Guide
How harness racing stable billing works
Harness racing stable billing is how a Standardbred trainer charges each owner for the cost of their horse. A monthly bill usually has a day rate for each day the horse is in training, plus expenses such as vet, blacksmith, and race fees. Each owner pays their ownership share of each charge.
What goes on a stable bill?
A stable bill has a few kinds of charges. Each kind is charged in a different way.
| Charge | How it is charged | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate | For each day in the month that the horse is active | Board, care, and training |
| One-off expense | Once, on the date it happened | Vet visit, shoeing, shipping, starting fee |
| Monthly expense | Once per month, prorated for a partial month | A fixed monthly fee |
| Daily expense | For each active day, like a day rate | Stall rent or turnout |
| Discount or extra charge | For one owner, as a percentage or a fixed amount, once or on each bill | A loyalty discount or an admin fee |
| Sales tax | On the charges after discounts, if the stable charges tax | HST |
How is a bill split between owners?
Each charge is split by ownership percentage. An owner with 60% of a horse pays 60% of its day rate and 60% of each expense. TrotBooks rounds each share so the shares add up to the full charge, to the cent.
Example (the figures are for illustration only): a $50 day rate for 30 active days, plus a $300 vet bill.
| Owner | Share | Day rate | Vet | Owner total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner A | 60% | $900.00 | $180.00 | $1,080.00 |
| Owner B | 40% | $600.00 | $120.00 | $720.00 |
What if a horse is laid up or changes owners?
The day rate stops on the days the horse is not active, for example when it is laid up. If a share of the horse changes hands during the month, each owner pays only for the days they owned it. The invoice shows a separate line for each part of the month.
Do purses reduce what an owner owes?
No. The racetrack pays purse money to the owner directly, so the stable does not subtract it from the bill. TrotBooks can show the month’s race results and the owner’s share of each purse on the invoice for reference.
How do you bill owners with TrotBooks?
- 1
Add your horses
Add each horse in your stable with its name, gait, and status. Only active horses count toward your plan.
- 2
Add the owners and their ownership percentages
On each horse, add its owners and the percentage each one owns. Percentages can have up to two decimal places.
- 3
Set the day rate and other ongoing costs
Add the horse’s day rate and any other ongoing cost, such as stall rent, as a recurring expense. TrotBooks charges it for each active day or once each month.
- 4
Record expenses as they happen
Record vet, blacksmith, shipping, race, and other expenses on the horse on the date they happen. TrotBooks splits each one by ownership.
- 5
Generate the month’s invoices
On the billing page, pick the month and generate invoices. TrotBooks builds one draft invoice for each owner, with a line for each charge and their share.
- 6
Review and send each invoice
Check each draft, then send it. TrotBooks emails the owner the invoice with a PDF copy attached, and owners with a login can see it in TrotBooks.
- 7
Mark invoices paid
When an owner pays, mark the invoice paid and record how they paid, such as check, bank transfer, or Zelle.
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