11 Success Strategies to Get You in the Winners Circle by Words with JAM

11 success strategies to get you in the winners circle!

So, You Want To Be A Racehorse Owner... Well, first of all, congratulations on your decision! Owning a racehorse is one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do! I’ve owned horses in various syndicates and partnerships since 1993 and I can honestly say that they’ve given me some of the biggest thrills of my life. Every win’s a beauty-but that day when our syndicated horse HOT JULES (pictured below) won a GROUP 1 race-it was just the best! You can easily get addicted to owning

horses. A couple of good ones will do that to you. But a few slow ones can dampen your enthusiasm just as fast! Due diligence needs to be carried out right from the very start. If you’re making a decision to invest your hard earned money, then you need to rest assure that you’re giving yourself every possible chance of success. People regularly spend six figures on yearlings and they turn out to be no good. It happens all the time. Other people can spend ‘peanuts’ and get champions! So how does that happen? Quite simply, in racing, there are no hard and fast-‘set in concrete’ rules for success. But by doing

certain things, you can turn the odds slightly in your favour. By taking heed of the following eleven success strategies, at least you’ll be giving yourself a better chance of success than if you were just going in ‘blind’... So, let’s get straight into it with;

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 1 Own Racehorses for FUN! Don’t take the game too seriously, and always think Pleasure BEFORE Profit! Owing racehorses should be a bit like playing golf-or whatever else it is that you really enjoy as a hobby. You do it for the fun and enjoyment that you get out of it. Getting out there with your mates, having a laugh and a few drinks maybe, you know, that sort of thing... There’s a big difference though between things like playing golf, going sailing or running marathons-and owning racehorses. And that is that not many people get a financial return out of their hobbies or pastimes. However, if you get a good

racehorse, it can not only pay for itselftherefore meaning you’ve got a free hobby, but it might also turn you a profit! As the great racehorse trainer Tommy (T.J) Smith once said, “People don’t buy a yacht and expect a return”. How right he was. Horse racing is full of highs and lows, it’s the very nature of the game and as an owner, you’ve got to be able to ride the emotional roller coaster. That’s why you should always think PLEASURE before PROFIT.

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 2 Make sure you can afford it!

Costs

There’s a saying in racing that goes, “you can always eat with your betting money, but never bet with your eating money!” If you can’t heed that piece of advice, then please don’t read any further...

As of mid 2012, the average cost of training a racehorse in Australia ranges from around $60-$100 per day depending of course on the success rate of the trainer you choose.

The same goes for owning horses too. Make sure you can afford the initial outlay and the expected up keep for your horse before you take the plunge. Whilst prizemoney is excellent in most parts of Australia, it’s not prudent to absolutely rely on your horse winning enough prizemoney to cover the costs.

On average, you could reasonably expect a three year old or older horse to be in training for 40 weeks of the year and spelling (holidays) for the remaining 12. With yearlings and two year olds it’s more like 32 and 20. Agistment rates currently sit at around $25 a day depending on stabling, feeding arrangements, facilities,

etc. If you can get your horse pre trained by someone other than a licensed racehorse trainer, for the initial part of its training campaign, usually between 4 and 6 weeks, then that may save you a few dollars as pre trainers usually charge slightly less than trainers. Oh, and don’t forget to budget for incidentals such as the farrier, equine dentist, worm treatments, vet expenses, special nomination fees, syndicate management fees, etc.

for a 5% share. The only exception to that is the cost of feature race payments and associated interstate travel which we hope you get because it means you’ve got a talented racehorse that’s capable of running in the bigger feature races! Comfortable with those two? OK, let’s go on then to....

In a structured arrangement, syndicate fees may be fixed and be all inclusive which is good for budgeting. Grand Syndicates fees are fixed and capped at $6 a day 7

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 3 “It’s far better to own part of a fast horse than all of a slow horse” Pretty obvious really isn’t it! It’s better for many reasons too. Firstly, it’s a lot cheaper to pay up for just a share in a horse rather than paying up for all the horse. Some of those trainer’s bills can get pretty scary! Secondly it’s more fun because you’ll get the opportunity to meet more new people, go to the races more often, etc. And thirdly, owning shares in horses as opposed to owning them outright also lets you spread the risk and have your fingers in more than one pie which gives you more chances to win!

