The Washington times., 1905-04-23
CONDUCTING A BIG
STABLE IS NO SNAP
Most Millionaire Owners
Lose Money on the Turf.
1T is THE SPORT OF KINGS
High Prices Are Often Paid for Two
Year-Olds Who Prove
Failures.
1T is THE SPORT OF KINGS

David Gideon's recent statement thai
nearly all of the millionaire turfmen in
the East conduct their racing stables
each year at financial loss for the
sake OF tie sport is based upon fact,
according 10 several hcrsemen who
know the inside workings of the race
track game.
The expenses of one of these big sta
bles,' well-known turfman said, "are
greater than the public at large has any
idea Of. Take the leading stables OF
last year, that of II. B. Duryea, which
was really owned by H P Whitney, as
an example
Won 100000.
The stable won more than $4,000 in
':,kes and purses during tne season. ve-
II Is safe to say that there was No
profit, II any. 10 speak of. Two jockeys,
Shay, and Hildebrand, were under con
tract to the stable to begin with Shaw
received about 5000 in salary, Will
Hildeb:and got al OF $4,000 for his SER
vices
"A trainer like John W. Rogers must
receive probably $4,000 IN salary and
10 per CERT of the winnings of the sta
bic, which would make his rakeoff close
10 $4,000 The Duryca stable must have
paid at least $4,000 in entrance fees and
forfeits, which would bring tf1c totaI
Up TO about sc5, 000 1t is safe to say
that $4,000 in forfeits is still due the
stable. which may never receive the
whole amount. meaning that instead OF
rooTe thai. Slo0.U00 in hand the stabl,
has received close to $4,000 for the
stakes and purses won last year. Then
taking into consideration the money
paid out for horses. stabling, help and
transportation. il can be seen that there
is not much left on the right side of tn.
ledger.
no Sure Thing.
Conducting a big etable OF stake
horses is not a sure thing financially BY
any means. Some years the two-year.
olds which have been purchased at high
prices or have been bred at a steep ex-
pense do not pan out. Yet an owner
v ho wants to take chances of winnine
some Of the big stakes must enter his
horses at all sorts of fees. In this waI
fcrfeits mount up. Ii he has ter
horses named for the Futurity, for In.
n.
$500, yet not one of them may amour,
10 a row of pins. Forfeits eat up 9
bankroll very quickly. and that Is one
of the reasons why poor owners. SC
called, steer clear of stake races. They
prefer few selling platers and handi.
cap horses who can be entered for small
subscriptions and for whom no forfeit
must be paid.
OF Season Expenses.
When they are not racing. the only
expenses they incur are for stable room
and feed One owner who has half ?
dozen first-class platers often wins
more in a whole season than million.
aire who has forty horses. engaged in
rich stakes, in his barn. Good selline
piaters, when properly placed, are much
safer betting propositions than untrief
stake horses ard in that way m owne,
OF platers has chance freuuently n
clean up handsomely In the ring. Johr
Ryan, the get-rich-quick man, showed
the truth OF this statement when last
! year, with Il few horses. including Pc.
and overnight hardicaps, he cleaned ur
about $4,000 before he retired from tn,
| turf. This was clean profit. too. which
/ t. in striking contrast with the opera.
! tiCns of some Of the big owners, whC
usually spend thousands of dollars fol
the pure sport of seeing their color.
carried to victory in popular stake
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