TRAINERS

Trainers remain the real culprits of the game, central to the scheme of things. With respect to the standards covering a wide range of professions that attempt to qualify an applicant for a given job status, the qualifications for becoming a so-called (SC) racehorse trainer have no equal in terms of what they fail to deliver. Instead of consistently allowing only those applicants a license who have displayed a reasonable understanding of equine physiology, capable of applying sensible training methods, and who are dedicated to the humane treatment of horses, what is callously coughed up by the game's purveyors - much of the time - is just the opposite. As long as you can spell your name without making more than three mistakes, you qualify. And there seems no end to the supply. Like maggots on a rotting carcass, their numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate, poignantly paralleling the industry's demise, many of whom are nothing more than "two-bit gamblers in search of a score."

That trainers are in charge of the conditioning and the handling of horses is a simple reality. In fact, they pretty much run everything, though the game's High Priests of Propaganda like to pretend otherwise. Jockeys are the second most powerful group. Trainers and jockeys together represent a formidable base that over the years has become so powerful as to actually set the standards - by way of conduct - for acceptable behavior. Those SC racing officials who once might have had some say in matters, have been pushed into the corner, basically reduced to"wearing big hats and carrying small sticks," all the while having to defend the conduct of trainers and jockeys. I believe it's called public relations - pretending everything is just fine as they clamor for New Faces.

Almost everyone involved, however, must shoulder some responsibility for the game's current condition: some for setting the standards by way of their sleazy conduct; others for simply failing to step forward.

In an industry where so much of the "product" is given to unsophisticated orchestration, from the trite, self-serving interviews to the full-blown marketing propaganda, the underlying tension - subtle but pervasive - produced by the strict adherence to the Unwritten Code of Integrity, to "dance the right dance, forever on guard to say the right thing," is there for everyone to see.

Getting Down is extremely well tuned to the above condition. If they say it's Monday, even though we know it's Monday, we immediately check our calendar - just to make sure.

In order to intelligently play the gambling game of SC horse racing, one must consider the true dynamics, however remotely involved, which influence the outcome. Only then can you realistically begin to understand the probability of one event occurring over that of another. All too frequently the horse, and how it may or may not perform, is not the most important ingredient in the mix.

For purposes of evaluation, both in terms of integrity and training competence, Getting Down classifies "trainer production" in the following manner:

The actual number of SS trainers is quite small. Often financially secure (though some are still struggling), this group embodies individuals who generally know well the art of physical conditioning, are primarily concerned with the humane treatment of horses, know where to place them, and try to win every time. Not uncommon is the placement of their horses against competition that seems overwhelming, thus ostensibly contradicting their expert judgment. But don't be fooled. While some have won under these circumstances, usually SS trainers are only going along with unrealistic owners. As long as the jockey doesn't abuse the horse in a futile attempt to participate, however, the only damage done, unfortunately, is to the trainer’s reputation.

Occasionally their horses, given the breeding, represent a torrid collection of ground burners. If one can't run, "just wait till the next one." These horses are moved up through the ranks with little ado. Trainers of this lofty station offer gambling fans of modest ability the best opportunity to catch horses on the improve - if you can live with the short price.

Trainers at this level usually possess good to excellent conditioning ability and have been known to consistently provide pretty solid gambling opportunities, particularly if they have a quality horse under their tutelage. Patience and concern when developing a horse are not uncommon. Not to be outdone all the time, however, occasionally a little fun is cooked up for an easy score. Rarely are any of these payoffs in excess of 12-1 - nothing as serious as Cold Turkey, or coming at you from a hodgepodge of across-the-track moves that would confuse even the likes of Sherlock Holmes. Posting slow workouts for maidens, for example, is an old standard in this group.

It all boils down to a mild slap in the face, the type of activity that can be spotted by an astute observer; that is, an individual possessing a reasonably good understanding of legitimate breeding, and the ability, on a comparative basis, to determine if a particular horse has sufficient conditioning to beat the field. Considering SC horse racing occurs roughly seven percent of the time, we can live with it, as long as they promise not to raise the American flag to new heights.

Members of this not-so-exclusive club deserve a special place in the rankings, not only because their freewheeling practices are rarely challenged, but because their conduct sets an example for trainers of lesser station, encouraging them to engage in almost any kind of Form Reversals, however unbelievable. "If they (SC officials) are gonna start talking to me," one small trainer recently said, "they better start with those other guys first." The term "other guys," in Gambling Track (GT) vernacular, refers to PHT trainers.

