If thereīs a psychological break-point in racing - a "wisdom fulcrum" upon which your success as an owner will consistently balance - judging the race thatīs right for your horse is IT.

Few owners say it aloud as they watch the owners of a winning horse make their way, smiling, fists raised in victory, to the Winnerīs Circle of an important race: "I should be doing that with my horse." Itīs just plain human nature to think it. The best advice is to ignore that magnetic dream. Reality is the road to success, and placing your horses in races that might lack the luster youīd like but can well pay the freight is the first step toward someday making your run to greet a Stakes winner of your own. If you insist on running your horse in a race where its morning line is 30-1, it is well to keep in mind that only 4% of all races are won by horses with those odds.

Sometimes, itīs hard to "get real," not only for the owner, but for the trainer as well. Months of work, hundreds and even thousands of dollars have gone into the training of your horse. None of that was committed with anything but the most optimistic plans. Inherent in the formula, therefore, is the possibility of overreaching, of placing the horse where it is unlikely to win.

The most important task of the owner is to balance expectations against reality, enthusiasm against opportunity. Sure, there are times when goals become blurred. After months of intensive work and the expenditure of thousands of dollars, it is hard to accept the fact that, for reasons known only to some higher power, the horseīs competitive level is much closer to the bottom of the ladder than the top.

It may be necessary to risk the horse at a claiming price that will leave red ink on your investment ledger, but for all involved, it is a risk well worth taking. If the alternative is placing the horse beyond its ability to win, then holding on brings headaches and heartburn. You may even find that it is necessary to send your horse to less competitive racing circuits in or out of state.

Buying the horse is the most important decision you make; choosing the trainer right for you comes next - but none of it will work until you can answer the toughest question: "What and when is the next race thatīs right for my horse?"