Some horse owners might get frustrated at times, wondering what they're paying for and whether they will ever see their horse line up.
They haven't got it nearly as bad as one owner in New South Wales. Harness trainer Michael Day senior has just been handed a 10-year suspension for leading on the owner for at least five years, plus lying to stewards when first interviewed.
Here's the nitty-gritty from the report: ''The particulars of this charge were that Mr Day (snr) between 2009 and 5 May 2015, by way of dishonesty and deception, received money for training fees and other expenses from an owner for a horse referred to as Miriyan, a horse that did not and does not exist''.
So, what can we learn from this?
Firstly, if you ever get offered shares in a horse named Miriyan, politely decline.
... of ownership
Secondly, if you're able to, visit your trainer occasionally and ask to see the horse.
Try to remember its characteristics (does it have a blaze, a star or white socks, perhaps?) and make sure next time you visit, you're shown the same horse!
Thirdly, if your horse doesn't get close to going to a workout or a trial under its supposed registered name for year after year (unless its breeding suggests it might be a late developer), it might not be worth persevering with - let alone paying the bills.
Regardless, you should probably ask a question or two about its racing future.
And finally, use the appropriate websites to check for your horse's registered name (assuming it's got more than a stable name).
Not long to go
With just four weeks to go until the end of the season, here's a quick wrap of the premierships.
• Matthew Cameron has a 16-win lead over Danielle Johnson for the national jockeys' premiership, while Rory Hutchings has a vice-like grip on the apprentice title.
• The Murray Baker-Andrew Forsman training partnership is into three figures (105) and well clear of Lisa Latta (82).
• Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen (129) are 31 wins in front of Robert Dunn (98) in the harness trainers' premiership.
• Dexter Dunn (201) is 100 wins - yes, that's right - ahead of Blair Orange with 101 while the junior drivers' premiership, as covered off in yesterday's ODT, is very close.
• In the doggies, John McInerney has 70-odd wins to spare over Lisa Ahern for overall wins but Jean and Dave Fahey have one hand on the UDR premiership, with their strike rate just slightly superior to Karen Walsh's at this stage.
Lazy Fiver
I probably took myself off Marty Denton's Christmas card list last week by tipping Rory Mach, but he put in a brave run to finish second.
Trying something different this week - I was a big fan of greyhound Dream Collector until he broke down last year.
He is second favourite in the South Island Championships (race 8) at Addington tonight, and jumps from box 2.
