A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom For A Horse.
So wrote a Mr William Shakespeare, dear reader, whilst giving voice to Richard III, in the play of the same title. The king was lamenting at the battle of Bosworth Field where, ultimately, he was to lose his life and the lineage to the throne, usurped as he was by Richmond, latterly Henry VII.
As lead-in’s to a post go, that was tenuous, I grant you. But I was feeling somewhat literary this morning, so thought I’d roll with it anyway!
My point in all this Elizabethan bluster? The subject of a horse, a horse, a Geegeez geegee.
In the poll top right of this page, enough of you expressed a desire to know a bit more, so I’ve spoken to Julia Feilden, my trainer, and she has given me a feel for what can be done. The story goes like this:
To train, feed, stable, shoe, administer medical attention, transport, hire jockeys and enter into races costs a fixed fee of £15,000 for a year.
This of course is after we’ve bought the animal! If we assumed a ‘transfer fund’ of £10,000 to secure our horse, then that would make the total £25,000 for the year. (If the horse cost less, we’d leave the difference in the ‘kitty’ for the end of year divvy up of monies).
The horse would be either sent to the sales at the end of the year, or we could decide to keep it for another year, with the ongoing associated costs.
There would be an equal division of all prize money amongst ‘shareholders’, and an equal division of the sales price (less taxes, etc) at the end of the ownership period.
Julia tells me that the best way to get a horse is to claim one, but there are also July sales coming up at Newmarket if we can move fast enough (I suspect we won’t be able to but there are some nice animals there which we could potentially afford, depending on how the auction goes).
We’d be looking to buy a moderate animal (flat rating around 60 odd), that could be either a dual purpose horse or would run on the all weather as well as turf.
As well as a share in the horse, Geegeez Syndicate membership would also provide:
- Stable visits to Julia’s Harraton Stables in Exning, next to Newmarket
- A ‘Hoofbeats Tour’ day, where we go round Newmarket with a tour guide
- Owners’ badges for race days for syndicate members (guests will receive a subsidised ticket price)
- Monthly stable updates (Julia has around 20 horses in training)
- Free or subsidised access to some Geegeez racing services
So, my thinking is this:
A syndicate of 50 people, each paying a once off £500, or £100 a month for 6 months. That is, it is cheaper to pay once off.
The horse will run in the name and colours of Geegeez.co.uk. This is “what’s in it for me” if you like. I will pay for and own a ‘golden’ share, which grants me just the single special privilege of naming the syndicate and choosing the colours.
My share costs the same and has the same division of prize / sale money as any other. It just allows me to publicise Geegeez.co.uk. I hope you agree that this is fair for the work involved in pulling it together.
For now, please write a comment below, with an expression of interest or questions or any other thoughts.
[It may be that what is a cracking idea doesn't happen, due to the cost / numbers etc, but let's have a debate]
If there was enough interest, we could be up and running within six weeks and, if we’d claimed a horse, he’d be race fit and ready to run.
Let me know what you think!
Matt
Hi Gaz
Julia is based in Newmarket so many of her horses run ‘that side’ of the country. Having said that, Night Orbit may very well run at Worcester next Wednesday, assuming the ground is not too fast, and Julia’s at Warwick today with Bavarica, so I can’t say there won’t be opportunities elsewhere.
Regarding names, as many people have made suggestions, if we claim a horse it will already be named, and we’ll be obliged to retain that.
Matt
Goodafternoon Matt,
Would you count me in and keep me posted.
Yours,
John Evans.
Hi Matt
Count me in. Even the expenses for me will be much higher when I have to travel from Denmark to UK. Where is Newmarket located?
Bjarne
Matt
Sounds like fun,
Keep me posted, and unless I’m missunderstanding, any return surely comes from knowing when it’s actually trying to win a race not just having a run out?
Dgs
Thanks Bjarne – assuming you weren’t joking, Newmarket is on the side of England that is closer by boat to you guys
Duncan – you’re not misunderstanding.
