Becoming a jockey is on many a horse loving child’s dream job list - and some adults too! After all, how great would it be getting paid to ride a horse every day and getting a front row seat to some of the best days and tracks in racing?! But like all good things, there is much work to be done, and often elements of safety and self discipline that are tested.
Race selection can be a tricky business. So many things go into the placement of a horse including trial or jump out performance, distance, surface, track and grading. Trainers and Racing Managers want to give their horses every opportunity to win, so planning a campaign and most importantly, executing it is always top of mind.
While most of us are still tucked up in bed, and haven’t yet even contemplated that morning coffee, there is a small army at work checking on our horses wellbeing, prepping them for morning rides, water walks or recovery, washing, grooming and feeding, and of course, giving them lots of love and encouragement along the way.
Now we know that everyone who gets into racehorse ownership isn’t necessarily a horsey person who has access to a big lush paddock for their horse to live out their days. So, before you get into owning a racehorse, remember to consider their future retirement plan. It’s important to take the initiative for your horse, that gave you so much joy on the track, to source them a suitable forever home off the track. If you don’t know where to start and would like to practice responsible ownership, we’ll help you out with some suggestions below.
Watching your horse race for the first time is better than hearing your child say their first word or buying your first alcoholic beverage solo when of legal age. What they all have in common is the anticipation leading up to the event. So many hours of hard work behind the scenes go into getting a racehorse ready for their debut and lucky for you, you just get to sit back and enjoy the show! You might have gone to the races before but you’ve never been as an owner, here’s a long list of why being a racehorse owner is the best thing you’ll ever do in your life.
You can officially call yourself an owner… How exciting! Depending on your journey into ownership you may or may not know what is expected of you from your lovely trainers and syndicators who work very hard to get your horses up and running. Here’s a few hints and tips to get your ownership experience off to a good start.
You would have already decided what type of owner you’d like to be by now and you’ve chosen whether you want to go directly through a trainer or see what happens with a syndicator. Now for the exciting part, choosing which horse to buy into! This decision is not only going to bring you immense joy aside from lots of other emotions but it’s also going to shape your new lifestyle.
You’ve decided you want in on the racehorse game and now you got the types of ownership down pat from reading Part 1. Now to choose whether to go directly to a trainer or slide on in with a syndicator! We’ve supplied a few hints and tips to answer all those burning questions you’ve been dying to ask.
Some people collect stamps, others collect vintage cars, but we believe the best kind of people collect racehorses.
Anyone with a pulse and a steady income can become a racehorse owner; who wouldn’t want to go to the races and have special privileges, behind the scenes access, naming rights and - in our case - the chance to design the jockey silks!
Fred creators Richard and Amy are passionate about ownership and getting new people to join in the excitement and thrill (hell, they made an app for it!) and part of that is running their own syndicates with friends, family or anyone who even shows a passing interest.
Their ownership journey started with Gai Waterhouse and Sweet Redemption and now current superstar-in-the-making 3YO Vreneli debuts this week on the Kensington track at Randwick for the Waterhouse Bott stable who trained his sire Wandjina to Group 1 glory.
How did Fred’s stable begin?
The sound of beautiful four-legged athletes pounding the ground amongst race callers narrating was not something a young Richard Busso enjoyed. Driving around with his father listening to racing on the radio and constantly being the one to go top up his TAB account left a bad taste in his mouth. Rich didn’t show an interest in racing until he was intrigued around Spring Carnival one year where his father would miss work to meet up with his cousin to go to “car auctions” coincidently on the same day as a midweek or Saturday meetings in town. Rich later joined in and didn’t even have to pretend to enjoy himself.
Across the gap, Amy Thompson grew up in New Zealand with a plethora of racing relatives competing heavily in both flat and harness racing as jockeys, trainers and the like. In saying that, Amy and her immediate family weren’t as involved or interested in the sport. This was only until Amy landed a job at a TAB whilst completing her tertiary education, where she learned the ins and outs of punting on the ponies.
Together the pair dabbled in a couple horses early days which has since turned into an army of equines, fast and slow, but that’s half the fun.
“Even with the experts behind you, you never know what you’re going to get! We have always wanted to get a wide variety of experience in the industry whether that be as a sole owner, leasing off a trainer or going through a syndicator. It’s always exciting to see the training and progress that goes into finally getting a horse to the racetrack, and having two racing this week is a real thrill!” Rich said.
Who’s in the Fred stable?
