What is the Difference
 

What is the difference between costs of training and racing a Greyhound, Thourobred, Pacer/Trotter?

Do any of the above have greater training costs than one another?
Do any of the above pay better on the TAB when they win?
Do any of the above win more races?

I would just like to know.

coops

Couldnt tell you much about the other 2 but for maintenance cost, entry fees etc. horses cost a lot! I would be able to tell you however that greyhounds would cost the least of the 3.

If thats the case, why would you want a horse?

coops

Coops, like most things in life it depends on the person and there are many reasons, far too many to even touch on. In general horse racing carries with it a social status and glamour that is not a characteristic of dog racing. It is very clear that I am a "dog man" but although she is no snob (well not too bad), my wife would much prefer the glamour and the colour of the gallops. And don't get me wrong, I really enjoy our days out at let's say Vic Derby Day, fantastic, everything about it. The money factor is of course also a huge factor, the dream of getting a stallion like Redoute's Choice or Encosta De Lago is a big attraction. I can remember around 1970 first prize at Goulbourn being $15. I would be surprised if in real money terms it is any better now. Try explaining this to a non-dog people and why you do it. Another factor is that we all know that most slow raceshorses finish up in a can of Pal or wherever, but it is not as strong a public perception as the negative one that applies to dog racing. I am an old softy and it was always difficult for me to come to terms with "putting down" the poor little buggers, they are such beautiful animals. You just can't keep them otherwise you would have a backyard full of old dogs. Dog racing also carries with it other negative public perceptions but I won't even "go there".

Oh I get it now mate,
The greyhound is a poor mans sport, and orses are for feeding them when the social glamour snobs (except you good missus.) are finished with them. Ok then, that sounds fair enough mate. Cheers for that.

We have a very successful Clydesdale Horse Stud along with a few pacers. I find that the cost of keeping them is far,far,far costly than having my dog. It costs me around $20 a week to keep and train my dog, whereas it costs $100 a week for a clydesdale hosre and we have 15 of them. The Pacers cost even more with their training. I would hate to know how much it costs to train a race orse.

coops

Yes Coops that is a facetious but clever and effective way of putting it, well done. The gallops industry is largely for people who have plenty of money to spend, this is obvious when a gallops trainer charges $500 or so a week to train a horse. I don't know why you asked the question in the first place, you clearly have an excellent knowledge of the facts about keeping a horse as compared to a dog. As one of the "poor people" I will stick with the dogs but a factor such as, but not only, a high level of personal involvement is also very important to me. I could get up every morning and walk a dog but I don't think I would be riding much trackwork down our suburban street. And by the way, you are doing very well in keeping your dog training costs to $20. If I had a dog at home it would cost me $20 a week in petrol without even going to the races. Add to this the obvious costs of food and additives, veterinary, depreciation on Untrasonic, walking machine and hydrobath, other transport costs, etc etc etc and $50 is arrived at and passed very quickly.

Mate, the reaso I asked those questions is to satisfy myself with having a greyhound.

Yes you do have to have heaps of dollars to own a race orse and to be recognised in that industry. To my way of thinking, if the prize money were equal for the greyhounds races then i think you would see the changes to the code of greyhound racing out shine the other codes.

Lets face it, the TAB pays the same for a win/place for greyhounds, Pacers/trotters and Race orses. But I do feel that finding a winner at the dogs is much easier than finding a winner out of 8 starters than a winner from the orses with heaps more starters.
Remember mate this is only my opinion.

It cost me $16 for good lean beef for 7 days, $35 for kibble which lasts me 4 months, $20 for 4x2 buscuits which last me 6 months, $23 for centrum vitamins which lasts me 3 months, $16 for electrolites which lasts me 3 months, calcium $22 which lasts me 8 months, Omega three $15 which lasts me 4 months, White E $18 which lasts me 4 months, Vet $93 for 6 months so far. Muscle check ups $0.00 as my mate does it I never needle my dog for muscle soreness. I usually work it out of him or manual massage and so far so good. I trial my dog once a month with a finish on the lure $10.

