The maintenance of a harmonious relationship between owner and trainer depends on several factors. It is certainly a great test of the character and temperament of both parties, but assuming the loyalty" and competence of she trainer, much depends on how the owner meets with "triumph and disaster" and whether or not he can "treat those two imposters just the same." Reverses, disappointments and lean seasons are likely to cause a strain on the patience ind loyalty of the owner if he does thoroughly understand racing and all its vicissitudes and hazards. Sooner or later it will be suggested to iim by his friends that by omission or commission, his trainer has been at fault, when his erses have failed to win; if he loses confidence n his trainer, friction will develop and event-dally he will come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that his horses will do better in anther stable, The standard of general efficiency among strainers does vary of course, but successful members of the profession themselves admit that she ability to bring the average horse to prime racing condition and to know when he has attained t cannot be claimed to bea rare gift; the process demands some experience and discririmation but only in such degree as many an ordinary groom can acquire and be relied on to exercise, Broadly speaking, writes Yeoman in he "Field," a horse will be prepared for his "engagements as well in one established stable 1s another, and in those exceptional cases where o all appearances the standard of achievement 3 below the average the reason may be traced -0 one of two reasons. Either the trainer is habitually impatient and tries to render fit sotses which are not physically ready for the Jrocess, or he is mean with the quantity or quality of his oats and other fodder. In either instance he has not learnt, or foolishly "chooses o ignore, elementary facts and is not fitted for als job.
Most Important Responsibilities The difference between good trainers and hose whose services are less satisfactory to the average owner, lies less in what they do on he training grounds, than in ability to exploit such merits as horses possess to the utmost advantage on the race-course. Choice of engagenents is usually left to the trainer and whether he owner is a betting man or not he will exsect him to express as a rule, and with some ^recision, his opinion of the chance of any of is runners. These responsibilities are most important in the relationship of owner and trainer! inà when ructions and partings occur the cause n most cases may be traced to the owner's, dissatisfaction with the trainer's judgment in these natters.
One often hears it said of a trainer "he never snows when his horses have a chance," or "he's uch an optimist; he would break the Bank of England." Strange though it may seem, many who are subject to this criticism are consistent-y successful but their chief patrons do not bet ind are probably wealthy breeders. They have good horses who are liberally engaged in rich takes, In most of these instances the trainer receives a commission up to 10 per cent. on all first-prize money won for an owner, so he himself has not any need to bet or to worry very much about thorough trials on the training ground.
Many successful business men take up racing, confident that they can make that pay too. They either know nothing about the sport or possess hat little knowledge: which may be very dangerous in racing, and disturbing to the relations 3f owner and trainer. If their lack of knowledge is allied to a suspicious mind they are likely to fall out with one or more good trainers before they learn their lesson and realize that wealth and business acumen cannot command success in racing.
5 The heavy betting owner can be a source of great anxiety to a trainer but that is partly "ecause the latter is expected to exercise partic-alar care in "placing" his horses and has the precarious responsibility of advising his patron when to bet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.