Open Yard Morning - The PV Way

There’s a big difference between owning a racehorse and actually feeling like an owner.

Something very different about seeing a racehorse at home.

Not on the racecourse and not in a parade ring — but relaxed in their own surroundings.

You can read updates, watch races, and follow results — but actually seeing the horses at home, standing quietly in their boxes, tends to change things. The chance to touch them, talk to them, (yes, we do 🤫) see just how intelligent they are...well, that's a bit of a game changer for us.

That was really the whole point of our recent PV open day. No hidden agenda. No hard sell. Just time at the yard, plenty of conversation, and the opportunity to learn more about our horses and get a real feel for what ownership with Pompey Ventures is really like.

Everyone there was connected by a love of horses, racing — or both. And for PV owners in particular, it was the chance to spend proper time with their horse. To see how they live, take in the impressive setup Ollie has at Manton, and understand what racehorse ownership looks like in real life.

We deliberately kept the day relaxed and informal.

Coffee appeared, biscuits followed and before long people were deep in conversation — about horses, racing, future plans, and some very honest discussion about what ownership is really like!

The questions were good ones. The sort we only get asked when people feel comfortable enough to voice them. And that matters. Racehorse ownership can feel intimidating from the outside if you haven't been involved before. Yards, trainers, terminology, unwritten rules - it’s easy to think you’re going to feel out of place. What days like this tend to show is that, actually, it doesn’t need to be like that at all.

The highlight, for us at least, was our PV parade -

not because it was polished or perfect but because it quietly underlined how far PV has come in a relatively short space of time. To see almost all of our horse together in one place. It gave us a real 'pinch me' moment.

Ollie was a natural on the mic, talking through each horse in turn, sharing how they’re progressing, what he’s seeing at home, and what might lie ahead.

It was a brilliant opportunity to hear directly from the trainer and also a reminder that every horse is always a work in progress and the excitement often lies in planning and anticipating the next step.

Spending time at the yard is always valuable, but hearing directly from the trainers and seeing the horses up close adds a different level of understanding. For prospective and new owners in particular, that openness makes a huge difference. It turns something that can feel a bit daunting into something straightforward, enjoyable, and easy to understand — exactly how we believe racehorse ownership should be.

We were also delighted to welcome Eve Johnson Houghton, who kindly came along to meet the new owners of our Ardad colt now heading into training with her. Eve’s jockey, Charlie Bishop, was also on hand, both taking the time to chat and answer questions. Exactly the sort of access that we try to provide, and a lovely introduction for his new owners.

We finished the day with a glass (or three!) of Whispering Angel in Manton House's on-site “pub” created years ago by Ollie’s grandfather, Robert Sangster, as a place for staff to unwind and watch the racing after work.

Ollie very kindly opened it up for us, and there was something quite fitting about ending the day surrounded by racing history & memorabilia, with owners, trainers and jockeys (we don’t like to name-drop, but a couple of Derby winners 😉) all chatting together. People came for different reasons, but we hope everyone left with the same feeling we did — a day well spent and thoroughly enjoyed.

And that’s probably the best way to sum it up.

The open day did exactly what we hoped it would. It gave people the chance to see their horses in their home environment, ask questions without pressure, and get a genuine feel for how we operate.

Ownership shouldn’t feel intimidating or remote.

It should feel welcoming, open, and fun - whether you’re already an owner or just starting to explore racehorse ownership.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such an easy, enjoyable day. We’re already looking forward to welcoming owners - and new faces - back to the yard again soon.

The PV Team

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With thanks to Ollie Sangster and his team for hosting us so generously, and to Eve Johnson Houghton, Charlie Bishop, Sean Dylan Bowen, John Reid and Martin Dwyer for taking the time to come along and support PV.

It really did mean a lot to us.

💙🖤