I dreamt of owning a racehorse ever since those first vists to Taunton Races at the age of 11. Those dreams came true when my friends and I bought our first horse, a 4 year old mare called Tashlee Grove in training with our friend Brian Forsey when I was 18. She never got to the racecourse but a few horses later I had my first ever winner in my own colours on 14th May 1991, when Lady Primrose won a selling handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot under young jump jockey Carl Llewellyn (who went on to win the Grand National on Party Politics the following spring).

There followed one more winner in my colours (Aldahe at Lingfield Park over hurdles) before grown up things like work, mortgage, marriage and children took up more of my finances. I became a serial Syndicate member with Elite, Full Circle, Henry Ponsonby to name but a few before I took a share in Outset with Mark Kilner Racing. Outset was very successful on both the flat and over jumps and took me to some big racedays which gave me a taste of the life of the owner.

In Autumn 2005, I took the plunge and took a share in a 2 horse syndicate with Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. The 2 horses were Squadron trained by Amanda Perrett and Treat trained by Mick Channon. Treat surpassed all my wildest dreams by finishing 2nd in the Fillies Mile at Ascot as a 2 year old and then 4th in the 1000 Guineas before eventually being sold to Sheik Mohammed to stand at Darley Stud in Japan.

In Jan 2008, I bought into my first horse managed by Middleham Park Racing, Bonnie Prince Blue, quickly followed by my first 2 year old Victoire de Lyphar. I have become very impressed by the syndicate and Nick, Tim and Mike who run it and have got carried away to the extent of now owning shares (generally 5 percent) of 18 different horses in separate syndicates with MPR.

I thought I would share my thoughts and experiences with anyone who might be interested. If you have any interest in racing, I hope that my experiences may tempt you into the wonderful world of racehorse ownership.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog.

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Another Busy Weekend

After a quiet few days, horses entered up all over the place this weekend and early next week.


GUAVA goes again under Sean Levey at Doncaster in the 6f (0-75) Nursery on Saturday. This filly has really found her form at this level and has been really consistent since Sean has taken over on her. This is a more competitive race than her previous few, but off the same mark (66) that she was very unlucky at Kempton, must have a great ew chance. She is likely to be kept on the go over the winter unless we get an offer for her.


MY MOMENT is entered at both Sandown and Kelso on Saturday and Carlisle and Bangor next week. Quite simply decent ground and a smallish field will see My Moment at his best. Loves being in front and dictating his races, I'm sure Tim Vaughan will pick the best race for him. Up 4lb for his good win last time out, given optimum conditions, has a great chance of picking up another chase over 2m 4f to 3m.


MAD MOOSE is entered in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novice Chase over 2m 5f at Wincanton on Saturday. Moose has been on the go since the summer and is a typical Nigel Twiston-Davies tough chaser. He is top rated but is up against a lot of very promising and unexposed Novice Chasers, including Paul Nicholls Silviniaco Conti, who chased home Cue Card, first time out. A lot of the fuss on Saturday will be about Ruby Walsh and the 'Will he or won't he ride' saga and I see that Daryl Jacob is jocked up on Saturday at Wincanton. We will hope that our boy will go out and sneak under the radar and use his experience to put these novices under pressure. The slightly shorter trip should suit better than the extended 3m at Cheltenham. It's a very big prize and well worth a go. Let's hope the weather relents so that the ground doesn't get too testing and spoil an excellent day's racing. I will be going so already getting very excited.



Next week could see two of my nicest prospects reappear, after their summer breaks at Tim Vaughan's Yard in South Wales. 

Benefit of Youth is entered in a Bumper at Carlisle on Monday. We ran him against our better judgement at the end of last season, but the ground was too firm and the horse too weak to do himself justice. Tim is convinced that we will see a different horse this season, so exciting times. Bumpers are getting much more competitive now, so no doubt there will be 3 or 4 strongly fancied. Hopeful of a promising run, whether he runs here or somewhere else in the near future.



True Blue has done well enough to earn a mention in Tim's Stable Stars on Racing UK recently. This chap was bought in Ireland after winning two point to points and finishing as highest rated 4 year old point to point horse in Ireland last year. He ran once in a bumper soon after joining Tim, but hadn't recovered from his move across the Irish Sea and has been given a complete break over the summer and is now working and schooling extremely well. Tim will start him out over 2m 4f over hurdles (entered Tuesday at Sedgefield) and holds him in high esteem amongst his novice hurdlers. Fingers crossed he could take us to Gloucestershire in March!!!!




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1 comment:

  1. ParForTheCourse4 November 2011 at 02:11

    Hi Dave good look over the weekend and next week.Hopefully see you a Cheltenham next weekend. Do you want to do a blog share http://parforthecourse1.blogspot.com/
    your already in My Blog List.

    ReplyDelete

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