YOU'RE NOT CRAZY FOR ASKING ANY QUESTIONS

So why can't a $4,000 Claimer who runs a 1:10.2 beat a $40,000 Claimer who runs a 1:12.1? I'm asked this all of the time? So let me explain it this way:

Do you believe a great high school football team can defeat a great college football team? Just think about what I said? Or a great college team can beat a professional football team? Of course not. 

Let me give you a fabulous answer. In 1993, Jimmy (a thoroughbred owner that I got into the racing game) came up to me and said: "D, I just purchased a $12 claimer- I'm going to put him in with $30 claimers next week. I purchased him out of the barn." I looked at him and shook my head. Now this thoroughbred had won his last three races, beating $10 and $12,000 Claimers and had won five out of his last seven races. 

That Friday came and he was in a race with eight other fine colts. Mostly all 4-Year Olds. The race went off! This newly-acquired racehorse of his took the lead in :22.4 and before the half mile, had dropped back to third along the rail. Now he had done :22.4 plenty of races before. By the time that the nine colts reached the top of the stretch- this fine colt was in seventh and gasping for air. He finished last in a race that went 1:23.3 for 7 furlongs, 18 lengths behind the winner.

There's a reason why certain racehorses are placed where they are. And there's a reason why thoroughbreds who are bred from great sires are in certain ranks. We'll go over "ranks" during class instruction. 

Many breed to win races. Then there are a few breeders who want a racehorse to progress slowly. Some of the finest racehorses that this sport have ever known, have lost races early in their career only to shine as a 3-Year Old or older. What defines a great thoroughbred is how they carry themselves and when they begin to grow into their frame. I once owned a racehorse that was below the weight where I wanted him. I told the trainer that we should take this young colt (2 Year old) along slowly. The season for young racehorses was approaching in late July. He wanted to rush him into races against horses who were more mature, with good racing habits. I told him we'll wait until October or November. That he'll get one or two races in before he turns three. He was beginning to grow into his body. Working out in a consistent 1:14.0 for six furlongs, breezing out of the gate. We'll go over all of this during class instruction. 

So, the two races that we did get him into were excellent! His initial race he sat fifth in a ten-horse field and finished in 4th Place, getting us a check. And right before New Year's Eve- he sat sixth in an eight-horse field and moved up the ranks and finished in 2nd Place only beaten by a length and a half in a 1:11.4 race, he finished in 1:12.1. Very good. 

This fine colt raced in 13 races as a 3-year Old, winning six races, 2 seconds and 2 thirds! Fabulous campaign. Winning $196,225 for that year! I did sell him out of our barn as this colt turned four. All horses turn their next birthday on January 1st, no matter when they were born. Never fall in LOVE with your racehorses, from experience. Well over 90% of thoroughbred racehorses are bought and sold every year. 

Many trainers purchase racehorses for owners that can run, but not compete. Thoroughbreds run in cycles. Some are very good for a few races, then seem to drop off and many don't 'receive a check' for a few races and owners get ansy and begin to find ways to rid themselves of racehorses who aren't winning or even paying their way in a stable! 

I love these situations. Because I've picked up very good racehorses like this. I once picked up a 5-Year Old racehorse 'out of the barn' for $32,500- who was racing in $62,500 Claiming! And when we began to race him (after giving this thoroughbred almost two months off), we placed him back into $62,500 Claiming. He had been running in $40,000 Claiming for four races and never finishing first, second or third. I liked the way he said: "I paid $62,500 out of a claiming race at Aqueduct. You can have him for $30,000 less."

This racehorse after that two-month hiatus, won his first race back at 27-1 odds by a good three lengths, hand-ridden to the finish line! Actually, he won three of his next four races easily- before a smart owner claimed him from us. A few Dinovite feeds to boost this racehorse's moral! He ran like a champ for us. 

I think back to our 1993-94 campaign. We had eighteen thoroughbreds in our barn at that time and a new trainer. We had these two 'green' fillies. One was a 3-Year Old that had raced four races in her life and the other was a 4-Year Old filly who had ten races under her belt but had won only one race, a $30,000 Claiming Race at 1:14.2 in the slop in a weak six-furlong race.

