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good for racing like him and coolmore theres always been great races between their horses as for being a good person i dont know i have never met the man
- Total Posts 17716
Let’s not pretend that the Elite Racing Club actually make decisions with the best interests of members in mind, Pinza.
For all their sins, ERC are exceptionally good at marketing – the descripton of the unraced China Tea as having ‘the breeding to become a top class middle-distance filly’, despite her being in training with Julie Camacho, certainly brought a smile to my face – and, following her Fillies’ Mile victory, Soviet Song was the best promotional tool anyone could have wished for.
Subscription fees are, in short, merely a means of getting other people to pay for the training and running of one man’s horses, and when membership numbers are on the rise the best thing
for the club
is to give others every reason to follow suit. I doubt very much if the numbers being thrown around back in 2002 stack up against those mentioned today, so ERC would have been under no pressure to sell to anyone. After all, the sole director does incredibly well out of the set up – using last year as an example, he took 94% of the profit (£300,000 of £320,000) as dividends and had many of the club’s expenses paid to other companies he owns (and that doesn’t touch on the stock, currently valued in excess of £1m, that members have paid for).
Now, however, the club’s situation is very different. Subscription rates were, as I understand it, on the decline before we began to feel the full effect of the collapse of the financial markets and I can only imagine that things are much worse at present. So, with no obligation to members (as they don’t actually own any of the horses and aren’t entitled to a share of the sale amount) and no flagship animal – I see Soviet Song and Penzance have been trademarked though – what would prevent the release of Border Patrol?
Absolutely nothing (and I’d still love to know how administration totalling £1.3m breaks down).
How much did Godolphin pay for the likes of Jealous Again, Fast Company, Delegator and others along the way ?
The people that sold these horses would have re-invested in the industry.
Whilst it is disapaointing these horses are not reaching their full potential, it must not be all bad with apercentage of the money being re-invested ?
Dan, can you explain why you think the Sheikh is a ‘good man’ ?
Well he can’t be compared with Michael Jackson just yet can he?
Let’s just hope he dosen’t have a theme park for the horses sake.
Subscription fees are, in short, merely a means of getting other people to pay for the training and running of one man’s horses, and when membership numbers are on the rise the best thing
for the club
is to give others every reason to follow suit. I doubt very much if the numbers being thrown around back in 2002 stack up against those mentioned today, so ERC would have been under no pressure to sell to anyone.
Now, however, the club’s situation is very different. Subscription rates were, as I understand it, on the decline before we began to feel the full effect of the collapse of the financial markets and I can only imagine that things are much worse at present. So, with no obligation to members (as they don’t actually own any of the horses and aren’t entitled to a share of the sale amount) and no flagship animal – I see Soviet Song and Penzance have been trademarked though – what would prevent the release of Border Patrol?
Absolutely nothing (and I’d still love to know how administration totalling £1.3m breaks down).
Having snipped this a bit… I’d not thought of *that* "one man", as I rarely see or hear from him whilst another struts around!
To be honest, selling Border Patrol, or at least a stake in him, makes perfect sense to me. The club don’t have the scope to stand him as a stallion, and if he does make up into a group-class horse it would be more publicity for them if he were to be worth a place at stud. It’s a pity the mare has only the one filly. The club is stacking the breeding prog with too many fillies from the one line.
Personally I don’t mind numbers dropping.. I’ve been in the club almost since the beginning and it was a lot more fun when they owned a string of average horses (particularly as they had more jumpers, which was what I was interested in). Wonderful as SS was, as I’d seen her dam win her first race etc. she didn’t half attract a lot of glory hunters who thought every horse in the club would be like that.
And I know that there are quite a few members who have noticed the same faces are always getting the paddock places. Let alone the fact that many of the club staff now appear to be family and friends…
I can’t afford a real share in a real horse, much as I’d love to, so this is as close as I get (which is why I stay). I’ve learnt a little bit about breeding and it’s been nice to "follow" a family closely.
If Elite get a fat check they will flog Border Patrol, nice horse, a group horse in the making.
Cynical as ever about Elite, I see!
As a matter of fact they were offered a very fat one indeed for Soviet Song, after the 2002 Fillies Mile, and did not bite. That’s more than just a rumour.
The were also offered a big cheque for New Seeker at one stage, which was all the more impressive as I believe he’d been gelded at that point.
I do agree that the club need a new flag bearer and I don’t think there’s anything in the wings, so holding onto Border Patrol does make some sense.
Why Sheik Moh doesnt return too using the lieks of stoute plus kiss and make up with Henry Cecil ( they both have different wives now) god only knows.
As for New Seeker, I was their at HQ when he broke his maiden, brillent day though i nearly crippled my two compaions jumping on them in celebration.
- Total Posts 17716
Let’s not pretend that the Elite Racing Club actually make decisions with the best interests of members in mind, Pinza.
No, they make them with the best interests of the Club in mind, which is not the same thing – except in the medium to long term, if the Club is to thrive and grow. I’m not quite sure why you intend that as a criticism.
For all their sins, ERC are exceptionally good at marketing – the descripton of the unraced China Tea as having ‘the breeding to become a top class middle-distance filly’, despite her being in training with Julie Camacho, certainly brought a smile to my face
China Tea is by High Chaparral out of Molasses, who is the dam of the 4-y-o French Group winner (albeit under-achieving) Magadan. If China Tea wins a race she will therefore be a valuable broodmare prospect. To say she has the breeding to be a top class middle-distance filly is not spin, but a simple fact. Julie Camacho (who began, remember, as Dancing Bay’s trainer when he was a developing youngster) is pleased with her progress towards racecourse appearance: she’s had her problems and is not being hurried.
You are entitled to keep sneering, of course, but Elite members rather enjoy owning a filly with this potential, and reading the reports of her progress – whether or not she ever makes it onto a racecourse.
Subscription fees are, in short, merely a means of getting other people to pay for the training and running of one man’s horses
A cynical, limited and selfish slant on Racing Clubs generally. The pleasure and feeling of ownership is shared between that man (who is not prominently seen) and the thousands of members. Sorry if you find that gets your goat, but it is another fact.
Now, however, the club’s situation is very different. Subscription rates were, as I understand it, on the decline before we began to feel the full effect of the collapse of the financial markets and I can only imagine that things are much worse at present. So … [snip] … what would prevent the release of Border Patrol?
By your own argument, the presence in the Club of Border Patrol as a "marketing tool" considerably outweighs his current potential as a stallion. We’ll see who is right about this, but I would be very surprised if the colt goes to Sheikh Mohammed, or indeed anyone else, before the end of his racing career.
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