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So You Want to Buy a Horse (Part 2): What to Expect in the Life of a Racehorse Owner
Purchase cost and upkeep expectations aside, it’s the thrill of winning that attracts so many people to the prospect of owning their own racehorse. We touched a bit on what one can expect, when considering the many forms of horse ownership there are available in Australia. However, the sport is more than just a soulless avenue to turn a dollar into more. As is often said about horse racing, it’s best to be in it for the sport. As a racehorse owner, it’s easy to seem blindsided to anything other than the prospect of earning prize money. Yet racehorse ownership does come with plenty of thrills and privileges — many of which exist outside of where your horse places in a race.
Racehorse ownership offers many punters a way to get intimate with the inner-workings of the racehorsing community. That includes enjoying trackside privileges on race day, and being able to appreciate the sport from the perspective of the members’ club. This involves the breeders, trainers, and racehorse owners who arguably have the most passion and stake in seeing their horses cross the finish line. If the thrill of winning was what enticed you to your first trackside experiences at the beginning, then you’ll be glad to hear that there’s no better place to experience that thrill once more, than from behind the members’ enclosure of a racing club.
The View of the Racetrack from the Member’s Enclosure
Racehorse ownership simply opens up the doors to the exclusive world of the race club’s elite. The Members’ Enclosure isn’t where mates hang out and hope for a lucky punt to bag them extra spending money for the evening after. Here’s where racehorse owners mingle with each other, and as well as with jockeys, breeders, and trainers too. As a racehorse owner, it’s where you’d want to be to have a better idea of how best to decide the progress of your racehorse’s career. Of course, nothing helps these types of decisions better than having an exclusive view of your horse gunning down the track, as you watch from the member’s enclosure.
The Privileges of Racehorse Ownership
Direct access to the members’ stand is hardly the only feature you should be looking forward to. Make no doubt that racehorse ownership will see you involved in more than just deciding what to name your horse, and what colours your jockey should ride in. Racehorse ownership puts you in amongst the action, as close as it gets before the race actually begins. With several conditions to consider for the day, this is where you may even get involved with your trainer, in deciding how best to advise your jockey before the race begins.
If you’re a co-owner as part of a partnership or smaller syndicate, your ‘trackside’ involvement may see less up-front interactions on race day itself. However, this isn’t to say that members of a racing syndicate aren’t often invited to training grounds and stables to enjoy up-close interactions with jockeys, trainers, and breeders. In fact, most leading syndicates do encourage their members to visit their training grounds to have a better understanding of life at the stable. After all, many factors influence a horse’s training, especially considering that syndicates typically acquire yearlings from auctions, and put them through a breaking in and training process at the start of their racing careers. As an owner within a syndicate, these firsthand experiences are often exclusive invitations that keep you well-informed and up to date on the sport, well before race day actually comes around.
Race Day Access as a Horse Owner
Of course, few perks are as attractive as those you’ll get to enjoy on the day of the race itself. Interestingly, here’s where all that firsthand experience from the training stables comes into play. Knowing what conditions your thoroughbred performs in best could well influence how your trainer and jockey steer closer to a potential victory. But of course, being among other horse owners and trainers in the members’ stand will also keep your trackside decision making well-informed.
Apart from keeping a keen ear out for competition, the day of the races sees horse owners obtaining exclusive tickets to members’ areas, with owners’ passes to allow for up close interactions in the mounting yard. During and after the race itself, you’ll get to enjoy your view of the races from the privacy of the owners’ room — where it’s common to enjoy a beverage with other owners.
Networking with the Racing Elite
Race day privileges don’t only involve sipping glasses of champagne in exclusivity. Your time with other horse owners in the members’ enclosure provides you with plenty of access to information on other racehorses. Among topics discussed can involve where other horses are trained, and any other judgements to do with investing in a racehorse. As the owner of your own racehorse, here’s where you might get clued into an upcoming opportunity to form a syndicate, or get first footing in a coming auction that features a yearling from a popular breeder.
Where’s the Horse During All of This?
As with any considerable investment decision, becoming a racehorse owner will require a long-term view that involves you beyond just your horse’s racing career. Most racehorses keep a career spanning up to 3 years, but go on to live for as long as 30. Your investment in a prized yearling at an auction, could take into consideration the possibility of breeding after their last race is run, or even to pursue an active life in equestrian sport. Networking as part of a syndicate of owners, or within the members’ booth of a club will no doubt place you at the forefront of such information.
Race day is easily where the peak of excitement lies, for any horse owner. But your first time within the exclusive confines of the members’ enclosure will show you that there’s much more to love when you’ve come this close and personal to everything that makes the sport what it is.
Nakeeta by half a length
Nakeeta
Ebor winner 2017
Nakeeta
The Ebor winner for 2017 makes this horse ideal to win the Melbourne Cup.
A nose
2leghths
Nakeeta by 3/4 of a length
0.75 lengths
1/2 length first Scottish horse to win
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1.5 lengths
I think by a photo finish
.4 length
Will win by 1.25Lengths
3 Lengths
Its a guess
Nakeeta will win by 1.75 lengths
3/4 length
A head
Nose
0.5L
1 length
Half a head
Neck