Hibs, it can not be a good thing, excepting in very exceptional circumstances. But, those exceptional circumstances never arise..... for example, any Trainer would be MAD not to take Horse Chestnut or Igugu or Variety Club on a no fees half stakes deal. But the Owners would be mad to offer the deal. But, some Trainers do the deal, hoping for Horse Chestnut but end up with a chestnut horse....
The practice cannot be banned, as Trainers are self employed and are entitled to charge what they like, if they like. As soon as a minimum price is agreed upon or enforced, that ends up at the Competition Commission , being classed as some type of price fixing. Now, I have to be careful how I word the following - the NHA no longer place bad payers on a defaulters list, as per their rules. The plainant must first obtain judgement against the defaulter, before the defaulter is placed on nha defaulter list. The attitude of nha is that this is a civil matter. So, the nha surely wont ban free Training for half stakes, as this is not their concern.
Another situation which is cropping up a lot lately, is the undercutting of Training fees, in order to get horses. Often these prices are blatantly below cost and it is clear that the horses cannot be given the best, at these rates. In many cases, there are complaints later from same Owners, when exhorbitant "extras" bills arrive and also vet bills.... In some instances, Trainers even live in their yards, as a means to cut prices. (please don't confuse living in the yard with a Trainer going through a rough patch and working hard to rebuild his string - I have been there and done that) And the fact of the matter is that there are many takers for these deals.
However, Hibs, I still wait to see the really good , consistent and competitive Trainer compete in the "cheap price" market. Getting the best out of every horse and taking the horse to its true potential, requires the very best of everything - best food, fodder, supplements and deep clean bedding, top class grooms and proper structuring of the roles of a dedicated staff contingent, a huge daily effort in terms of stable management and attention to detail for every horse. And that cannot be done cheaply.
There are often rumours about horses stabled in poor conditions. Again , that must be policed by NHA. Yes, recently, I came to know about a Trainer who had semi abandoned his horses, leaving them locked up all day and night in their stable, allegedly giving them water at night and small amounts of roughage. I have made no secret of the fact that I took those horses care into my hands immediately and reported the matter to nha. To their credit and in particular, to the credit of Stipendary Steward, Nick Shearer, nha acted immediately. The Trainer doesn't train anymore.
Personally, I think that half stakes, no keep is very bad for racing overall. The ones who don't need to do it, don't do it and the ones who need to do it, battle even more because of it.
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