I have no Hydra bath, ultrasonic machines, walking machines and as for transport to and from race meetings the cost of fuel is not much as I have LPG.

So Yep around $20/week.

Mate please don't think I'm being funny or facetious it's the truth and I'm extremely happy about what I'm doing with my dog,thanks to members of these forums for their generoustiy by giving me their advice on how to train my dog. I will always be gratefull to them for that.

coops

Horses can win you more money. Let's just put it this way - would you rather win the Melbourne Cup of horse racing or greyhounds? Even with money aside, unless you absolutely loved greyhound racing a whole lot more than horse racing, the reasons are obvious.

Greyhounds. You got a better chance with only 8 runners, plus they don't cost as much.
A greyhound can win just as much as a orse and probably more if the prize money was the same.

coops

Essentially what you say Hussler2912 makes a lot of sense and yes I do love greyhound racing a lot more, primarily because of the much greater personal involvement but also because I really loved the carnival atmosphere, the involvement and comradery of the common man on and away from the racetrack, the love of the animal, the competitiveness of the racing and in the past the betting ring and even the occasional bit of controversy which made for interesting conversation. The early summer mornings were wonderful but the minus 8s in winter were shithouse. With regard to the money, my rather negative approach would be that I am going to lose less money in dog racing than I am going to lose in thoroughbred racing or put another way, I will get more fun for my "dollar" in the dogs than I will get for the same "dollar" spent on the gallops. The above is just making my position clear, I am a "dog man".

Yes Coops a greyhound could win just as much as a horse if the prize money was the same - obviously, and you probably do have a better chance of the greyhound Cup since theres only 8 runners... However there are obvious reasons (like I said) why the Melbourne Cup of horse racing is worth so much more $ as a race.

You are both right, the way i see it they are both equal in prize money compared to costs.

When you look at it a horse is going to cost you 10 times more to buy, look after and train although the prize money on offer is 10 times that of a greyhound race.

So when you look at the figures they are almost equal in profit margin per race less expenses although there is more opportunity to win more with horse racing although its more likely you will lose more as well.

In perspective if your at the casino making $1000 bets you are more likely to win more than someone placing $100 bets although the chance of losing more is also higher.

"So when you look at the figures they are almost equal in profit margin per race less expenses ......." Good on you Morgan, you are apparently a "half full glass" person not the "half empty" type like me.

Ok, we have come to the conclusion that orses have longer legs than dogs, orses eat more than dogs, they don't bark like dogs, they don't chase a lure, but they are not faster than a dog over the half mile. Most important thing is, I like my dog. He might not be a champion racer, but he'll do me coz he's my best mate.

coops

Haha yes he is right, but all I was saying is that there are reasons why one would prefer to win a Melbourne Cup of the gallops, in fact look no further than what I just said for a reason why. When you say Melbourne Cup in this country unless your being specific you can only be referring to one thing. A bit like when you say 'Bart.'

That doesnt sound too good :) haha

My missus hates me so he's the next best thing.

coops

Coops "...not faster than a dog over the half mile ...", let's bring that distance back a bit and I mean from a standing start. My recollection is that Star of Florida (Qld thoroughbred) ran 43.9 for 800ms at Dalby not too many years ago. Mantra Lad's record equalling run in 2008 over only 725ms at the Meadows was 42.28. I love the dogs and I really like Mantra Lad but where a dollar is concerned I would want to be on Star of Florida, that is, if he wasn't now 12 or so years old, fat and lazy. Anyway, as I have indicated more than once before, good on you Coops, keep enjoying every minute of it, I envy you. My wife doesn't hate me even though she keeps telling me to get a job but there is never going to be another dog in the yard. My adult daughter apparently suggested to her at Xmas with regard to a present for me, "how about a greyhound". It is reported that my wife's response was something like "and are you going to buy him a new home at the same time". My wife finished up buying me a new tent, do you think there is a message there?

