1. I am interested in Arabian Racing. How do I start? READ! Begin by reading or visiting industry websites and trade publications. Much of this information is available on www.arabianracing.org. In addition, individual farms, state racing commissions and tracks have valuable information. OBSERVE! Attend the races. Attend the sales. Join your local racing organization. Observe owners, trainers, consignors, buyers, veterinarians, and other professionals in action. Ask for their help and suggestions. NETWORK! Contact the owners and breeders organization in your state. Inquire about services offered and membership benefits. Become involved with the organizations and make personal contact with local horsemen. Participate in a racing partnerships. COMMUNICATE! Inquire of owners, trainers, and other industry insiders if you may speak with them regarding how you might get involved in the business. You will be pleasantly surprised at the number of insiders who are willing to assist those seriously considering investing in the industry, regardless of the level of investment. CONSULT! Locate a consultant or more experienced owner who is willing to serve as a mentor. Be discriminating, and in the case of professional consultants, check references. Remember that the objective here is to identify someone you can trust. Listen to the advice given, but don't feel obligated to follow it, as ultimately every decision you make should be your own. PARTICIPATE! Participate in industry-sponsored events and educational programs. 2. How do I find a trainer? Contact the local race organization for a list of trainers, talk to others owners and refer to the AJC website. Once you have identified potential trainers, contact the trainer and do not hesitate to visit the training center and interview the trainer to clarify your expectations and working arrangement. Trainers' standings are frequently published in track programs and on the official track website. 3. How do I find a jockey? Generally the trainer recommends and contacts the jockey. An owner or trainer can find a list of jockeys and jockey's agents in the track condition book. Tracks frequently publish the current jockey standings for each meet in the daily program or on the track's website. 4. How do I get licensed? Contact the racing office of the track where you plan to run. In most states log onto the State Racing Commission website, where instructions are readily available. Owners pay a fee, complete necessary information, have a photo taken and are fingerprinted. Many states now recognize a multi-state license or extended-year license for convenience. 5. How do I get silks/colors? The racetrack will provide standard silks for owners who do not have their own silks. Owners who would like to have their own colors typically design their own silks pattern. One can purchase silks through the racetrack tack shop or racing silks vendors who advertise their services throughout the industry. 6. Where do I go to buy a race prospect? Private treaty, magazine ads, auction/sales and claiming races. While interviewing trainers, or after you have selected a trainer, consult with him or her regarding what they have found to be a good race prospect. Investigate bloodstock agents. The Arabian Finish Line publishes an annual farm directory. Plan to attend the next Arabian racehorse auction. Claiming offers a ready-made candidate. Identify and participate with partnerships that claim racing prospects until you have gained the knowledge and confidence to manage your own racing program. 7. How do I pick out a race prospect? Use the help of your trainer, trusted friend or mentor. Look for basic correct conformation as you would any horse you are buying. Give special attention to good straight legs, preferably with short pasterns, short cannons and long forearms; well laid-back shoulders; deep hips with sloping croup; good width between jaws. A pre-purchase exam is often money well spent. 8. How much does it cost to enter a race? Generally there are no entry fees for overnight races, although some tracks have a start fee. 9. What are the payout percentages for a race (how much do I win)? The majority of races pay: 1st (60%), 2nd (20%), 3rd (11%), 4th (6%), 5th (3%). However, this can vary from State to State. Payout percentages are identified in condition books and or stakes books. 10. How much does it cost to keep a horse in race training? Training costs can vary widely depending on the trainer, part of the country, and whether the horse is at the track or on a farm. Generally, costs will be less on the farm. Included in the daily training fee are feed, bedding, grooming, and exercise. Fees for the farrier and veterinarian can vary dramatically. The following estimates are meant only as a guideline:
11. How do I learn about the tax advantages for Arabian Racing? The American Horse Council publishes two very good reference books dealing with taxes. They are: "Tax Tips for Horse Owners" and "The Horse Owners Tax Manual". These publications are the tax references for the equine industry. If you are seriously considering becoming an owner, acquire these publications for your library. For more information, visit the American Horse Council's web site at www.horsecouncil.org. 12. How often can my horse run? Every horse is different. For a mature, healthy horse in its prime you can expect to try to run every 2-3 weeks. 13. Who enters my horse? Your trainer generally enters your horse. However, an owner can also enter his or her own horse. Information is contained in the condition book or stakes information on when to enter a horse for a specific race. 14. How do I get my horse to run in a stakes race? Each stakes race has its own conditions that govern the entrants of the race. The organization sponsoring the stakes race will advertise and publish information one can obtain, in order to plan and nominate horses. 