Club members are represented in basically three groups: the wheeler-dealer, usually dripping with false arrogance, has an unmistakable entourage of cohorts that range from the shady to the innocent in appearance; the family operation (more notable at smaller GTs) which, through practice, strikes an image of old fashioned integrity; and the type that always appear willing - and prepared - to provide a series of middle-of-the-road answers and comments that, while having little or no value to gambling fans, sound both professional and given to insight. A level of calculated nonchalance that is not quite believable characterizes the staging-area mannerisms of the three groups. They are renowned for their ability to remain tightlipped, as a rule, and know well "where all of the empties are stacked" - information sufficient to discourage "finger pointing" in their direction.

In terms of conditioning ability, they range from fair to very good, and combine to represent a play-the-game (PTG) factor of 18 percent. The quality of horses under their tutelage ranges from mostly good to occasionally excellent. Affluent horse owners who love SC horse racing insist on their services. In addition to knowing about every melody the "boys in the band" have ever played, PHT trainers have a dance for every tune, and music for every occasion - but never has one stepped forward to blow the horn.

Easily the largest group. With respect to conditioning ability, AT trainers are mostly good, with a sprinkling of fair to very good. Their horses are generally good to mediocre, sometimes having individuals that range from very good to excellent. The performance range of AT trainers exists primarily between mid-allowance and low claiming, with an occasional stakes performance. In those Gambling Propositions (GPs) where AT trainers are heavily represented, the potential for SC horse racing is extremely high. A fair number manage a comfortable living; some do quite well.

While an overall sense of camaraderie exists among all trainers, particularly in terms of "them (gambling fans) against us (trainers)," AT trainers nevertheless experience feelings of isolation, of resentment toward other trainer groups. Frequently having their horses trounced by the never ending supply of run-slow-run-fast horses provided by LT and Big Bang (BB) trainers, who are extremely secretive about their intentions, and knowing the HT and PHT trainers have the horses to often "bust ass at will," the AT group is caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard spot." Because of this bitter reality AT trainers have a tendency to scorn trainers of lesser station and harbor a good deal of jealousy toward upper-bracket trainers.

The term "average trust" carries with it the connotation that trainers of this station are basically a pretty rotten bunch - not so. In this group can be found the largest number of innately honest people. Many are dedicated trainers who have the necessary skills to move up the ladder, know the importance of doing a good job, but nevertheless participate in SC horse racing roughly 35 percent of the time - sometimes merely to survive.

Like their jockey counterparts, LT trainers devote a substantial percentage of their across-the-track moves to getting off at the gambling window. "Whereas most trainers in the upper brackets cling to the notion that - by some definition - they are nevertheless actively involved in the racing of horses, any similarity to actual racing in this group is purely accidental," claimed one insider.

Employing the services of mostly LT/AT jockeys, with an occasional across-the-track move executed by a PHT jockey, they relentlessly move their horses up and down the purse structure, switching distances regularly, oftentimes punctuated with any number of layoffs, switching equipment and running surfaces. Short of a severely fractured leg, there probably is no soft-tissue or skeletal injury that would prevent their horses from running. Getting Down occasionally refers to this group as Club 54 - that percentage of time when they play the game.

And make no mistake, if they thought that by merely feeding something as common as house paint and discarded lumber would enhance physical performance, their horses would be shitting colored wood chips in the stretch. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING GOES. Occasionally their cohorts, after a big score, can be observed at the gambling windows softly mouthing similar words to a familiar tune made famous by Kenny Rogers – "You got to know when to bet them. Know when to...them."

Though existing primarily in the lower brackets, the BB concept has been known, as history has proven, to show its hand with surprising regularity at the PHT level. "Some PHT trainers practice the BB concept with greater frequency than others," observed one astute gambling fan, "usually involving one or more across-the-track conditioning moves that involve little effort before going a longer distance, or deliberately putting a horse in over its head any number of times before proper placement."

Lower bracket BB trainers normally put on a pretty good show before "going for the groceries," while those individuals who practice the concept as a form of religion are the most difficult to figure, specializing in Cold Turkey - without warning; utterly defying traditional handicapping. Trainers of this ilk have a PTG factor of approximately 65/70 percent.

It should be noted that the above percentages reflect an average derived from 12 GTs over a 20-year period. The number of trainers found in each category tends to vary with each GT.