Rae Guest Racing

	Rae Guest Answers Some Frequently Asked Questions If you want to know anything else please e-mail us at raeguest@raeguest.com
	How much does a thoroughbred racehorse cost?
	Successful racehorses have been bought for very little or even given away by their breeders. However, the horses with better pedigrees and conformation will always be more expensive and there is no guarantee of success with them either. In general though the more money you have to spend the better chance you have of getting in the winners enclosure. Remember the cautionary tale of Snaafi Dancer, a horse bought by Sheik Mohammed for $10.6 million, which was not only useless on the racecourse, but proved infertile at stud. The average price for a horse at Chestnut Tree Stables is around £10,000. The most expensive cost IR 135,000 and at the other end of the scale Montecristo, subsequently the winner of 15 races, was given to Rae when he was very sick as a three year old.
	What facilities does Newmarket, England have?
	Newmarket has the best facilities in the world for horses. It has a whole range of different surfaces on which to train horses including grass, Fibresand, woodchip, Polytrack, sand and Equitrack. There is a huge choice of different canters and gallops uphill and flat, round bends and straight. They are all beautifully maintained and access regulated by Jockey Club Estates. Newmarket, dedicated to horses and horse racing, is the only place in the UK to boast two racecourses, where top class flat racing takes place throughout the summer. The Rowley Mile racecourse, only ½ mile away from Chestnut Tree Stables, is where the first two classic races, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas', are run. The other track, the picturesque July course, stages the sprint championship of Europe, the Group 1 July Cup; and its enormously popular 'Newmarket Nights' series combines racing with pop and rock music after an evening card. For more details see www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk
	Who owns the gallops at Newmarket?
	Jockey Club Estates Limited, which is the property company of The Jockey Club.
	How much does it cost to have a horse in training?
	The training fee is £37 per day plus VAT, but currently owners can register for VAT and provided they can show that they have generated business income they can reclaim that part (17.5%). In addition The Jockey Club makes a charge of approximately £80 per month for your horse to use the gallops. Vets bills, swimming (for the horse) racing expenses and other items are also additional. Please e-mail or call us for further details. In general it costs around £1,200 per month to have a horse in training in Newmarket.
	When are the yards working hours?
	The lads come in at 6.30 am and work until around 11.30/12 Noon, with a break for breakfast around 8.30 am. Each lad usually rides three horses in a morning. They then leave the horses and are free until 4pm, when they come back in to do evening stables. This is when the horses are mucked out, fed, watered and groomed. It is also when the head lad and trainer check that the horse has not sustained any small injuries following the mornings workout.
	Where do the lads live?
	We have accommodation for 10 lads on the yard. Lads has come to mean not only males, but also females who work in the yard, and is also irrespective of age! Many of the other lads either have their own houses in or around Newmarket, or rent in the town.
	How long does it take to get a horse fit?
	This very much varies according to the horses make and shape, current state of fitness and whether it has been in training for racing before. As a guide, 8 weeks is about the shortest to allow.
	What are the horses bedded down on?
	Shredded paper or a mixture of dust extracted shredded straw and shavings. It provides a warm bed for the horse to lie on, without the associated dust which can cause respiratory problems.
	When are the sales?
	The yearling sales, where most of our new recruits come from, are in the Autumn. There are sales in Deauville, France; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Ireland; Germany and here in Newmarket. There are also horses in training and breeding stock sales during the year. Look at www.tattersalls.com for further information about sales at Newmarket.
	What happens to the horses when they have finished racing?
	Many of the horses here are fillies, who often go to stud to have foals at the end of their racing career. Some are owned by their breeders who have a stud, and others are placed as boarders with local studs, so their owners can come to see both their racehorse in training and mare at stud at the same time. If they are not good enough to breed, we usually find a good home for them as riding horses.
	If I become an owner can I choose my own colours and horses name?
	Yes, subject to the Jockey Club rules and what has already been registered. Obviously you can't have the same name or colours as anyone else. For more details see www.weatherbys-group.com. Weatherbys are the secretaries to the Jockey Club and are in charge of matters such as this.