Have You Ever Owned A Horse?

Yes I was part of one of the very early Middleham Park Racing syndicate in about 96 trained by Pat Haslam.

Then I bred my own.

Then I had a part of a horse at Peter Beaumont.

All this while living at mum's on a council estate. Talk about getting your priorities wrong in your twenties.

steamship - Dream job would be running these syndicates. The only people who make money is the syndicate manager and the trainers. Buy a cheap horse, sell it on to a 12 man syndicate at inflated price and charge syndicate members inflated training fees.

Was only reminiscing about it earlier on another thread, had a share in a "dud" with Ian Walker back in the late seventies, taught me very early on that it was a drain on my "entertainment" money...!

people that shop in tesco own plenty horses

^^^^^

Yeah but they bottom falls out of their world when they don't retain them!

All the horses I`ve been involved with, eventually ended up in Tescos.

It's not that easy running a syndicate themightymac. First you have to find the money to buy the horse first so that's a risk. If you buy it at auction, what you paid is on public record so you can't over-inflate the prices. Then you have to find the owners. If you don't get 12 partners straightaway then you have to meet that proportion of training fees. Then if it runs badly and the partners decide to stop paying fees, what are you going to do? Take them to court?
Or what happens if it gets seriously injured. You may have incorporated some vet fees in the monthly charge but major surgery can cost thousands.
Plus when the partners meet the trainer, he always says it costs about 70% to train the horse than it actually does because he conveniently forgets transport, farriers fees and vets fees. Thus partners think you are ripping them off.
Trust me, it's a bl00dy nightmare.

Fair dinkums cantthinkofaclevername, I bow to your superior knowledge and experience. Only way I`d get involved again is if I could afford a half share minimum with trainer. Best of luck.

I bought 2 off the worst trainer in living memory, mrs dutfield, one improved 35lb but never won a race then broke down, the other blew a gasket whilst pissing up at fontwell one day.

Its a complete maniacs game.

IVE NOT BUT MY GRANDAD OWNED THREE ,HE WAS A RAG AND BONE MAN

DOLLY,DAISY, AND FLY-FLY

Bought a yearling filly out of a field for 3 grand in Dec 1998. The breeder had died, so there was a genuine reason for sale (very important).

Tiny, with spindly legs, but everything was well put together. Sent her to MC Pipe to break in and train. She never grew another inch for the rest of her life.

Won a mile seller as a 2yo. Then won a 12f seller and a 2m h'cap under top weight as a 3yo. Tore both her front tendons (those spindly legs).

Had her home, got a foal out of her and turned her out for a winter in deep mud, so that the tendons healed with the fibres being pulled into a straight line. Sold the foal (now an eventer).

Sent her back to Pipe as a 6yo, when she won another 12f seller. Then she burst blood vessels badly, so I retired her. Sold her for a monkey to a breeder in Northumberland, where she's had a few more foals.

Then entire project, counting every single penny of expenses, cost £28,000 over 5 years.

Ran 10 races in all, for 4 wins and 2 seconds, including chasing home a horse of the Queen's one evening.

Worth every penny, if only just for the phone conversations with Pipe in the mornings when the decs came through and we were plotting up which race to go for.

Have never bought another one, as I know I'd never find one as good as that for the kind of money I could afford.

I've owned a 100 or so over the years......

In the past I have owned a few horses and yes it is a very expensive hobby over all,

for the vast majority of owners you must have disposable income because the chance of

a horse paying its pay is small in the extreme.

Horse No1 won first time, broke leg third time, dead.
Horse No2 smashed its knee up in a paddock before running, dead.
Horse No3 broke down after its first run, saved it, but will never run.
Horse No4 will be running within the next two months.


I have done my b o l l o x over the last three years but do you know what? I've had the time of my life, the people I have met, on the gallops, I love all of it but my own pot has just about run out and if No4 doesn't do anything I'm out, but in life if you love something the money isn't everything.

Had a fair few over the years, starting with David Elsworth when he was just getting going as a trainer. Had some tremendous highs and a lot more lows, but no regrets and I reckon I learned a lot from the experience that made me a better punter. Met a lot of interesting people, made good friends, spent a fortune!

The best way to describe ownership - the most expensive way ever devised of getting free admission to a racecourse.

