Have you ever dreamed of owning a racehorse but thought it was financially impossible? Until recently, owning a thoroughbred was often viewed as a privilege reserved for the very wealthy. Thankfully, horse racing syndicates have changed the game. Now, you can own a piece of a racehorse without a hefty price tag, turning your dream into a reality.
If you have dreamed of watching your own horse race to victory, a syndicate might be your perfect entry point.
Understanding Racehorse Ownership
Entering the world of racehorse ownership can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Many people think it is exclusive to the elite, but in reality, it is more attainable than you might believe.
Racehorse ownership comes in various forms: outright ownership, syndicates and clubs. Each option comes with its own level of cost and involvement.
If you’re looking for an affordable racehorse ownership option, then a syndicate could be just right for you, offering the ultimate combination of ownership experience and affordability.
Here we will outline the main elements of each type of racehorse ownership, and why we think syndicates are the best affordable way to own a racehorse
What is a Horse Racing syndicate and how does it work?
A syndicate is essentially a group of individuals who pool their resources to purchase and share ownership of a racehorse. Syndicate sizes can range from a few people to 20 or more, allowing everyone to invest in a percentage of the horse. All costs are split between the group according to their percentage, as are returns, such as prize money and resale funds.
The syndicate manager handles daily operations and keeps members informed about the horse's progress and performance. This allows you to enjoy all the thrills of ownership like race day excitement without the heavy workload of paperwork and administration.
One of the many perks of being part of a syndicate is the exclusive access it grants you on race days. Owners receive exclusive owners badges that let them enter areas closed off to the public. You can enjoy lunch (often complimentary) and drinks in the Owners and Trainers facilities, then visit the parade ring before the race, where you can see your horse up close, meet the trainer, and hear the jockey brief. Should you be lucky enough to have a winner, you will then be invited into the winners' enclosure to celebrate with with a glass or two of champagne and officially collect the trophy!
According to the ROA (Racehorse Owners Association) one of the most budget-friendly routes to racehorse ownership is entering a syndicate. Obviously total costs can fluctuate significantly depending on your chosen purchase. For example, a horse with great pedigree may cost significantly more than a promising newcomer from a less well known stallion. However, by pooling resources, your financial burden can be greatly reduced, making it much more manageable compared to traditional ownership.
Affordability of Different Racehorse Ownership Options
Outright ownership: With outright ownership comes full responsibility for all costs associated with the horse’s training, racing and upkeep. Training fees, BHA registration, jockey / silk fees, feed, vet bills, farrier, insurance, etc. Bills can often be unexpected e.g. emergency vet bills.
Clubs: Racing clubs offer a much cheaper option. Most are under £100 per year for a tiny fractional share in the horse, with as many as 4000 owners in a horse. Tickets to watch your horse race are usually done as a ballot/prize draw.
Syndicates: Syndicates are an affordable racehorse ownership option. You pay the initial share price + set monthly training fees, with no additional unexpected bills.
Pompey Ventures: Depending on the horse & trainer, you can purchase a 2.5% share in one of our racehorse from as little as £750 plus £105 pcm in training fees, making it significantly more affordable than sole ownership. This way, you can relish the excitement of race day without the financial burden of owning an entire horse.
The Racehorse Ownership Experience
Outright ownership: You are much more involved and as the sole owner of the horse, you will have access to all the horse’s allocated owners’ badges for races. You can then bring friends and family to the races with you. However, this also comes with greater responsibility for the horse’s welfare and their future. Consider what you will do with the horse once it retires, or if it doesn’t do as well in racing as you hoped.
Club: You will probably be entered into a ballot to win owners’ badges to each race. There are a limited number of badges available, so you may not always get to attend. You probably won’t be permitted to bring family / friends with you. Consider that some cheaper clubs may have thousands of members in each horse. There may be the opportunity to attend an annual yard visit, but contact with horse / trainer / jockey will be minimal. You won’t have any say in the horse or its career.
Syndicate: With fewer members, there is greater opportunity for badges. Depending on how your syndicate operates, you may be offered the opportunity to bring a +1 to the odd race. You’ll probably get to chat to the trainer, jockey and other owners, and see your horse up close at the yard. You may get to have more say in the horse’s future, particularly if you buy a larger share.
Pompey Ventures: Most PV syndicates will have between 10-20 owners. We aim to keep our syndicates small enough to be personal and large enough for a good mix of owners, encouraging excellent interaction and a lively community group.
Every owner becomes part of the private PV owners group for their horse, where detailed updates are given, including training and race plans. All partners are in all groups, giving owners unlimited access and freedom to ask questions and gain information directly, as well as the opportunity to put forward suggestions relating to their horse.
We always guarantee at least one owners badge for every owner of 2.5% and above, with extras offered when available.
Stable visits are encouraged, so you can get the opportunity to get to know your horse and watch it training and these can be arranged privately at a time to suit you.
Join Pompey Ventures for the Ultimate Affordable Racehorse Ownership Experience
Syndicates offer the ultimate blend of affordability and involvement. If you are looking for a fantastic racehorse owner experience at an affordable price, then Pompey Ventures could be for you.
We have a great selection of flat horses at different price points, all carefully studied, evaluated and selected by our partners with the same attention to detail. We try and offer a good mix of yearlings, for owners who like the buzz of owning a "lottery ticket" that could turn out to be the next Frankel and HIT (horses in training) horses, that have already raced, can be assessed on their previous performances and we think have the potential to improve, once part of the PV team.
PV are committed to only using top class trainers & we are very proud of our team. We currently have horses in training all over the country; with Karl Burke in Yorkshire, George Boughey in Newmarket, & Ollie Sangster & Gary Brown in Wiltshire. We even have a PV Irish division with Jack Davison! All our horses are currently on the flat, and we have regular runners on the all weather through the winter, as well as all over the country through the summer turf season. We even have our first overseas runner coming up with Oliver Show taking his campaign to the Bahrain Turf Series for the winter!
Being part of a PV syndicate means sharing the journey with like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about horse racing. Not only will you meet fellow horse lovers, but you will also get to meet and chat to industry experts like trainers and jockeys, gaining invaluable knowledge and experience.
"Thank you for a great owners experience, I am 100% looking to get involved again. The group is amazing, great crack and some lovely animals on the books"
"Quality syndicate and would recommend to anyone'"
If you are interested in joining Pompey Ventures, check out our shares currently available
or get in touch for a chat
