In answer to \"how often does this happen?\" I say all too frequently. Jerry\'s fees are pretty standard in the industry. In fact, he\'s actually a bargain because he doesn\'t ask for a breeding season.
Here\'s a true story. Kenny McPeek bought Curlin for $57,000 at a yearling sale for those crooks Shirley and Bill of phen phen fame. He then took a year off from training immediately after. Kenny\'s assistant, Helen Pitts, was hired by many of Kenny\'s owners. One of those horses is Einstein, who I think Kenny bought. (Don\'t quote me on that.) Kenny worked as a bloodstock agent for a year, and decided to come back to training. THE ONLY HORSE HE ASKED ANY OF HIS PREVIOUS OWNERS TO LET HIM TRAIN WAS CURLIN. Needless to say, they kept him with Helen, then sold part of him, went to Assmussen, the rest is history. The point of all this is, after asking these guys numerous times to pay him the $57K for Curlin, they finally paid it as the whole phen phen thing was coming up. I know of at least two other owners that told Kenny to buy horses for them, never paid him for them, or refused to pay the commissions he asked. He never pursued them . . . BRAVO FOR YOU JERRY!! I think the bottom line is these greedy people think they can steam roller anyone that gets in their way or they think is weaker than them.
