forum.sports-pro.co.uk

[glennie1970]

I could pick up for Folkestone racecourse

[rapidlateheadway]

Glennie,

Is there a direct flight from Inverness to Folkestone International ?????

Thanks Jenny,
I know if we get a nag and its running in the south the wheels of thought will start turning. Being a Scot the cost always comes into it But thanks for the kind offer.

Lets get this show on the road.

Rapid

[jennywales]

I have today sent emails/faxes to Tom George, Alan King, Kim Bailey and Charlie Egerton.

I have emphasised the point that we need as much of an "all in" price as we can get because of the nature of the co-ownership group (ie people digging into limited pockets, no business sponsorship etc). Some of my criteria for deciding whether to take this further with any of these trainers is the nature of the reply - eg, if they just send their normal training fees or if they are prepared to do a bit of work to attract our business, if they offer a yard visit, what they say about purchase options and so on.

I have dumped Jenkins and Auvray because they have not bothered to reply at all!! I am not going to try to contact Venetia Wiliams (unless I drop in unannounced!) because she has no email, no website, and doesn't answer the phone (thanks for trying, Glennie). This does not augur well for people who want to be able to communicate readily with their trainer!

Hope this is OK - will report further as replies come in.

[shamardal84]

Ive been told a few times, by supposed people 'in the know' that pound for pound John Wainwright is one of the best trainers around. I know he's mainly flat but I 'think' he's had a runner or two over the jumps aswell, might be wrong though. Dont know if this is too late now, but just thought id let you know
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[jennywales]

Have now added Ian Williams and Howard Johnson to the list. Can't hurt - the more info the better.

Philip Hobbs's email is no longer functioning. Gosh, some trainers need to get their IT acts together!

[jennywales]

[jennywales]

Shamardal, have a look at Wainwright's stats on the RP website (top of page search trainer).

Clearly a small yard (good), but strike rate doesn't fill me with confidence (OK. a trainer is dependent on the quality of the horses he's sent, but at the same time, a good trainer does reasonably well with middling/poor horses). Only two runs this year over hurdles. Flat record not outstanding for the number of horses in training. He's the sort of trainer who, on the stats, I might send a second horse to (or one which hasn't done so well in a bigger yard).

Based in N Yorkshire, so would suit our Northern friends - anyone up there want to make contact and suss him out?

[shamardal84]

I must admit after I said it I looked his stats up on the Rp website and it wasnt good reading, I do remember looking last year and I think they were a bit better, but I may be wrong. What about Tim Pitt? He seems to be a great up and coming trainer, and what he's done with les Arcs must be an inspiration to us all
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[rapidlateheadway]

I think there is now enough Trainers names put forward. The more we have the more research needs to be done.

Rapid

[jennywales]

Shamardal - thanks. But I don't want this to get out of hand! We need to limit ourselves a bit, to make comparisons easier.

Rapid, quite! I shall be a bit overwhelmed if I have to research a load more trainers, and it will all take time.

I have received replies from Egerton and Bailey. Egerton is away for a few days and will reply when he returns.

Bailey did not bother to quote an all-in monthly charge; he listed his charges in much the way that Tom George did previously, and I won't bore you with the details (85p per mile horsebox and so on). But he did say two interesting things: (a) that all vet bills are sent direct to owners and (b) that he does not think a year's training fee would come to less than £20,000 pa. This works out at £1,666 per month, and would up the monthly contribution for 40 shares to £41.65 (without any veterinary expenses, including routine ones such as vaccinations).

I know the difference is small (£41.65 as opposed to £34.37, though it might be wise to up it because of the vet fees and other "incidentals"), and he did mention insurance at 11% of cost (of horse, presumably!), Weatherby's registration fees for the partnership, and jockey fees/entries as additional items.

Fair play, he did also mention that other trainers might do it more cheaply, but to beware of hidden costs! I think we are all well aware of this factor, which is why I would like to explore with Richard Lee exactly what his all-in fee covers. This is better done face to face, because you then have some bargaining power (I can do a convincing "Oh dear, it does all add up doesn't it, I wonder whether we can really afford it" [tear comes to eye, face sets in very disappointed look ] )

Obviously, I will await info from the others (Ian Wiliams's email is not working - WHEN will these people get into IT properly!!) and summarise it all.

However, on the basis of Bailey's response, what do people think about upping the monthly contribution per share to £45?

[Sky_Of_Darkness]

To be honest, I think we should look to contribute more per month than necessary in order to have a little something for the unexpected. I'll happily go up to 100 / month.

[jennywales]

Agreed, Sky. Problem is, some people simply may not be able to afford more, and the main principles I have worked on are (a) to keep the monthly share costs as low as reasonably possible, in order to attract more members and (b) to keep the monthly contributions the same per share, as this is the only way to keep it fair.

When I read Bailey's reply, I did wonder whether we might look at the question of 50%/75% of costs, with the other shares being held by the trainer???

Good of you to be prepared for £100pm, and when I did the original costings I did build in a bit for contingencies - maybe not enough though.

I'll await further replies from trainers and then sit down with a large whiskey and a wet towel and try to come up with the most affordable, and most realistic, cost per share.

[rapidlateheadway]

I hope that it is a whisky you`ll be sitting down with

Jenny, Just thinking out load to myself and trying to write it down at the same time. How about a commitment of £250 for the purchase, plus £100 call up reserve (this can be called up at any time or when exceptional circumstances require it). This would give whoever is in charge of finances a good back up of 4K.

Rapid.

[jennywales]

Rapid - good idea.

Could we please transfer this to the Finance thread - otherwise I will do my head in trying to follow!!

[jennywales]

Sorry, I include myself in that - have posted a summary on the finance thread - follow me over, people.....