I have owned parts or occasionally all of racehorses for 40 odd years. Yes it costs money but I have enjoyed the experience and see racing differently from many of those who have not. On the whole, trainers are very average tipsters, jockeys are worse. Stable staff are the best source of useful information. I have had some useless horses but they were outnumbered by good ones. The last 4 in which I owned shares won 15 races between them. They were Jefferies and Faustino in the nineties who both won 5 times and were placed in many other races, Lucky Bay who won only 2 but was the highest rated I ever had and was second or third in some valuable races. When he won a grade 2 chase at Newbury, the trainer told the rider to make sure he got round as there were 6 runners and prizes down to sixth place! My last one was So Now who won 3 and might have won more but for injury. In only one season did I cover my costs. For those with a longer memory, my favourite was a horse called Meister who was running in the 80's. Trained by Jim Old, he won 6 times including the Bristol Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham December meeting, my only winner at my favourite course. Since those days, NH prize money has gone up about 50%, costs by 500%.

two with john spearing many years ago(12 of us involved) they were useless but it was great fun

yes owned part share in a few over the years.

Yes it costs money but I have enjoyed the experience and see racing differently from many of those who have not

Agree with that totally sageform - had small shares in a couple (nothing decent to speak of) but keeping track of the development, going down to the yard, gallops, then being at the races etc is a really good experience.

Don't expect to make any money out of it, unless you're very very lucky.

"two with john spearing many years ago(12 of us involved) they were useless but it was great fun"

That's the spirit!

One will run out of money,faster than trainers run out of excuses.

yeh had half share and quarter share in 3 back in 70s---all useless Ormonde tudor selling hurdler with Owen Brennan--sold it following season lined up in Grand National---FELL AT FIRST

I've had 36 horses over the 20 years, owned either 100% of em, or
had at least a 50% share, never less. Bought them all myself, either as yearlings.
(Half a dozen) but they were all useless, or from sheikh mo's. Although I did pay 20k for one, out of
Prescotts, lesson learned there. Had two winners in that time.

One was 90 had in the Ayr gold cup one year, two weeks before the race, done amazing piece of work
then done a tendon badly. Never saw a racecourse again, drove him 500 miles, to him found him a good home,
After 9 months box rest. Last I heard he was still being ridden out[:grin:.

Made a bit of dough, but I never paid the training, transport, farrier, gallop fee's most owners have to
pay, or more importantly the dodgy purchase prices, these syndicates pay

owned a 10 yr old welsh cob,called buttons,ex riding school  - had it in my pre training yard but it never made the track.

When I could no longer afford to own horses myself I got a friend into the game

and although over the years it cost him in the region of £5 million he did win

around 400 races including the Grand National, happy days.

I may of backed that winner wee eck, was it Red Marauder?

Aye, that it was.

Yes - but gave up ownership 15yrs ago.

Considering run of the mill prize money is no different now from then its kinda like throwing money down the drain unless you are very lucky or just love the sport and don't worry about money.

Nige, your right there, but if you ever got involved for prize money, it would be the wrong
reason. I won a race almost 13 years ago, £2k to the winner, same race now, worth £400
less. But that's a whole new chapter, 70% of new owners get out of racing, within three years. Prize money
one reason, you can guess the other

red  marauder,I backed smartie,both well ahead of field heavy going,wasn't it red marauders last race also?

The Good

Now We Know Purchased for 3k and won 3 points 2 hurdles and 2 chases. the in the NH Chase and might have won it but for falling 2 years later. An amazing piece of fun with a horses who stayed for ever but lacked confidence. Won 80k when he won at Bangor after we finally listened to Brendon Powell on how to ride him!

Honeybed Wood Purchased for 1500 and won 5 modest hurdle races including on my wifes 40th ridden by AP. Landed some huge bets for us but sadly was stopped on her debut for us in a highly contentious seller at Hereford.

The Bad
Shellin Hill Purchased for 4k and finished 2nd at Ludlow on his debut for us when backed to win fortunes. Failed to win and sold on and he won a couple.

Stakeholder Purchased for 16k Made a noise on the gallops and ran 4 races without promise and sold for 1400!

