Ask Dominic

Fama's Basic Rule #1 - when working with horses: horses learn through repetition, and they learn best when repetition is accompanied by positive reinforcement.

Fama's Basic Rule #2 - teaching a horse by force produces a slave mentality driven by fear, but teaching a horse with understanding produces a partnership mentality makes them want to please and help you.

Q. So you have a horse with some talent that wants to race, breaks it's maiden, etc... Beyond the obvious financial implications, what are the sides effect(s) of running a horse in conditions that are too difficult over a long period of time?  In other words how does it affect a horse if it is constantly running against competition where it cannot win.


A. We must always remember that horses are (A) creatures of habit and (B) are herd animals. If you continually run a horse in races where it is can not win, it will first learn to accept where it's place is within the "herd" (somewhere in the back of the pack), and secondly, it will eventually develop a bad habit of giving up once another horse passes it. Remember, winning is a habit. Most horses can also sense the positive energy around them when they win, and the negative energy around them when they lose. Some horses relish the post win positive energy that they receive (people patting them and praising them), and some horses are depressed when they don't receive this praise along and sense the negative energy of people around them. Have you ever met a child that is constantly bullied in school? After a while the constant abuse has a negative effect on the childs desire to go to school as well as their self confidence. It is the same with horses that constantly get bullied in races that they can not win.

Q. What causes a race horse to drop weight suddenly and dramatically after coming off track? (From NS Founder & CEO Karin)


A. Race horse feed, performance supplements, and anabolic steroids are designed to promote muscle mass and produce much needed energy. You will seldom see a belly on a race horse. When a race horse is turned out, they are eventually weaned off this type of feed. The change in their feed in addition to the absence of rigorous daily exercise causes their muscle mass to decrease, making them look less "pumped up". Until this loss in muscle mass is replaced by an increase in body fat, they will definitely look skinny and look like they lost a lot of weight. Occasionally, a race horse will miss the race track feed program and the daily exercise and will become depressed and not eat as often when first turned out.

Q. Can I realistically expect to make any money if I invest in a race horse? My friends want me to go in on a horse that they describe as a 25K claimer. My share would be 25%. With the stock market and other investments dropping continously, racing seems at least a more fun way to lose money, all things considered. (From Carolyn C.)


A. To have any substantial shot at consistently making money with a racehorse, you have to claim at least a $50,000 race horse. Competitive horses at this level will generally earn annually enough money racing to cover your training and veterinary expenses ($40,000). Buying a racehorse is like signing up for a golf or tennis club membership. You don't do it to make money, but rather for the enjoyment of the sport and to socialize with the people involved with the sport. Nothing compares to watching your horse win a race. It is a thrill level that is absent in most spectator sports. If you play with competitive $25,000 claimers, you will most likely end up with plus or minus $200 per month when the dust settles at the end of the year. The problem with owning claimers is that when your horse is doing well and wins a couple of races, someone claims them away from you. There is no guarantee that the next horse you claim will be as good as the one you just lost. It's like staying at the black jack table too long. Eventually you lose the money you've won. The best thing to do if you have the resources is to buy an allowance horse privately, complete with a veterinary inspection and clearance.

Dominic Fama:

I've held a trainer's license since 1989. I began training at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo California. Currently, I am 4th in the thoroughbred trainer standings at Los Alamitos Racetrack in Cypress, California. I look forward to having owners with the financial resources to allow me to compete at the major racetracks someday. Aside from my experience as a trainer, I also have an extensive background in the financial field as a former investment analyst, stock and options plan portfolio manager, and as a stock options market maker. I train thoroughbreds because I enjoy working with these gallant athletes. My only regret is that training racehorses is not as financially rewarding as my previous positions. But I can't think of a more enjoyable career.

My philosophy about racehorses and horseracing:

Simply, horseracing is about the racehorses. It's easy for us to forget because there is so much money and so many egos involved in this sport. It is not uncommon for racehorses to be treated as disposable toys by individuals who are in this sport to become famous or rich. Ironically, more people will remember John Henry, Swaps, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer, and Secretariat without a clue as to who owned, trained, or rode them. So as a trainer I leave my ego in the parking lot and encourage my owners to do the same; to be fiscally responsible and enjoy their opportunity to be involved with such great athletes in the sport of kings. Your racehorse is a result of a genetic milkshake concocted by someone who thought they had a better idea. There have only been eleven Triple Crown winners out of more horses than fleas on a cat. So don't be upset at your horse if it can't live up to your expectations.

