Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-19
King Of Sports isVery Interest
ing But it Comes
High.
But THERE IS MONEY IN IT.
Trainers Command Big Salaries
String of Ten Horses Costs Nearly
$1,000 Each Month.

How many Salt Lake patrons or the
,o,so racing game have any idea what
Il casts to maintain stable OF say ~
r,,o horses? We do not allude to keep
inc string Of horses at Calders Park
or the Fair grounds, but In cities where
tine game is on sound basis, and where
thousands of dollars change hands daily.
Some have notion that 1t costs more 70
keen a stable OF runners than II does 10
Keen A stable Of runners than 1t does 10
IA erroneous. If an owner OF running
thoroughbred were required TO part with
$50 for cooling sheets, stable blankets
and bandages, he would think he was get
tlng The worst of IT, But this amount
would not come close 10 paying for tho
outGt required By harness horse, AM
other very important item Is the SHIP
ming expenses In the campaigns. the
ih1roughbred stable has practically no
EXPENSE compared with those OF harness
stable. for the reason that many Ot the
latter are Wintered In California or IN
IN. sopth. SO the korses have to be ship
ned to and from these points. The cam
raigus really begin and end at the winter
Tbe matter Of entrance fees is a heavy
tax on the earnings Of q harness stable,
rs compared with what 1t costs 10 start
"a thoroughbred In a race. The harness
horse owner is taxed per cent on the
gross amount Of the purse or stake Of
ltTed before he can start ana al the
money winners are taxed an additional .
rrf cpnt-nOt on what they win, but on
Inc original purse or stake. This In real
nv Is ~ per cent on the actual winnings.
The figures that follow are taken from
the books OF an owner whose stable mas
been one Of the most prominent IN Tue
grand circuit for several years. Ten
horses are supposed to make up stable,
AS this Is about tho minimum an owner
can carry and have a starter IN the dlt-
ier,nt classes. Some Of these VIII trhln
OF or fail 10 train into the form neces-
mry TO warrant starting at all so that
an owner is fortunate II he Is able 70
have one starter that looks IKE q prop
able winner for edch day OF a weekly
meeting.
A good trainer commands q salary of
about $500 Il year ana many owners
also allow certain percentage OF inc
earnings as an extra inducemtnt. Mhen
the time arrives to begin active training
for the early campaign a Shipment Is
made tp some point where the weather
conditions are more favorable, ana thls
may cost from $3.50 to SlOW, FROM New
York car to Memphis costs $40
to Louisville $40 ana to some other south'
trn points a tIile less, To ship TO CALI
ilnld doubles tile expense.
Before the car can be loaded Two droN,
leads OF equipment must be transporter
from the stable to the car and TINS VIII
cost from S. to $780, AT least siN groups
~ carytaKers must be taken along 40
these cos, In wages and board so a month
each. This number Is allowed In the car
with the equipment without extra charge,
Later In the season, when groom is re-
CURED for each horse, additional trans
pcr,aJion must be paid for the extra
men.
The actual cost Of the feed for each
horse win not be far from so a month,
for the best Of everything must be pur-
chased and there is much unavoidable
waste whore the horses are moved 10 new
quarters each week. A stable Of thls size
VIII need 10 carry n blacksmith, ana that
vii cost 500 a month, Repairs TO har-
ness sulkies and boots Will average so
month II ear Is rented for the season
II will cost geo a month"; exclusive Of the
transportation charges, which VIII aver
age for long and short hauls about Sl2o
week.
with the stable now ready 20 begin the
active campaign the expense account VIII
total about as follows: Salary Of trainer,
$50 a month; ten grooms, 500, cost OF
lttu ana DeuulnB tof horsesi CIV, snoclne,
sN' repairs to eulpment, harness, sui
Nos boots, ETC., $50; car rent SEQ; trans
lorlAuon drayage twice each week at so
10 81 load, at least Sl0O for the month
car hauls Mt sl2j each week $500 This,
Without including the expenses OF tho
owner provided he accompanies the sta
blc.. or entrance fees, or veterinary at.
tendance, provided a horse IL injured or Is
a.k totals SLIGO. lncldentals, which no
one can compute In advance, will easily
.fng the amount mp to 5000 q month, or
VI" Tor each racing day, II favorable
N'4lhcr allows each meeting 10 be car
TIA out on program order.
Ihe expense account Is practically a
known factor before the start The earn
ing capacity Of the stable must be largely
problematcal until demonstrated Some
Stables IN some campaigns pay a hand
some proht and In other campaigns de-
N'lop much less earning capacity. I'm the
CAMPAIGN Of 1909 the stable of II. Il.
smathors, that contained about an aver
age OF 10 horses and was practically I'M