What Can I Learn from Horse Trainers?
When you think about a thoroughbred horse trainer what comes to mind? You may follow certain horse trainers. Perhaps Charlie Appleby, John Gosden or a smaller yard hoping the underdog will prevail.
It’s worth remembering though that a vast number of horse trainers do it for the love of the sport. The farmer with one or two chasers, who chance their luck at their local course. The one-man band who bought their horse for a couple of grand, train it, ride it on the gallops and some even ride it on course too. True, the most successful stables usually have the most money to spend with both affluent and influential owners.
As Boxer, the old shire horse, in George Orwell’s literary masterpiece Animal Farm said: ‘For you I will work harder!’
I’m sure many a horse trainer has said and felt exactly the same trying to please an owner, especially those with wealth.
In truth, I haven’t known many horse trainers. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Julia Feilden, who trains as Newmarket, Exning Road. A lovely lady who most certainly trains for the love of the sport. Not to say she hasn’t had her day training at the highest level. Many years ago, Spirit Of Sharjah proved the point that every trainer has their day when he won impressively on debut at Newmarket and went on to win at Listed class and finished third in the Norfolk Stakes behind Winker Watson at Royal Ascot.
When making a bet on a horse, you may consider the horse trainer as a positive or a negative. Clearly, the training of a horse is part of a bigger picture, like one of many pieces of the jigsaw puzzle which make a winner, but it’s not the full picture. Those at the top of their betting game often consider a whole myriad of factors from form, physicality, to the indefinable before placing a bet. That is often what sets them apart from the average punter. Many even operate through a betting broker rather than an individual bookmaker or exchange, due to the higher limits and wide access to betting markets and exchanges services like this provide. Also unlike traditional bookmaker accounts the dreaded ‘we’re closing your account because you’re winning’ situation doesn’t occur.
You may wonder why understanding a horse trainer is important when the horse is running the race and the jockey is riding in the race. However, it is important to understand how a trainer works because this dictates the intentions of a trainer. For example, if a trainer has little to no interest in winning on debut it is no surprise to see they won’t. Also, it is worth noting that many horse trainers simply don’t win at a big starting price. Put simply, you need to understand the workings of a horse trainer to appreciate the likelihood of a horse winning and when that may be. You may be thinking that the biggest most successful trainer are going to be the ones that win at the shortest odds. This may be true to a point but it isn’t across the board. John Gosden, a very successful horse trainer, has winners at big odds. While the likes of Charlie Appleby are likely to win at short odds. Again, this details why you need to assess each trainer to appreciate their approach.
It is true that the best horse trainer in the world will not turn a limited horse into a winner. They won’t win at the highest level. The reverse can be said that a poor trainer may ruin a gifted horse so it doesn’t reach its potential or even win a lowly maiden. In many respects a horse is only as good as its trainer. If you wish to make your betting pay you need to know how a given horse trainer works. If you do this well you will be one step ahead of the game.