#Soundbites - What advice have you given or would you give your assistant if he or she decides to go out on his or her own?

Article by Bill Heller

Tom Amoss

         My assistant is probably going to do that within the next year, Kinnon LaRose. I sat down with Kinnon a number of times. The advice I’ve given him is twofold. As it pertains to clients, you have to communicate as much as you probably can. I email all my clients once a week and give an update on their horses. I’m readily accessible on the telephone, and if anybody calls and I don’t answer, I call right back. I think communication is the key to someone that’s starting out because you’re offering the client something a lot of the bigger trainers can’t possibly do, which is really managing their investment in the Thoroughbreds. The second piece of advice is that you have to constantly be tending your horses, not only in the barn but also as you’re planning races for them. You can’t not go out there on a daily basis. If you take days off it’s going to catch up to you.

D. Wayne Lukas

         I would say the major thing is that they are ready to make a commitment, a complete and 100 percent commitment to the profession and what they want to accomplish because it’s a very difficult and demanding profession. So make sure that you’re ready for it.

Leonard Powell

         First, don’t go on your own too early. Take plenty of time to learn from other people’s mistakes. Make sure you surround yourself with good people. That goes for staff and owners.

Chris Englehart

         Be honest with owners. It’s a tough business. There are pressures with making payroll. Just be honest.    

John Shirreffs

I would have to tell them as assistant to find a client that you’re going to train for who is committed to you as a trainer and as an individual and will not waver over X amount of years. Always have fun in racing. It makes everything just a little bit better.

Kenny McPeek

The key is finding good horses to train. Take care of every horse you get, but if you want to go to the next level, you’ve got to get better quality horses. The racetrack life is tough. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s pretty cool when it all comes together.

Jim Bond

         Listen to the horse. The horse will tell you everything. Patience is everything. Run them when they’re ready to run.