What’s it like to own a racehorse? - Inside Kennet Valley Syndicates
Kennet Valley Syndicates paraded their yearlings last week at Loseley Park, with owners given the chance to see the new purchases up close.
Former Newbury Weekly News columnist and ITV Racing presenter, Luke Harvey, was in attendance as a guest speaker, while Magical Memory also made an appearance.
The group works closely with multiple local trainers including Andrew Balding, Owen Burrows, Clive Cox, Ed Walker and Charlie Hills.
Racing manager, Sam Hoskins, co-manages day-to-day operations, liaising with trainers and communicating with syndicate owners.
He discussed the group’s strategy, successes and the vital role of local trainers.
“We don’t have limitless budgets,” he explained.
“Since we were founded in 1988 we’ve looked to buy well at sensible prices, make it affordable and punch above our weight on the racecourse.
“We don’t tend to spend more than about sixty or seventy thousand, and some of our best horses have cost a lot less.”
Sir Busker, winner of the Sky Bet Finale Handicap at York’s Juddmonte meeting in August, cost just twenty five thousand euros, while Group One sprinter Magical Memory cost only thirty five thousand, trained in Lambourn by Charlie Hills.
“We’re always trying to find a horse that can give our members lots of action.
“There’s the dam side, sire side, pedigree and physical. If you want all of those you have to pay a lot of money.
“We prioritise the physical and the dam side. It’s served us quite well.
Working with an array of local trainers, Lambourn and Kingsclere have been vital to Kennet Valley Syndicates’ success for many years.
“We choose the trainers before we choose the horses,” Hoskins explained.
“At the sales we’re trying to match them up, they’re very much involved.
“Clive Cox has got such a good record with sprinters, so we want to send him a fast horse, Charlie Hills the same.
“With Andrew Balding, who is very versatile, we might send him milers and longer distance horses.
“We’ve had Tullius with him, who was second in the Lockinge at Newbury and a Group Two winner.
“Lambourn is such a great area.”
Kennet Valley Syndicates pride themselves on providing an enjoyable experience for owners.
Whilst racehorse ownership is an expensive investment, buying in as part of a group can help to make things more accessible, and it provides a truly unique social experience.
“One of the key parts of what we do is making it fun,” he explained.
“When we take owners to visit yards we go to local pubs and restaurants too.
“We’ve got a big events calendar, whether it’s going to see a horse on the gallops, picnics at Goodwood and Ascot.
“We took members up to Newmarket to meet Frankel this summer.
“There were some new people last year who sadly didn’t have a great horse at all, but they said they had an amazing time, which is great for us to hear.”
New arrivals for next year’s Flat season include Advertise ex Plucky Lass, a Bay Filly with Owen Burrows and Cotai Glory ex Swift Campaign, a Chestnut Colt with William Knight.
Andrew Balding will train a Bay Colt, Saxon Warrior ex Sense of Humour, while Ed Walker takes on Galileo Gold ex Dark Acclamation, another Bay Colt.
“We’ve got six horses out of thirteen rated ninety or above.
“Equality with Charlie Hills has been a star in recent seasons, winning a Group Three.
“Dragon Leader with Clive Cox, Fair Wind with Owen Burrows, Sir Busker up at Newmarket.
“The cost of training horses is high, but splitting that between sixteen shares it becomes more affordable than it would otherwise be.
“We’re making it more affordable to be involved with a lovely horse, who’s got every chance with a leading trainer, for four figures rather than five.
“It is expensive, but it’s more affordable than it could be. That feeling of being on the gallops is a very special one. We try to be very welcoming and inclusive.”
Anyone who would like to learn more about owning a share of a racehorse should visit kvsyndicates.com for more information.
