Quote:
Originally Posted by pointman
How do you feel the cost of ownership has impacted the number of horses being run? We don't hear much on this issue, but if the cost of ownership could be decreased would it logically follow that more horses would be put into training? It seems to me the little guy is being forced out of the game or into partnerships in order to participate as an owner which could impact on the size of the stock available to race.
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I think this is a huge issue. The last year or so my sense has been that the shortage is more of owners than horses (although even when there are enough horses, there are never enough "good" ones). If horses have problems, given today's economics, they are more likely retired than brought back from injury. The economy has also impacted the claiming game, as guys seem to be more willing to jam horses than in the past; if they lose a horse, it's one less mouth to feed.