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A little while ago there was a post about syndicates and I mentioned the Owners Group and here is a little update on my experience culminating in a fantastic day on Saturday.
Last October I bought my first share, it was in a horse called Diderot. It took a while to get an outing but he won his very first race for us. Despite only having a few hairs I was jumping up and down when he won. He then went on to have two seconds including running My Oberon close, and a third. It has been a real buzz having a share in him. I also went on to buy shares in two hurdlers, Boreen Boy with Olly Murphy and Beraz with Dan Skelton. I then purchased shares in San Isidro and a two year old Engelbert with James Ferguson.
Boreen Boy ran badly in his first race having breathing problems, again ran badly on his second race but was discovered afterwards to have an ulcer. He was given a breathing op after the first race and was treated for his ulcer and then won his third race for us. It is such a buzz to see your horse win.
A couple of weeks ago I managed to get on a stable visit to see Boreen Boy. Olly was fantastic and spent about 45 minutes with us and then amazingly gave us free reign to walk around the stables and gallops, see his horses and look at how the stable operated. A really fantastic experience but even better to come.
Last Friday I got notified I had been drawn out of the hat for one of 20 owners badges to see San Isidro run at Newmarket. What a day it was. We had the full ownership experience. Starting by getting a space in the Owners car park ( I think my car took the tone down a little
) went and had free dinner in the owners and trainers bistro, entry into the owners bar etc, I was treated just like any other owner. We had entry into both the pre-parade ring and the parade ring before the race. San Isidro didn’t run well but that was expected as we knew he would need the race. During the race he just wouldn’t settle and wanted to get on with things. After the race we went to the unsaddling enclosure where Adam Kirby gave us a debrief on what happened. James Ferguson wasn’t there because he was at Newbury but his assistant must have spent nearly 30 minutes talking with us after the race. I couldn’t believe I had got drawn out to get a badge for the day, and at Newmarket, the home of racing. The staff at Newmarket were fantastic as was James’s team.I know that this may not be anything to those fortunate enough to be able to own horse and do this regularly but I don’t have the funds of J P McManus and to me this was special and I’m still buzzing. Ever since I got interested in racing back in 1983 I’ve dreamed of owning a horse and standing in the parade ring, I never thought it would come true but it has. I have shares in 5 horses, one is yet to run and the others have had 12 runs between them. Out of that I have had two wins, two seconds and a third. Not bad I think. All this for around £50 -£60 per horse for a share for a year. After the first year shares are cheaper because you have already paid the capital cost for the horse (Diderot was 90,000 gns). In fact it doesn’t even cost that because you get your share of any prize money and can even claim back the VAT (owners group will do that for you).
If you are like me and can’t afford £90k for a horse and £25k training fees this is a great way of doing things. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Sounds like a great day Kenh
I was a member of a racing ownership club for a good few years and really enjoyed it. I know some people look down on this type of thing, but I think it is a great way of getting involved in an aspect of racing where the barriers to entry are usually very high, yet still being able to keep a cap on costs.
I am also a member of the owners
group, along with 3,499 others,
in one horse.
Some years ago, I was a member
of a syndicate. Twenty in total
and the thrill isn’t any different.
The thought of making
any money doesn’t come in to it,
whether 20, or 3,500. It’s just
being involved.
Good luck.
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