Norman gets six-month suspension

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by ELA

At $85 a day -- you have to be talking about a major circuit. I have a high % trainer in NY and he is charging $85 a day. There is so much more to this and it's an exercise in futility to attempt to have a holistic discussion. Even if you are correct, and I am not saying you are, because not every trainer in North America is running their business like you say they are, there is still a misnomer that the trainer gets to keep the entire 10%. Some may. No arguement there. However, due to operations and structure, some don't. Also, the alleged $50k in salary, yeah, that's the deal breaker -- in the NY/Metro area -- covers the mortgage, real estate taxes, (and maybe the nice car or a portion thereof) on the "decent" house where this hypothetical trainer lives and sends his hypothetical kids.

I think the entire discussion is taking place in this trainers home town -- "Fantasy Land". LOL.

Eric

I was talking about Southern California. I'm not sure what you are saying. There are plenty of trainers not only in Southern California, but on small circuits whose horses are making under $300,000 a year. Do you think these guys are making under $30,000 a year? If you think they get less than 10%, then you are confirming what I am saying. If they make less than 10% and they aren't taking a salary, then how do you think they make a living?

It is obviously more expensive to train out here than other places. We have three trainers out here right now, one charges $100 a day, one charges $90 a day, and the other charges $80 a day. The one who charges $100 a day has a night watchman, so his expenses are a little higher.

Anyway, I know several trainers out here and I know approximately how much money they make a year on average. The bottom line is that most of these guys make around $10 a day ( give or take a couple of dollars) per horse. That is where their salary comes from. So if a trainer out here has 40 horses, he's probably making around $140,000 a year($400 a day, 7 days a week) just on the day money. If his horses earn $1 million for the year, then he makes an additional $90,000-$100,000 for a grand total of somewhere between $230,000-$240,000 a year. My trainers charge between 12-13%, so the groom, assistant trainer, etc. get a piece of the purse and the trainer is still left with close to 10%. Since the exercise rider, foreman, etc. may get a piece of the purse, the trainer's share could drop down to around 9%.