Mate I know the feeling.

I got this orse a that is the most doppiest orse one could ever imagine. This orse is never happy. he just stands around the yard and does nothing except beat up the goat when he has the chance. The orse STANLEY, i call him and the goat JIMMY, are bitter enemies. But I like em both and my missus hates them both, and me. She always says that I pay more attention to the animals than I do to her. Now that is not true fellow members. I let he do my washing and let her make me cuppa's and I even let her feed me. Now what more does she want. She complains that I don't sit down with her and have conversations like normal people. She reckons I just talk about the animals and she says that since I got me dog I'm becoming unbarible.

The other day I was watching STANLEY through the kitchen window standing there doing nothing. I thought to myself. "How can I make this stupid orse get some get up and go." I went to the fridge and got a small red chilli pepper. I went out to STANLEY and shoved it up his coit and went back inside.

It was about 2 hours later and the missus started to scream at me saying."Whats the matter wiff that crazy orse. He's jumping up and down all over the place?" I told her that he'll be aright when he has a crap coz I shoved a chilli pepper up his coit.
Then she really blew he stack. "See what I mean about you. You can never give me a straight answer. Why can't you sit down with me and have a meaningfull coversation?" "Ok then, lets sit down now and have a meaningfull conversation right now."

We both sat down on the lounge beside each other and I looked he straight in the eye and ripped a fart so loud it shock the foundations. The bitch beat me up.

Now come on fellow members, how meaningfull can I be.

Coops, I'm obviously doing it all wrong as I make the cuppas and do 99% of the cooking. I don't do the washing but that is probably more of an intellectual problem in not knowing how to use the washing machine. Not surprisingly I have been known to often have flatulance but maybe my timing is all wrong in that regard. I won't mention the red chilli pepper as she might see it as a means of getting me moving. Coops keep up the good work in every respect.

Lets not forget what Coops originally asked here, so yes, the conclusion would be that sure horses can win you more money but they can also lose you more (because all of their costs are more) as was said. By the way your talking about the half mile horse vs dog with standing start and all that... Forget the times etc. if thats the case because remember the horse would have 50+ kg on its back the dog wouldnt.

Thats it mate, now doesn't that make sense to how great having a dog is. No handicap.

Your slowly but surely coming aound to my way of thinking.

coops

Good point Hussler about the 50kg plus but the horse does need the jockey (plus saddle and related gear) to get it going and steer it. For most quality dogs, an old rag on a long piece of string would be sufficient. The good ones will chase anything that moves. And by the way, my misses just made herself a cup of coffee but didn't ask me if I wanted one. Wouldn't happen in Coop's household.

There is way my missus wouldn't make me a coffee mate. You have got to stand up to her mate and show her who's boss.
Dosen't matter how much she knocks you down, just keep getting up.

coops

I think things happen alot quicker with dogs! Most are racing now at about 20 months or so, and there isn't that "We'll spell him and see if he grows" type of situation where they might have 1-2 runs in a prep and then disappear to a paddock for months on end, next thing you know they are 4-5 years old and never really blossomed into what was hoped! The pain with Dogs is short and sharp you pretty much know after about 6 or so starts if they are going to make it.
A good racing animal will pay for itself and may even have you in the black, its the slow ones that cost the $!! In my opinion a slow horse costs a hell of a lot more than a slow dog!

Gippy mate, Go to the top of the class.

Hey fella's, I got some news the other day from the missus. She told me that her sister was coming for a visit. "Oh good, It will give me something to do." I said. "What do you mean by that." She asked. "Never mind, I was just thinking out loud to myself." Says I.

Late that morning the missus stuck her head out of the back door and asked what I was doing with the shotgun. "Looking for low flying broomsticks." I said. The bitch beat me up.

coops

Well Coops, not surprisingly, this is another case that demostrates how evil I am compared to you. When reading your message with great interest my mind was heading in a different direction, the wrong direction, an evil direction.

Hahahahaha, right or wrong, go for it mate.

coops