Inside the Owner’s Box with Auerbach, Restrepo and Seitz

Thoroughbred owners Harris Auerbach, Ramiro Restrepo and Anna Seitz take readers inside the owner's box in 2015. Auerbach, Restrepo and Seitz will give readers insight into race day habits, their favorite race track and their biggest accomplishment, plus things like what kind of music, fashion and vacations they prefer. 
Read on to find out what they'd do if they won the lottery and what the magic formula to success is.

What’s your favorite thing about being a Thoroughbred owner?
AUERBACH: Being able to be involved in the careers and lives of our equine athletes. They are amazing and it’s a great ride to be on.
RESTREPO: The relationship one develops with the horse is very special. Also, it’s the closest I’ll ever be to being Jerry Jones.
SEITZ: I love being around horses. The excitement of an unraced 2-year-old that we own is such a special feeling. Watching a baby develop, seeing how they mature, watching them train in the mornings and seeing our silks on the jockey never get old. I guess that’s more than one thing.
My favorite all-time children’s book is …
AUERBACH: … “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.” I loved Judy Blume and all of her books when I was a kid.
RESTREPO: Dr. Seuss, “The Cat in the Hat.”
SEITZ: I wrote a book in the sixth grade called “A Big Day for a Little Pig.” It was awful, but now my nieces and nephews read it.
Horse racing is cool because …
AUERBACH: … of the amazing equine athletes who run on a daily basis. They, the horses, are competitive beings who lay it out there without thoughts of money, fame and glory. It’s all about competition and trying to win for these horses. I just love watching them run and compete.
AUERBACH WITH ONE OF HIS RACEHORSES

Photo courtesy of Harris Auerback
SEITZ: … it brings together every walk of life and everyone loves horses. It’s the most unique sport in the world.
How many friends do you keep in touch with from childhood? High school?
AUERBACH: I have two friends from high school, and that is more than enough for me as I’d rather have a small group of really good friends over a larger group of friends I cannot depend on or confide in.
RESTREPO: Through social media, you keep tabs on lots of old classmates. But I have a group of 10 buddies from college that I hang out with regularly, my personal Wu-Tang Clan.
RESTREPO WITH A FEW OF HIS FRIENDS AND TRAINER NICK ZITO

Photo courtesy of Ramiro Restrepo
SEITZ: I actually keep in touch with a ton of my friends from grade school, high school, college, etc. I’m very social and love making new friends everywhere I go. It’s a blessing and a curse.
My favorite Christmas song is …
AUERBACH: “Carol of the Bells” as performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
RESTREPO: Run-D.M.C.’s “Christmas in Hollis.”
SEITZ: “O Holy Night”; I play it on repeat over and over really loud in December … creeps my husband out.
Do you do any volunteer work? If so, for whom?
AUERBACH: I volunteer to work at a couple of industry functions every year such as the CARMA Poker Tournament in Del Mar and The CTT/TOC Backside Workers' Holiday Party at Santa Anita. I do volunteer a lot of my time serving on the CTBA Board and being on various committees within the industry.
SEITZ: I’m on several different boards and try to stay very involved when I am home and have the time.
What’s the magic formula for success?
AUERBACH: There really is none, especially in horse racing. Many people work hard and make what appear to be good decisions but are unlucky. And many do the opposite and have great success. I am a believer in that one can create his/her own luck and success, but there are never any guarantees. All we can do is the best that we can to our own abilities.
RESTREPO: Passion, faith/believe.
SEITZ: To me, it’s not complicated … work hard and be nice. People like doing business with those they like, but nothing comes easy, so keep working at it.
SEITZ WITH SOME OF HER IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS PARTNERS

Photo courtesy of Anna Seitz
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
AUERBACH: I would love to have the ability to heal those I love and care about.
RESTREPO: Wolverine. Heals up from any ailment.
If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time?
AUERBACH: I would spend as much time as possible with those I love, doing things I want to do.
RESTREPO: Travel. See as much of the world before it was time to go.
SEITZ: Go back to Africa. I loved it there. I studied in Kenya and Tanzania in college, and it changed my life. The people are amazing and so generous and kind.
If you won $20-million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
AUERBACH: Save most of it and take a small portion to invest in my business and in my children’s future.
RESTREPO: After getting organized and the traditional family things and traveling, I would buy some more horses.
SEITZ: I would hope I would help a lot of people in need. God has blessed me with a very good life and I would like to pay it forward.
For me, Super Bowl Sunday always means …
AUERBACH: … a generally boring game, but a great social gathering with friends and/or family.
RESTREPO: … couch potato day. Good eats and a great game.
SEITZ: Love to get together with friends and eat junk food.