The ups & downs of being a racehorse owner

gordo - sure somebody else will answer, but if you own 10 % of a horse, you will get 10% of the nett stakes earned (jockey takes a cut, trainer takes a cut, etc) - leasing a horse you still pay the keep, but the lease may have some conditions attached, e.g. the total stake of the first win goes to the breeder, or 25% of stakes earned go to the breeder, etc - some leases come with no conditions, so the people leasing the horse gets all the 'nett' stakes

The value of joining a 'group' imo depends on where one races - I have no experience of Gold Circle membership, but in Gauteng, one may choose to join the Racing Association (RA) - abt R1600 a year I think, and for that you get ......wait let me think.....you may race 'exclusively' in the Elevation room at the Big T - although that rule is not really enforced, I have seen many non RA members in the Elevation - and anyone can race in the Furious Room, where the food is not that different and the service just the same - for about the same price per person. At the Vaal it is pretty much anything goes - so no benefit being a RA member when making the trek across the Vaal.

And being an RA member you nowadays get a 'gift' when your horse wins and you're on course (although the other day I received a vey nice letter opener designed by Jenna Clifford - no questions asked (I am not a RA member); what else do you get, o yes, you get the Parade magazine posted to you for free 4 times a year - very nice magazine, but worth R1600 a year - I think not.

O yes, almost forgot, you also get an RA badge - in theory to be able to get you into the Elevation Room

Just my opinion

Boy can I tell you some stories bout owning racehorses!!

Hi all very interesting feed
I have been walking around with the following idea for along time and would like to get feed back from all.

I want to set up a company that solicits owners for trainers, each trainer will tell us what his likes and dislikes is in owners and owners will tell us what they want from their trainer, we will then through various marketing action get owners into syndicates or outright ownership and then place them with a trainers that match their requirements and vice versa, in return we will then get 10% on the trainers bill each month as long as that person stays with the trainer, even if he/she buys other horses or get shares , so the trainer will have to make provision for that. We will also be involved in finding horses for which we will charge a fee. we will also handle all the administration etc..

I would like to know from trainers if they will be prepared for such a scheme where we get him /her new owners and horses and from prospective owners if they will work through an "agency" if you want to call it that

. I am looking forward to your input.

Guess what, i own 15% share in a horse called Mastende, which ran second today, and i must add, at a good price. I have not received a pre-race report from the stable.

I guess i should have phoned the stable and enquired, which i did not do, so equally to be blamed..........no use crying over spilt milk. Will phone the stable and see why no correspondence from their side.

Question to Craig, does this happen at your stable. Is your owners well informed.

I am plain just disappointed.

Krishy PLEASE don't think that it is your job to phone the trainer- Bad service is a trend in South Africa (in all fields Medical, sales,banking etc) - I would never leave a horse with a trainer that does not give you an idea of your chances(mainly the wellbeing of the horse)

krishy Wrote:

---

> Guess what, i own 15% share in a horse called
> Mastende, which ran second today, and i must add,
> at a good price. I have not received a pre-race
> report from the stable.
>
> I guess i should have phoned the stable and
> enquired, which i did not do, so equally to be
> blamed..........no use crying over spilt milk.
> Will phone the stable and see why no
> correspondence from their side.
>
> Question to Craig, does this happen at your
> stable. Is your owners well informed.
>
> I am plain just disappointed.

Just not good enough, imo - I bet you get a call very quickly when you are a couple of days late on paying your bill.

But well done on the 2nd place - helps to pay the bills at least (tu)

Sure the Alexanders have a PR team ..must be busy

hibernia Wrote:

---

> Sure the Alexanders have a PR team ..must be busy


No excuse - sure they will be peeved if an owner is 'too busy' to pay the bill

Just back from the yard and reading this thread now. We charge R4500 plus farrier, noms and acceptances. We do most of the basic vet work ourselves so only call out Dr.Parker when necessary. Also note that vet fees here are much cheaper than in other centers.

Having been owners before trainers we know what it's like to not hear about your horses so keep in touch with our owners as much as we can . Colin and Lyn Stonebridge live in Tanzania so we continually send them photos and DVDs of their horses especially when they go to the beach. Luckily our sons "allow us" to use the trucks to go to the beach every 2 weeks or so which all the horses love. This cost is not passed on to owners.

We have installed a horse walker as well as an ice machine to help with horse maintainence and have a staff member that does the Nebuliser and massage machine on horses that need it.

We sold shares in Hightower to Larry Wainstein and Clyde Basel and they are both very happy with our comms. Also very loyal owners are Martin Le Roux ( juvenile filly had 2 runs and placed twice) and Len Sham (shares Phemba & Lunar Lee with us)

We will be at Shongweni Sale as we like to buy horses in training for PE so anyone interested in joining us as shareholders are welcome to contact us.

Guys - I own plenty of horses. By far more than 10...Have been and still is with the biggest and 'best'in the game... Be carefull is all I can say - trainers firstly look after their own pockets. I know there will be people that will not like my statement - but I have been there and got the scars to show. There is plain simply no loyalty in this game...trainers and jocs

This horse has given me some "highs", and must admit that it has so far paid its own bills so far.

Just revisited my email - Julie is currently on leave, i think that explains why no correspondence.

any remarks about my idea earlier?