More money for horsemen should make the chances better for some profit, BUT... In NY the union controls on who you may buy hay/feed from, which vets you may use, which farriers etc are killing smaller operations. If purses go up, they raise fees but a guy like Tood can pass the expense on to owners where smaller operations either eat the cost or see owners drop out.
I agree about the plight of smaller operations but as a "free market" supporter I have concerns about limiting the size of some operations. Limiting stalls makes some sense. Guys like Todd in NY and others around the country can lieterally "control" a condition. last summer at SAR, Todd had a horse in almost every open allowance race carded. He tends to complain that a particlar condition never fills but it wont when he has 1/2 the horses on the grounds who are eligible. The secretary then runs around threatening smaller outfits that if they don't run their cheaper claiming mare in some 3other than allowance to fill a race for Todd or Shug that they'll lose stalls. So the guy takes a horse ready to earn some $$$ in a $20 claiming and runs her with stakes mares, gets creamed and then has "no horse" 2 weeks later when her condition shows up. How does that help horsemen? Explain to the owner that your mare is a sacrificial lamb for billionaires like Tabor and Phipps.
I know many people who have "invested" in various partnerships and I know many people involved in managing/selling shares etc. Attend a seminar or "sales meeting" and the first thing you hear is "Don't bring me the mortgage money. Be prepared to lose it all..." The business model is flawed and must be repared, in NY are elsewhere. Sure you may hit a home run but even if you do you are lucky to break even. I heard an interview years ago with one of the partners in Captain Bodgit. Here's a major G1 horse, second in the KY Derby and the owner "broke even" before proceeds from the sale of the colt for stud. You want to know why stars are retired early? Even wealthy owners cannot afford this game! Why should even men wealthier than most of us here cough up millions a year while losing money racing when the shed is calling? They didn't get rich by making charitable donations to "the sport."
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