OwnerView Panel Discusses Syndicates and Partnerships

"You've taken the sport of kings and made it the sport of the people."

That's what Ann Gilbert, a retired flight attendant and part owner of multiple stakes winner What a View, told a panel of racing partnership representatives Oct. 29 in one of the opening sessions of the sixth Thoroughbred Owner Conference at Santa Anita Park.

The conference, which started Monday and concludes Wednesday, is hosted by OwnerView—a program developed by The Jockey Club and TOBA—BloodHorse, Breeders' Cup, and The Stronach Group.

The racing syndicates panel featured Barb Meserve of West Point Thoroughbreds, Bob Liewald of Little Red Feather and Starlight Racing, Peter Horvitz of Centennial Farms, Russ Sapienza of Taste of Victory Stables, and Michael Behrens of MyRacehorse.

The panelists discussed virtually all aspects of Thoroughbred ownership as it pertains to syndicates and partnerships. Among them: access to the barn area, accommodations for race days, aftercare, communication to and from the managing partner, buying and selling horses, the social activities and benefits of partnerships, the selection of trainers, and geographic preferences for racing.

Liewald stressed the importance of a prospective owner knowing whether he or she is getting involved to accumulate wealth or have a good time.

"It really depends on which of those you are looking for," he said. "If you're focused primarily on having a good time and making friends within the partnership, it's a great investment."

He added the ownership stakes means little to him when it comes to the level of enjoyment.

"Whether I own 1% or 20% of a horse, there's not a big difference in the amount of enjoyment I get out of that," he said.

Horvitz talked about Centennial's policy of buying and racing only colts.

"We go in with the hope that the colt will become a stallion prospect if he has a successful racing career," he said.

Behrens talked about MyRacehorse's business model, where fans can purchase a micro-share of a horse with a one-time investment.

"We are giving everyone an opportunity to participate and enjoy ownership, whether they are investing $100 or $1,000," he said.

Gilbert, who has been involved as an owner for two years, also told panelists, "People who have known me for years tell me all the time they've never seen me so happy," she said. "I've loved racing ever since I read Eddie Arcaro's biography as a kid. I never dreamed I could own a racehorse."

Gilbert lives in West Los Angeles and she was attending her first owner conference. She said she was "learning a lot."

She has also been encouraging friends to join her in the ownership ranks.

"I tell them they spend more in a day at Nordstrom's than they would with some of these partnerships," she added.