“The game has been very good to me, but things are just getting tougher and sweating to pay feed and wages is no fun,” says charismatic Port Elizabeth trainer Mitch Wiese, who has decided to call it a day with his small string.
Mitch Wiese – closing his doors
In an exclusive chat to the Sporting Post, Wiese, who has conditioned some top horses, including the likes of the world-ranked Lizard’s Desire in his fourteen years as a trainer for his own account, said that life is hard for most trainers – but even tougher for a small trainer.
“The cost of feed and bedding is exhorbitant and having only sixteen horses, the economics of it just doesn’t work. The profitability in a month where everything goes according to plan is nominal, and one cannot meet routine commitments.”
Wiese added that his wife Tracey and his home were priorities and this had forced him to accept an attractive 9 to 5 job offer outside of horseracing. He has decided to retain his licence.
The switch into the corporate world is going to take some adjustment for the man who has spent most of his working life in the stable yard. He trained under two top-class horsemen in Herman Brown Snr and in Cape Town with Ralph Rixon.
“I had a great grounding and was able to provide a professional service to my top-quality patrons, who have been loyal to me over the years. Phumelela have also been very good to me and I must thank them for assisting me.”
When summing up what had finally made his mind up , Wiese said that it had been some time in the making.
“I train second-hand horses from other centres. A combination of more trainers locally, less horses to go around as owners are tightening belts and a tough economic climate fuelled by spiralling operational costs, meant that things just didn’t work out. And remember, one cannot just go on pushing up keep costs for owners. They have to be relative to stakes and realistic too for the average man – who has kids at college and a bond to pay. We aren’t talking multi-millionaires when one looks at the bulk of the owner population.”
In a parting shot, he said that he would miss the camaraderie and excitement that prevailed in the racing industry and on a raceday.
“It is a tough game and let’s face it, it is each man for himself and we all want to win at the end of the day. Despite that I have made some lifelong friends and there have been more highs and lows, that I will choose to remember,” he said.
