Norman gets six-month suspension

outofthebox · #1 12-04-2006, 01:08 PM

I'm sure that Asmussen and Norman haven't thrown their condition books away. I'm sure they are all marked with all the horses races picked out. And about no communication with the Asst's, that just isn't happening. Now how the money is handled, that i don't know.
I remember one summer at Saratoga a certain trainer serving days actually paid a house owner some $$$ to use his backyard on the backside of the Oklahoma track so he could train his horses. Nyra knew about it but couldnt do anything about it since he wasn't on their property...

Scav · #2 12-04-2006, 01:41 PM

as far as getting paid, come on people, please don't be nuive(?) enough to think that Assmussen isn't getting his due, it is called, as Randy Moss said, "Straight cash homie", and if it isn't that, like the owner can't give him a 'bonus' or Blasi couldn't 'loan' Assmussen some money.....Play the game, or get played, PLAYA......

Rupert Pupkin · #3 12-04-2006, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

as far as getting paid, come on people, please don't be nuive(?) enough to think that Assmussen isn't getting his due, it is called, as Randy Moss said, "Straight cash homie", and if it isn't that, like the owner can't give him a 'bonus' or Blasi couldn't 'loan' Assmussen some money.....Play the game, or get played, PLAYA......

We're talking about serious money in this case. Asmussen horses will probably make around $4 million over 6 months. That means that Blasi gets $400,000. Asmussen can't force Blasi to give him the money back. I don't think that Asmussen would ask him for the money any way, but let's just say that he did. If Blasi refuses to give it to him, there's nothing Asmussen can do. What would you do if you were Blasi? Would you give him the money back? I doubt it. You would be better of walking away with the $400,000 and then going out on your own. Assistants usually go out on their own eventually any way. That would be a sure way to get a guy to quit if you tried to force him to give you $400,000 back.

All this talk is silly because I don't think that Asmussen is going to ask Blasi for the money.

#4 12-04-2006, 04:04 PM

I'm stunned that he didn't get more time!!! Meche was suspended for appox. 1 year for not going to the whip... WTH??? This guy is banned in Calf. already! Now he has 2 positives and he gets only 6 months??? He should be getting life!!!! He has laughed in the face of the racing commisions!!!

Rupert Pupkin · #5 12-04-2006, 04:26 PM

This actually reminds me of a story about a trainer who I will not name. I'm not going to go into any details because I don't want to say anything that might give away the trainer's identity. I don't want to get sued.

A certain trainer decided that he no longer wanted horses running in his name for financial reasons. He did not want to show the income. I'm not going to say why. Anyway, all the horses started running under the name of a close associate of this trainer. They had a deal where the associate would eventually give the trainer the money back. So the horses ran in the associate's name for at least a year or two. To make a long story short, the trainer and the associate had a huge falling out and the associate refused to give the trainer any of the money. There was nothing the trainer could do. He had no recourse. They had a secret agreement that was not legal, so he didn't get paid a dime.

ELA · #6 12-04-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

We're talking about serious money in this case. Asmussen horses will probably make around $4 million over 6 months. That means that Blasi gets $400,000. Asmussen can't force Blasi to give him the money back. I don't think that Asmussen would ask him for the money any way, but let's just say that he did. If Blasi refuses to give it to him, there's nothing Asmussen can do. What would you do if you were Blasi? Would you give him the money back? I doubt it. You would be better of walking away with the $400,000 and then going out on your own. Assistants usually go out on their own eventually any way. That would be a sure way to get a guy to quit if you tried to force him to give you $400,000 back.

All this talk is silly because I don't think that Asmussen is going to ask Blasi for the money.

In all due respect, you are way off here; on many levels.

Eric

Rupert Pupkin · #7 12-04-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELA

In all due respect, you are way off here; on many levels.

Eric

What am I getting wrong? Please fill me in.

ELA · #8 12-04-2006, 04:51 PM

I wouldn't even know where to start. Just for starters -- it was and still is Steve Assmusen's barn, as a business. It's his business, his operation, his equiptment, his toothbrush that they use to apply hoof dressing -- everything is his. He got suspended. He still owns the business. He was the one who put Blasi there and gave him the "job" so to speak. Also, it's not 10% period. Ask any trainer if they are "keeping" the entire 10%. Especially in an operation this size.

So, who do you think the owners are paying their bills to? Prior to the suspension let's say the owners were paying their bills to the "Steve Assmusen Stable" or some corporate business name (I don't know because I don't have horses with him). So all of a sudden -- Scott Blasi opens up a new business and is geared up, 100% ready to hit the ground running -- payroll, workers comp insurance, liability insurance, health insurance, and the so many more things that a multi-million dollar business needs. I have paid training bills to suspended trainers. The bills are paid to the very same entity at the very same address and the very same person (stamp) endorsed the check when it was deposited.

Your example is very different.

Eric

Rupert Pupkin · #9 12-04-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELA

I wouldn't even know where to start. It was and still is Steve Assmusen's barn. It's his business, his operation, his equiptment, his toothbrush that they use to apply hoof dressing -- everything is his. He got suspended. He still owns the business. He was the one who put Blasi there and gave him the "job" so to speak. Also, it's not 10% period. Ask any trainer if they are "keeping" the entire 10%. Especially in an operation this size.

So, who do you think the owners are paying their bills to? Prior to the suspension let's say the owners were paying their bills to the "Steve Assmusen Stable" or some corporate business name (I don't know because I don't have horses with him). So all of a sudden -- Scott Blasi opens up a new business and is geared up, 100% ready to hit the ground running -- payroll, workers comp insurance, liability insurance, health insurance, and the so many more things that a multi-million dollar business needs. I have paid training bills to suspended trainers. The bills are paid to the very same entity at the very same address and the very same person (stamp) endorsed the check when it was deposited.

Your example is very different.

Eric

You are right that it's not 10%. Most trainers now charge either 12% or even 13%. The extra few percentage points are for the groom, the assistant, etc.

I agree with you that the business is Asmussen's business and they will still use all of his equipment. But as far as I know, the terms of these suspensions are that the trainer is not entitled to profit from the business during the suspension. That is the point.

By the way, since Asmussen's business is a bit of a family affair, he is obviously still in daily conatct with his family. His family is obviously in daily contact with Blasi, so I would have to imagine that at the very least, Asmussen has indirect daily contact with Blasi.