There are trainers in horse racing that actually care about their horses' welfare and try their best to prevent any negative things from happening to the horses. But, as in any athletic endeavors, accidents and tragedies do happen. It is not so much the sport, whether it be horse racing, football, basketball, soccer, etc., but rather a function of the tasks involved in trying to win. Horse racing as with many sports and businesses have their share of 'bad apples", and the subjects suffer as a result.

We must be careful not to take the easy way out and just generalize. Although it is much harder, it is far more effective to be more specific when criticizing a sport. Horses break down because of many causes, primarily but not limited to trainer ignorance or neglect, poor track surface maintenance (not surface composition), over-use of pain medication (not anabolic steroids) and over racing of horses in general.

There should also be legislation to restrict the number of breedings to a stallion based on the success of their progeny at the racetrack. Potential owners should be subjected to a credit check and limited as to the number of horses they can own based on their income to debt ratios much like when buying a house. If someone had the courage, finances and fortitude to impliment checks and measures on these matters, the sport of horse racing would be much healthier and enjoyable for both the animals and humans involved.

Big Purses – the ultimate goal?

The money that comes with winning these races is provided to help promote the sport and advance the breed, not to inflate one's ego. The horse wins a race, not because I am the trainer, or you are the owner, or it was ridden by a certain jockey. A horse wins a race because it was prepared to do so, and it wanted to win. Everybody else around it just helped, from the groom to the gate crew. When adequate preparation is presented with an opportunity, a win often occurs. It is true, however, that the best horses gravitate towards the most money.

Breed the best to the best….:

If it were only that easy. Not all thoroughbreds are racehorses no matter who their parents are. Horses will let me know within a reasonable time, whether or not they are interested in being a race horse. If I'm lucky, the ones who want to be racehorses will have the talent, the physical attributes, and the right disposition to succeed. The only things that can stymie a good racehorse's career are a delusional and inept trainer, a meddling owner with hubris, and a just plain rotten luck. A great trainer is merely a conduit to winning races. He or she allows the racehorse to develop into its full potential. Trainers that say they can “make” a horse win are laughable. A racehorse wins because of the sum of its being, successfully coping with the situation at hand, and not because of some trainer's master plan. The most important aspect of my job as a trainer is to recognize the full potential of the horse, and to then allow him to reach it. The rest is rudimentary.

When the dust settles:

Every athletic career has an end. The sport owes it to these equine athletes to try to provide them with a good home where they can live out the rest of their lives in peace, because they are incapable of doing it themselves. It is not their fault that they were not fast enough, or that they were not able to live up to expectations. It was the industry that created them for the sport, and it should be the people within the industry that should provide for their welfare when their tour of duty is over. I suggest that a small portion of each racetrack's mutual handle be set aside for this purpose and a portion of the owner's license fees be used for this purpose as well.

Dominic Fama, Thoroughbred Trainer at Los Alamitos Race Course

We wish to acknowledge trainer Dominic Fama for his compassion in assisting us with placements for OTTB's.  In the last few months we have worked with Dominic to retire the following horses:  Miz Paradis, Long Arm of the Da Law, Lake Havens, Really Kickin', Cold Stone Angel, Golden Charmer and Tresor La Vie.   Dominic trains at Los Alamitos and often times the horses that he receives are at the end of their careers and/or already have pre-existing race conditions.   Dominic realizes when his horses need retirement and always makes a sincere effort to find them homes.  He gets no compensation for the many hours he spends doing this...meeting people...answering telephone calls and emails and keeping the horses fed and housed at his own expense until new arrangements can be made.   Any horse under Dominic's care will be humanely handled and as a current owner says "He pushes them but not over the limits of their  endurance."  This is a new column where the long-time trainer will help educate us and answer our questions about racing, training and horsemanship.  Please email your questions to Dominic at info@neighsavers.com.