West Point, McLaughlin split

[Linny]

DrugS, while I am sure your stats are right, remember that owners don't care about ROI when they are running in G1 races. WPT cares about win percentage in allowance and stakes races. VOLJACK is right about his babies this summer but when asked prior to the meet McLaughlin said he doubted he'd have a shot at a repeat of his title. He didn't think he had the stock. Alot of those Stonerside bred Darley babies are bred for 2 turns and a 3yo campaign.

WPT has very high markups and though they have had alot of success, if you get in on the wrong horse you are quickly out of money and have to start over.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Linny

DrugS, while I am sure your stats are right, remember that owners don't care about ROI when they are running in G1 races. WPT cares about win percentage in allowance and stakes races.

I never said that his ROI stats had anything to do with any of this involving West Point. I'm sure it didn't.

Just pointing out that his production versus expectation has sunk to without a doubt rock bottom of his entire training career.

That for a guy who untill last year, year in and year out since he first started training, was at the very top of all trainers throughout the country on that type of measurement.

[Linny]

He's admitted that he is having a less than stellar year, by his own standard. The point was that ROI and winning percentage don't correspond. Unless an owner is a big bettor, ROI takes a back seat to wins. K McL has more for Darley now that they bought out the Stonerside stock and clearly that's usually a good way to make money and win races. The problem is that if any of them are really good, they get exiled to Dubai and go to Rick Mettee when they get back. If they come back bad, McLaughlin gets them back...
Hushion is a very good trainer and his barn was once known as a "betting" barn, esp. when Barry Schwartz was his main client.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Linny

The point was that ROI and winning percentage don't correspond. Unless an owner is a big bettor, ROI takes a back seat to wins.

ROI is without question a much better gauge of how skilled a trainer is than win percentage. It's not even remotely close. But If a trainers reputation becomes too strong it becomes harder to keep the ROI up. If a trainer is not respected, it becomes easier to keep it up.

You are right that owners favor win percentage and virtually all have next to no understanding of ROI. Which is why win percentage becomes a far more important gauge for trainers. Guys like Jamie Ness can win at 32% and still have one of the absolute best ROI's in the land.

It's not just trainers ... a jockey agent should carefully pick and choose to manage his win percentage. Even if it means just riding two or three races a week .. it's better than going out there on 10/1's and 15/1's and killing your riders percentages.

[NoLuvForPletch]

This is sincere, so please don't take it the wrong way. But, I was walking with/by/along side of KM a few times up at Saratoga. It looks like the MS is getting a bit worse for him. You can see it in his walk. That might be contributing to his desire to downsize.

My aunt has it and it's awful to watch people go through what MS does to you. He is an inspiration to many people.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by NoLuvForPletch

This is sincere, so please don't take it the wrong way. But, I was walking with/by/along side of KM a few times up at Saratoga. It looks like the MS is getting a bit worse for him. You can see it in his walk. That might be contributing to his desire to downsize.

My aunt has it and it's awful to watch people go through what MS does to you. He is an inspiration to many people.

From all accounts he is as classy and honest person as the game has.
I started following him real close around 2004-2005 back when you could get a good price on his runners. Hes an awesome trainer with any type of horse.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

From all accounts he is as classy and honest person as the game has.
I started following him real close around 2004-2005 back when you could get a good price on his runners. Hes an awesome trainer with any type of horse.

I say you can be a classy honest person and still medicate a horse improperly..What say u? I hope nothing but better health and a cure for MS for KM... With that said he is a friggin JUICER