We were making plenty of money, so I took this new trainer to the side and told her that we were keeping these two young fillies and we were going to change their 'training regimen.' She agreed. We'll go over this during classroom instruction. 

Within six months, both fillies were winning and finishing second and third in many races. We also had a green two-year old gelding that we brought along slowly who won five races in a row at the end of his 2-Year Old campaign and after he turned three! An owner purchased him at a 3-Year Old Sale from us. He had won eight of 17 races. 

Now I don't know all there is to know about thoroughbred racehorses, but I have made millions from the mistakes of others. In 1995, while speaking with our other owners, we decided to go on a buying-binge. I would look over many a racehorse and either 'claim them' or 'purchase them outright.' 

We increased our stable by seven racehorses just in two months. Late in the 1995 racing season, we were making a substantial income from these fine animals! We also were into truck and trailer leasing and financing. Using the racehorses, limos and taxicabs as our write-offs.

By mid 1996, we had topped thirty racehorses, but cut down to 29 by August of 1996. Many racehorses, like I said before- run in cycles. And not at the same time (that's why they call it a "horse race!") Horses that are typically supposed to win, don't and that's when you get an 85-1 shot who comes up and surprises everyone! Right before this race, he worked out in :47.3 (4 furlongs BG). He did have a few miserable works also. That's why he went off at 85-1! 

I had to laugh out loud when one afternoon, by myself- told these four ladies with beautiful hats on in the Clubhouse NY racetrack): "I would wager on the #4 horse (ours at 70-1 with three minutes to go before the race went off). Before I could walk away, two of the gals began laughing at me. So, I turned around and said to them: "If you wager on the #4 and lose, I will pay you back your losses?" They looked at me and I walked away. Our #4 won by two lengths, beating racehorses that he shouldn't! Paying $172.00 to win, at a mile. I walked past the ladies and laughed inside, on my way down to the winner's circle.

I was getting so good at betting, I should have owned a bookie palace! Funny. Twice in my life, I've picked the winner of every race on the card. Didn't wager on all of them; but I had them circled in the racing program. I've won the Pick 6 twice, once with four friends out of eleven total racehorses for those six races at an OTB during the Breeders Cup! The Pick 6 originated at Greenwood Raceway in Ontario, Canada in 1974. 75% of the money generated goes to the Pick 6 and 25% goes to five of six winners, in case no one had chosen all six winners. Oh, in case you're wondering (and I keep records and tax receipts). I have won over 70+ Pick 6's (5 of 6) in my life at a racetrack or OTB. Three times (of 70+), I picked 5 out of 6 by including only six or seven racehorses! Once collecting $17,800, while no one had all six! Four longshots (LOL!) My goomba, Al- couldn't believe that one of the longshots went off at 38-1 odds! The longest shot on the board and the only one that I chose out of that race. Her tail was UP! Funny. 

We sometimes found ourselves in trouble with taxes and me- with borrowing money to a friend who wanted to get into another business. We were extremely busy with all of our businesses (under "one umbrella"), that we didn't pay attention to the Big Prize?" That was me in mid 1996. This friend who I had lent $50,000 to, was using cocaine and selling it to others! I set him up with an office, furniture and a telephone. 

He went into the tax business (E.I.N. biz for small restaurant and motel owners). I was the perfect stooge. He set me up, using me to get him cash money from our racetrack accounts for the checks that he would collect from these owners of restaurants and motels. The banks couldn't give me $25,000 to $40,000- only the racetrack accounts could. I got into trouble for co-mingling funds, those biz checks that he had given me! I never thought I was doing anything wrong?

And for this huge mistake, my friends and I lost millions! From racing and a potential breeding business! I am dearly sorry for this mistake and now I know never to lend money to people who 'could' take advantage of me. Make sure to always check out people who ask you for a favor, especially money. Even your friends. One cannot EVER trust the F.B.I., nor the C.I.A.! EVER!!