Overall we had a great time and met some terrific people and came out on top financially but don't feel inclined to go back as the costs have increased substancially and the heartache of injuries and the dreaded trainer phonecalls are not missed.

xmoney that was the last chase he ever ran, but he did run in a hurdle race at Newcastle

the following season to see if he still had it, ran disappointingly and was then retired.

reading this thread,you don't buy a horse to make money,you need deep pockets an love of the game

thx wee eck

I own one on my own (runs at Chepstow on Monday). It is my first horse and it is great fun going to the races, stable visit etc. Nice to meet other owners to, not the very posh ones of course, but down to earth folk. Get the occasional tip too. Get involved even if it is a 1/12th share, Would recommend a small stable out of the big training centres.

bar,do the posh ones look down on you?

Was in a syndicate of 6 way back in 1988. First time for all of us and we were turned over in varying degrees by a lot of people, starting with the trainer. The horse ran 3 times and would have only troubled the judge had they turned around and gone the other way!

There are a couple of brilliant tales about my experience, including when we sold the beast and, without knowing, actually turned someone else over but I can't go into any detail as it might still get me in trouble due to how some of those involved are still about.

Suffice to say, I sincerely hope a kids riding school in Southern England never put a first-timer on the horse they bought...any such child may still be trying to pull the mad ba**ard up all these years later!!!

I think it was 10%.  Numerous excuses over six months.
I was stopped at traffic lights and opened the results page of the Racing Post.
The horse its debut run the previous day, but I wasn't old. "Slowly away and always behind, broke leg, dead"

I've just remembered.  I was in a racing club.
The deal was we paid training and other costs for horses "leased" from owners (probably to give them a rest from the expense).  The club was to get any prizemoney, or most of it (?).
One of the nags won 3 or 4 times for about 80k.  We expected a dividend.
We got a letter: the trainer said the prizemoney goes to the registered owner.  The trainer is well known to you all, had a big winner this week.

Had a third share in a music boy filly in the late 80's.

Won 2 races for us and had a lot enjoyment going to the stables and gallops.

Sad to say that she broke a leg on the gallops.

Its is a very expensive hobby these days to own a horse.

Have owned horses outright, in partnership and in syndicates generally 4-5 members. Have had 5 individual winners of 14 races. 2 others made the track but did not win in relatively short careers. One  broke down 1st time out in p2p . He hasn't been beaten since!!!

To me a small syndicate membership is the way to go. Here in Ireland a year's expenses can cost anything from 10k upwards. Including  Turf Club expenses an average season would set you back 15k . To a five man syndicate this would work out 3k a leg. Incidentally I have only ever been involved in private sydicates so have no experience of commercial syndicates

How much does a years golf cost a person . Membership, entry fees, golf balls , new equipment, green fees etc. A once a week golfer wouldn't have much change from his 3k. Like a golfer playing every week , I obviously enjoy watching the horses race but also derive great pleasure from regular Saturday morning visits to the yard. As a golfer absorbs the self in golf absorb yourself in racing . By the way the handicap system works in much the same way " the less you try the better chance you have". How ironic it would be if any guys who label certain trainers cheats for exploiting the handicap system were guilty of getting a sneaky "point one" on a Wednesday afternoon

The secret in ownership is to be realistic . If your horse is  no good cut  your losses and get out . If it is capable of winning races and therefore prize money it can be self financing  and then the fun begins. If you are in the fortunate position of someone wanting to buy your horse never refuse a decent profit.

Make sure your members can afford a year's fees .  Generally you would have a fair idea of your horse's ability within that year and would know whether it was worth persevering with. Be aware that the owners prize money is roughly 75% of the total purse. In the UK '" owners prize money " iafter deductions is specified on race cards.

It can be affordable , it will be enjoyable , do the maths and LET YOURSELF GO

Highlights for me were seeing my foal for the first time.Unfortunately as a yearling he had major problems and he was put down.

Spending time at Beaumonts yard seeing Jodami was also great. The best result was 2nd at Perth then he (Stitch B) got injured and was retired.

I would do it again but other things are taking priority at the moment. Better to pick a horse from a yard and everytime it runs have £100 on it.

kincsem

uk or irish trainer?

Irish.

can guess now

*correction
One of the nags won 3 times for about €60k, in three weeks.