Will Willie Travel?

[pmacdaddy]

Chuck and Steve are certainly the ones calling all the shots. So any comments we make are really just points for discussion.

Think a big part of what's going on is some education for many folks that have not been involved in ownership before. Been a great experience thus far and hope to lean more as we progress.

As long as stupid questions don't bother the bosses, don't see how discussing them can be a bad thing.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by pmacdaddy

Chuck and Steve are certainly the ones calling all the shots. So any comments we make are really just points for discussion.

Think a big part of what's going on is some education for many folks that have not been involved in ownership before. Been a great experience thus far and hope to lean more as we progress.

As long as stupid questions don't bother the bosses, don't see how discussing them can be a bad thing.

so funny, while you were posting, i was as well--similar thinking! whadya know

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by pmacdaddy

Chuck and Steve are certainly the ones calling all the shots. So any comments we make are really just points for discussion.

Think a big part of what's going on is some education for many folks that have not been involved in ownership before. Been a great experience thus far and hope to lean more as we progress.

As long as stupid questions don't bother the bosses, don't see how discussing them can be a bad thing.

i had NO idea what kind of expenses were involved.
they're not stupid question, to those of us that DON'T know. i'm learning every step of the ride and the ride has been great fun so far.

[Riot]

I think when one goes back and reads through the original posts, where the concept of this partnership was first offered on this board, it's pretty clear what it was all about, and who would be risking the most: financially, professionally, etc.

Frankly, I figured that, with our budget, we'd get a (hopefully) serviceably sound claimer, that we would run a few times, all meet up at the track and see, have fun with, then lose back to the claim box, 60 days off, etc. Certainly that expectation is all I hoped for from the partnership.

The good point was made that to get a horse of Sumwonlovesyou's caliber is indeed not to be expected routinely, but I think everyone here does realize that this isn't the norm. Quite the austute move on Chuck's part, and we have been lucky that she's turned out better than we could have hoped for.

Sure, the harsh realities can hit home every time you go into the barn first thing in the morning and look in the stall, every time the horse takes a step on the track in training. Horses break, horses colic - nobody here is that ignorant of reality.

Yes, we've had a darn good ride so far, better than I know I expected - and that is what makes it all the MORE exciting for all of us!

The partners know we owe Steve and Chuck a huge debt for allowing us to have this fun - I'd guess both of them worry more about how "the partners" are doing, that we are having fun, even moreso than we worry that the venture they launched is successful for their sakes.

I've owned (non-race) horses most of my adult life, and I've made and lost money on them, and made and lost dreams and hopes on them. That's life with animals. You can be in it as a business (good luck with that - what happened to sport for sports sake, btw? ), but you don't last long, or gain much happiness from it, unless you love the sport, and the animals themselves for their own intrinsic worth.

So nothing is going to stop me from enjoying the pure exhilaration one feels when it's going right! And having 60 new friends to share it with just makes it a helluva lot more fun!

[satan's twin]

It is unrealistic for anyone other than the partners to absorb the expenses for this girl. To expect Chuck to eat additional expense for shipping one horse for a specific race is nuts. Each owner's expectation of a financial benefit that comes with "ownership" in this horse should be nothing more than the free hat they got if they came to watch the horse's last race. (As if he hasn't done enough already, I'm sure Byk got punched in the pants for the cost of the hats, also!) It would be wonderful if this horse could travel and compete at the next level. Unless she performs ridiculously well in her next race or unless the partners step forward to eat the travel expenses, Sumwon's next Summer Tour '07 performance should be at Churchill, if they write a race that fits for her, or Arlington (where she can be shipped to for free between these tracks.)

As far as shipping wee Willie to ride, FedEx has a "100 lb.weight restriction special" we may be able to get him on for $79.00, providing he stays real quiet in that big carton they have!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by satan's twin

It is unrealistic for anyone other than the partners to absorb the expenses for this girl. To expect Chuck to eat additional expense for shipping one horse for a specific race is nuts.

That's up to Chuck alone, isn't it?

As far as shipping wee Willie to ride, FedEx has a "100 lb.weight restriction special" we may be able to get him on for $79.00, providing he stays real quiet in that big carton they have!

I like how you think!

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by satan's twin

It is unrealistic for anyone other than the partners to absorb the expenses for this girl. To expect Chuck to eat additional expense for shipping one horse for a specific race is nuts. Each owner's expectation of a financial benefit that comes with "ownership" in this horse should be nothing more than the free hat they got if they came to watch the horse's last race. (As if he hasn't done enough already, I'm sure Byk got punched in the pants for the cost of the hats, also!) It would be wonderful if this horse could travel and compete at the next level. Unless she performs ridiculously well in her next race or unless the partners step forward to eat the travel expenses, Sumwon's next Summer Tour '07 performance should be at Churchill, if they write a race that fits for her, or Arlington (where she can be shipped to for free between these tracks.)

As far as shipping wee Willie to ride, FedEx has a "100 lb.weight restriction special" we may be able to get him on for $79.00, providing he stays real quiet in that big carton they have!

The partnership was set up so that the partners don't have to absorb the expenses on the horse. That is the beauty of it for us and why Chuck and Steve have full say on everything she does and why Chuck gets 50% of her winnings. Many of us in the northeast haven't had the chance to go see her race yet. Obviously we were excited that she was coming to Monmouth where new people could see her but once we heard some of the costs with shipping I think most of us would rather Chuck not spend that money for shipping to accomodate us when we can wait until Saratoga to see her. Of course if Chuck is shipping her for black type that will more than offset the shipping cost then it makes sense. The end result is absolutely no one is suggesting Chuck take on extra expenses just to accomodate us. We are suggesting he does what is best for him and we can wait until Saratoga to see her if it makes more sense to keep her at Churchill.

[SniperSB23]

And as far as "Will Wilie Travel?" I thought it was a reasonable question and was likely based on the assumption that Willie would be making and funding his own travel arrangements. If the only way he would travel is if Chuck pays for it then it doesn't make much sense.

[ddthetide]

it was a perfectly ligit question. after the last race i asked steve what Willie had to say. steve's reply "Willie loves her!" "she does anything he askes her to do."
so why shouldn't we ask if Willie is traveling to ride her.
again i don't know how that is handled, who pays for what.

[otisotisotis]

my opinion on willie is this- if he knows he has a horse that can get the job done, he'll ride.
this isn't a guy that needs 8 mounts a day to get by, he can afford to be picky, imo.
i would think, that if he thinks he has a shot to knock back some nice $ on a one day trip, then it's well worth the effort for him.
and as stated before, the question would become what would it take for him to go? maybe the costs that we are seeing here, maybe a little less?
irregardless of the outcome, it's all part of this great learning experience for me as well.