Matt
great idea keep me informed, that sounds like a good name if we dont claim “keep me informed”.
Regards
Geoff
Sounds Good, already an owner with the A Carroll stable, with a plot on the way!!!
i’m very interested,please add me to the list..
Keep us all posted on the plot, Steve!!!
Matt
yes interested as long as its not a filly!!!
Ok if you live in the South of England-Northerner
It seems a reasonable enough price, but unfortunately beyond my means presently. Very best of luck with the project.
Jon D.
Hi
Sounds interesting, put me down as a possible. Keep us informed.
Paul
I’m interested in your GeeGeez syndicate proposal.
As part-owner of Smarties Party, I can thoroughly recommend Chris Thornton as a trainer who would do a great job for you. Owners are encouraged to visit the yard to see their horses and are warmly welcomed when they do.
Based in Middleham, he has trained over 600 winners (NH & Flat) and is as honest and genuine as the day is long, a true gentleman.
Would certainly be interested in the £100.00 a month option,please keep me posted,thanks Phil
Great idea Matt.
Count me in.
I live 5 mins from the Rowley Mile and about 15 minutes from Julias yard in Exning.
ok,count me in for a share,please make sure its a winner….lol
i like to hear more when you get things sorted
sounds like a good idea to me – would be very interested
Matt, I wasn’t joking. I’ll find a way to get there when the time comes.
I see now, not far from Harwich. And Newmarket offers good hospitality
Count me in at £500
Keen on the price and the idea
great idea matt,but i agree with the guy who wants more people involved for a lesser cost,i,m saying this as i could,nt come up with the 500 readies.
Keep me advised too Matt
Cheers
Dave
Hi Matt,
Sounds great, keep me informed as very interested.
Thanks.
yes im in but only at the £100 month option but id definetly be up for it
hi matt,
sounds good,count me in,
ken
Lets get it sorted Matt. I am in, infact I suggested this idea to you some months ago.
I dont think it matters what discipline the horse runs in, in answer to some of the comments above, horses do get injured on the flat as well as hurdles.
At the figures you suggest definately count me in.
i love the idea of being a racehorse owner but i would not be able to pay ther whole lot off in one go but count me in asa im sure i coul afford £100 month, mark gaffney
Matt
I’m definitely interested, and look forward to any further news and developments.
Lee
Youve got me going now Matt.
Great idea, the interest is obviously there, from the above you will almost certainly receive the required funding, so post payment details soon as possible and lets go racing.
The £500 is an investment, which will show a return, if the trainer is on the ball and we punt the right races.
Its all about information which is what we would be buying into as well as the nag its self.
I mean, even Rapid city has had its good days, just joking.
Very interested,
always wanted to get involved with horse ownership, but the costs always seemed prohibitive.
this sounds a good opportunity to get started at a reasonable price. would need to take the monthly option though.
please keep me informed on progress.
great idea & very interested. always thought horse ownership would be too costly. this sounds reasonable for a newbie to get involved in.
would need to take the monthly option though.
please keep me informed on progress. cheers
Sounds great fun Matt and very much interested. I await further developments.
Hi Matt,
This sounds like fun! I think £500 is reasonable. Realistically the horse would have to win more prize money than a modest handicapper would normally do to get our money back that way, so would work on the worst case scenario basis of zero financial return from prize money. We’d have to pick a proper dodgepot though if it had several runs in the right types of races and wasn’t placed once, but I trust your judgment to find us a tidy beast and a real trier (or non-trier when needs must as regards handicapping!!)
However, regardless of that the entertainment value, the chance to go to a meeting and watch ‘our’ horse together, visit the stables, know when it has a serious chance of winning and when it hasn’t etc. has got to be value for money from a ‘hobby’ point of view. I’d like a share please!
would be very interested
Hi Matt
This seems a fantastic idea, however, my current finances won’t allow me to opt in.
Good luck with it if you get this up and running, and I would certainly be interested in the future if this idea would pop up again.
Steve
Hi Matt, – a bit late with the post, but yes, I’d be insterested in the syndicate