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.

Friday, 25 January 2013

SACRE BLEU - IS IT A DREAM?

MAD MOOSE
 
When I got involved in owning racehorses, I could only dream about having a horse involved in the biggest Race meetings and the biggest Races.
 
 
The wonderful Mad Moose has already enabled me to lead him into the winners enclosure at the home of Jump Racing, and tomorrow, I will be involved in one of the most anticipated races of the jump season so far, when we have the nerve to enter the fray against the current superstar of the jump racing world, SPRINTER SACRE.
 
 
The Victor Chandler Chase has been saved by great work from the BHA and Cheltenham Racecourse and of course the Cheltenham team have done an incredible job in getting the course fit for racing tomorrow (Hopefully!!)
 
 
Clearly Moose is up against it tomorrow and on the formbook, he is lined up for 7th place barring accidents but I can assure you, I won't be dreaming about finishing 7th tonight. In my dreams Sprinter Sacre is clear but tiring over the last on the heavy ground and Sam Twiston-Davies is getting a storming run out of Mad Moose, catching the champion on the line for a momentous victory.
 
 
Dreams and Disasters - You can't dream of miracles unless you are in the race - Wish Moose (and all the other horses) luck!!
 
 

 
 
 

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)