15. Who ships my horse from track to track? The owner pays to ship the horse with the trainer or a third party hauler. You always have the option to haul the horse yourself. 16. What is a claiming race? It is a race where all horses entered into the race are for sale for a tag (claiming price set by the racing secretary). Any licensed owner who has sufficient money deposited in the track account where the claim is made may claim (buy) a horse in the race prior to the start of the race. If more than one claim is submitted on the same horse, then the buyer is chosen at random. The entering owner takes any purse money won in the race. The new owner is responsible for the horse immediately after the start of the race. An owner cannot claim a horse and return it to the same barn/trainer. 17. How do I claim a horse? You must have the claiming money in your purse account. You enter the claim in the racing office prior to the start of the race. After the race has been run, a track official meets the claimed horse on the track and transfers the horse to the new training barn representative. 18. What is a Handicap? A handicap race is designed to level the playing field by giving higher caliber horses more weight and lesser caliber horses less weight. The racing secretary generally determines the weights. The weights are added to the saddle blanket of the racing horse to reach the accorded handicap weight. 19. At what age can my horse run? How young, how old? Arabians can run after 1 April of their three-year-old year and typically do not run after age eleven. It is best to verify racing ages with the track's racing office. 20. Can all Arabian bloodlines run? While there are preferred, proven bloodlines for racing, there are still many unproven bloodlines. 21. What does the word "conditions" mean as regards to a race? The "conditions" say who may run in the race, the weight they will carry and the distance of the race. The types of race offered are described on the AJC website. 22. Can I bet on my horse? Yes. 23. Do Arabians run against Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses? Purebred Arabians run only against other Purebred Arabians. 24. How long is a furlong? One eighth of a mile. 25. How long is the track? Depends on the track, many are 1 mile. 26. Do Arabians run faster or slower than Thoroughbreds? Arabians are smaller and slower that Thoroughbreds. An Arabian will run six furlongs 5-6 seconds slower than a Thoroughbred. 27. Where do I get a condition book? Through the racing office at the track. 28. Which direction do the horses run? In the United States, horses run counterclockwise. 29. What happens when the horse can run no more? Retired racehorses can be used for breeding, showing, endurance and pleasure riding. 30. What is Lasix and why do horses run on it? EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage) is prevalent (75%+) in all horses competing at high levels. Lasix is a diuretic that is generally used to prevent this bleeding in the lungs. 31. How long does it take to condition a horse before its first race? A horse with no previous training will take anywhere from five to six months or more for proper conditioning. Starting and conditioning a racehorse varies with the individual horse and its foundation, early training, soundness, confidence and maturity. Once a horse is under saddle and has built a solid foundation (adjustment to training, walk, trot and canter, changing leads, building bone and muscle and a cardiovascular system- which will enable it to run at it's potential), a racehorse will move into speed, increasing distances on the track and further training including gate work and paddock training. After accomplishing these goals, the trainer can best determine the average time your racehorse will run his or her first race. On average, this event occurs between the 4th and 8th month. 32. How do you start a young horse? Opinions vary but often a racehorse is started just as you would any riding horse. The horse will not race forever and it is easier to use them for other disciplines if the basics are already there. Start with basic groundwork, breaking to saddle and begin trotting and galloping. Gradually increase the time you trot and gallop until the horse is very fit. 33. Are there clinics and seminars available to help new owners? Yes, periodically each state will hold new owners seminars. Additionally, other breed organizations, tracks and Schools of Veterinary Medicine have seminars that Arabian owners, trainers and staff attend for continuing education. 34. Is there a "Super Bowl" for Arabians? Yes. The Arabian Racing Cup Championships are held each year at a designated track, typically in the fall. Additionally, at the beginning of each year, the Arabian Racing Cup sponsors and hosts the "Darley Awards", a black-tie event that honors the top horses, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys. This is a great weekend of racing and camaraderie. 35. How do partnerships work? Partnerships can be created in various forms to meet the objectives of the partners. 36. Where do Arabians race? In the United States, Arabians currently run in TX, DE, CA, CO, MI, WA. Check with the specific organization for the meet schedules. 37. What organizations promote Arabian racing? The organizations that are dedicated to Arabian Racing are; the Arabian Jockey Club (AJC), the Arabian Racing Cup (ARC), the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), the Eastern Arabian Racing Association (EARA), the Arabian Racing Association of Florida (ARAF), the Texas Arabian Breeders Association (TABA), the Arabian Racing Association of California (*ARAC), the Colorado Owners and Breeders of Racing Arabians (COBRA) and the Arabian Racing and Breeders Association of Michigan (ARAB).
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