if his jock gets hurt? Like in the case of Santos, a bad enough injury that he has to hang them up. Does he just saddle horses for the track and the union covers him until he picks up another jock? Or is the valet out of a job too?

If by "they" you mean the partnership company, that might have been their management fee or their cut of the earnings. If you mean "they" -- the management company -- "billed" you 10% for accross the board finishes because that's what the jock got paid (or that's what they claim the jock got paid), then, something is wrong.

Eric

Eric,

They means management company as well as what they paid the jock from owners purses. They always say that is our agreement with the jocks they use. Who really knows how much the jocks actually receive from company and if the mgt company REALLY pays the groom, hot walkers and all the other people who they say they pay on the financial sheets before the owners get their share.
Ron

Got it. If you want to know the truth and the exact amount paid to the jocks you can do two things -- first, check the book. It has the schedule right there, both the Jockeys Guild schedule and that meet's schedule. Second, ask for an itemized printout from the horsemens bookkeeper.

Your partnership agreement may not allow it, but if it does get it. The entire breakdown is right there.

Eric

Thanks Eric,

That's one reason I gave up all my partnerships. Can't trust most of these guys anymore. They say one thing...charge you another!

I'll never forget my 2nd horse partnership we sold the colt to Winstar farms as they did not have a Derby horse for the 2003 season. They offered us 3/4 mil for him which we took but you cannot believe all the hands taking out their share BEFORE the owners got theirs. Even the trainer was paid 15% of the sale price (they told us). I never could figure that one out. Why the trainer would get paid off for a private sale between two racing corps???? We wondered if RV was really ever paid!

Ron

I could see a trainer getting paid. This arguement comes into play here, and the arguement is older than dirt. I've heard both sides time immemorial. Should the trainer get paid? Should the trainer not get paid? Personally, I pay it. Actually, I offer it beforehand.

In this case, why not ask the trainer? Of course you may not get the truth, but why not ask? If I had to guess, I would peg it at 10%, perhaps 5%. I would think there was an agent in on the deal as well. Plus, plus, plus.

Eric

Previously, valets in New York were paid 5 percent of money earned at that specific meet, 2.5 percent for money earned out of town, and there was no cap. Valets, whose job is to take care of a rider's personal needs as well as saddle the horses, also receive a weekly salary from the New York Racing Association, their employers, ranging from $250 to $325 a week.

Before you get on your high horse, I suggest you read the story which clearly states what the valets get from NYRA.

same reason that Versailles, KY is pronounced versales

The same reason that, in central Kentucky, Versailles is pronounced "Vur-sales " and not "Ver-sigh".

Edit: oh, yeah, a reason: I suspect it is because, in the 1800's, young men of a certain class, coming of age in places like Virginia, were sent to Europe for a grand tour. Where they learned to pronounce words like "valet" and "Versailles". If one was not of that class, but in the military, or a farmer, or an adventurer, or wanted by the law, one often went to the far west - Kentuckee.