Vreneli: Debuting today after a few hiccups early in his career, this guy’s a Wandjina gelding trained by Gai & Adrian in Sydney and he’s always excited the team (and us) since day one. A syndicate group of ten owners from all walks of life starting out as a 40th birthday present for a husband of the group and the rest couldn’t say no.
Better Get Ready: A mixture of first time and existing owners make up this syndicate created for a QLD horse with First Light Racing and Rob Heathcote (Eagle Farm). Trialled well in his first preparation but couldn’t put it together raceday. He has since been gelded and now into his second prep. We enjoy watching him from afar!
Better get ready
Argus: Already a winner! This syndicate is made up of ten owners who are second time owners from previous syndicates with Rich and Amy. 9:1-0-1 with $21,915 in prize money so far… watch this space.
Argus
Embracer: Shouldn’t play favourites but she is up there! Another syndicate was born involving 18 owners with a majority being first timers. The syndicate actually started with a Snitzel horse who unfortunately passed away in week two of training from hitting his head. Rich had the mundane job of calling all the excited first time owners to tell them the news which led them onto Embracer. She is currently in training (Waterhouse Bott) and trialling next week in Sydney.
Embracer
Toyz On Fire: McEvoy-trained debut winner who has had a crack at stakes level. The group have had this horse since she was a foal through friend and horse lover Ross Taylor. After selling First Diamond, Ross urged the group to get into the daughter of Fighting Sun and that they did. They created a female only syndicate for five first time owners that were all girlfriends of Amy. Racing Friday night at the Valley.
Toyz on Fire - Friday night that the valley
Redeeming Spirit: Half sister to Sweet Redemption, a group of ten owners within Rich and Amy’s network got involved as their first lease horse with Bruce Slade.
Redeeming Spirit
White House Girl: A female only syndicate was created for 20 first time owners. She was purchased with Bruce Slade as his first horse in his stable from Newgate Farm. The all-female team created Wonder Woman silks which will be seen flying around QLD racetracks soon.
White House Girl
Pindarri Star: Rich purchased a share in this filly with his ManClub syndicate and our tech friends from the Start Up Bootcamp program were interested in the experience. A second syndicate was created which involved 20 first time owners and she was a sell out! Ready to trial in six weeks.
Pindarri Star
Our early racehorse loves...now retired
Sweet Redemption: Where it all began at that horse sale Richard got dragged to by his Father. A dual-Group 3 winner to get that fire burning for more.
White Thyme: Didn’t live up to her full sister White Sage but still won two races and was sold on for a profit. Amy had a soft spot for the filly “she was just the sweetest horse”. Used as the first test syndicate to help test the model for the Fred App.
Tavistock Dancer: Debut and city winner who raced consistently until injury brought his career to a halt. Purchased together with White Thyme which brought together 13 people for a lot of fun.
Dark Confidant: Pierro filly who took her ownership group on an Oaks path. She was bought after the sale of Sweet Redemption with a group of six who make up the ManClub syndicate and also a winner of two races.
Sunstone: Lazy horse from NZ with JHB syndications. The daughter of Proisir was very consistent in the placings but finished first only once. Let’s see if his third trainer can get him firing!
Solaris: Rich and Amy decided to go out on their own with this one, claiming 5% between them. It was the most they had ever spent on a horse and would probably the last time they tried that approach! 8:0-0-1 #fail
Laranta: Another solo purchase by Richard who managed a runner up placing at Donald in her time with Darren Weir. She is still running today but we’re not sure why.
Winston’s Lad: Robbie Griffiths trained the gelding, who was runner up at two starts before breaking his maiden in town. He was then sold on to Hong Kong and continued his winning streak.
First Diamond: McEvoy horse with JHB Syndications who won three races for a syndicate of three.
Rose Ahead: Debut winner for Mark Kavanagh in a syndicate of 20 owners.
Bjorn Pretty: Two-time winning daughter of High Chaparral trained by Emsley Lodge. She was raced by a syndicate of 20 owners as well.
The final word
With involvement in so many horses current and past, Rich has this advice for anyone looking to get involved:
“Owning a racehorse is just all about having fun, being inclusive and enjoying the ride these great animals take you on. Whether you own 1% or 10% the feeling of winning is one of the greatest things you’ll ever experience and there are lots of different ways to get involved. If you have the chance to join a small syndicate or own your own share, grab it with both hands.”
Let’s hope Vreneli can deliver that feeling on debut and Toyz On Fire can follow suit on Friday night!
Download the Fred app and showcase your stable here.