There’s no doubt that our clients who have the most fun, our clients who are at the races more often and our clients who have the most winning photos on their walls generally all have one thing in commonthey have shares in more than one horse. So whilst one of their horses is out in the paddock growing or getting over an injury, the others can be in work out on the track winning prizemoney! In Australia today, almost everyone knows someone who owns or part owns a racehorse (go ahead and ask someone if they do. There are four main ways to own a racehorse and they are;

The Sole Owner Usually well off with a penchant for taking risks and no doubt made their money by taking such risks in the business world-or they inherited it! The sole owner of a horse bears 100% of the costs, takes 100% of the risks, and if things go to plan, wallows in 100% of the glory. He’ll end up with 85% of the prizemoney after normal deductions, which is fine so long as the winners roll in with regularity. When the time gap between wins stretches out though, the sole owner can sometimes be seen standing in the gallery at his own mortgagee sale or at the very least arguing with his trainer. More than one person has been caught short because of horse debts they couldn’t pay, (same

applies to too many big bets on too many slow horses). It’s worth noting that the sole owner is rather rare in these days of high costs associated with thoroughbreds. Take a look through any racebook and you’d be very lucky to find more than a handful of horses owned solely by a single person. Even some of Australia’s wealthiest people rarely race horses themselves. Not for monetary reasons mind you, but rather the fact that it’s MORE FUN to share the ownership of a racehorse with friends and business colleagues.... For those who do prefer to share the cost of racing their horses, the following options apply;

Partnership A partnership in Australia is classified as anything from 2 to 10 people. Usually all the partner’s names are listed in the race book and they each pay their proportionate amount of costs directly to the trainer. Partnership and syndicate racing, (see below) are by far the most popular way to go racing, quite simply because the costs are shared and it’s generally more affordable for everyone. There are a couple of downsides however, and they are that firstly, you may not know whom you’re going into partnership with. And secondly, you may not know the person who is going to be carrying out the all important managerial duties on your behalf. You do need to appoint someone you can trust to be the manager. How often have you seen someone been given a set of stripes on their shoulders and suddenly the power goes straight to their head? The last thing you need is a ‘bossy boots’ telling you what to do! The same can apply here so you do need someone you can trust...

Syndicate A syndicate for the purposes of our discussion is usually made up of between 11 and 20 people. For obvious reasons then, it should cost less to run your syndicate share than your partnership share because there are more of you! This arrangement suits some more than others and is usually determined by how much you’re prepared to spend on a weekly or monthly basis. Joining a racing syndicate can take all the hard work out of racing a horse and once you’ve bought in, should only cost you about the same as a carton of beer a week. Grand Syndicates shares are $42 a week for a 5% share. Now you might be thinking “I’d rather 10

have my carton of beer a week”, but whilst your carton of beer might make you happy for a night or two, it won’t get that winning photo on the wall! Syndicators in Australia are licensed, (or should be) by the respective State racing bodies and also by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). If syndication is your preference and you’re happy to join a professionally organised racing syndicate, then be sure to check that the promoter has an Australian Financial Services License number. This is your guarantee that the person concerned has passed stringent guidelines that ensure he or she is a suitable person to deal with YOUR money. The AFSL for Grand Syndicates is 226693.

Racing Club There’s a fourth option to owing racehorses, and that is through the high volume-racing club. Extremely low cost, (from around a couple of dollars a day) but very impersonal and almost zero contact with decision makers. Recommended for those that want to tell their friends they own a string of racehorses whereas in reality, they more or less own two fifths of bugger all. Whilst there have been many successful racehorses campaigned by maxi member racing clubs, it’s fair to say that both pleasure and profit are severely diluted. It remains however, a good source of entertainment for many people who aren’t too concerned about a return on their investment and who just want some kind of interest... Comfortable with those two? OK, let’s go on then to....

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 4 Do Your “Due Diligence” Before You Invest… Probably the most important decision you can make in the racing game, with the exception of which horse you eventually sink your hard earned cash into, is that of who you put your trust into. This decision could very well make all the difference between a long-term, pleasant experience, and a potentially disastrous one. Now a stern word of warning from experience. Just because someone sets themselves up in this game as an expert, doesn’t actually qualify them to claim proper title to that position. Just because people call themselves a “racehorse trainer” or a “bloodstock agent” doesn’t necessarily mean their interests are the same as yours. The

racing industry is awash with fancy pants bloodstock agents that excel in spending other people’s money. When they get it right and buy a good one-they tell the world. But not a word is said about all the slow ones they also tip their clients into (more often than not)...Look, everyone in the racing game gets it wrong at some time. But when you’re playing with telephone numbers-a wrong result can hurt a lot. When you’re playing at the lower end of the market and get it wrong-well it doesn’t hurt so much. The bottom line is that whatever you spend, you want a good run for your money don’t you? The best way to find the right person is to ask people who are already involved in the game and would be impartial to any advice or names they dish out. Just go up

to a few owners at the races and ask them their experience. Usually, they’ll tell you who to avoid and who you can trust! So having narrowed down the field, be aware of this...

Feel Comfortable With Your Choice Of Trainer Your choice of trainer is critical to the success of your venture. There are hundreds of registered trainers in Australia. Some are good, some are not so good and some, like anything else in life, are absolutely hopeless. One of the best ways to judge whether a trainer is doing the job or not, is to look at the leader boards that are published in any racing guide. The number of winners they train isn’t the only key performance indicator you should take into consideration though. Another is their strike rate, i.e. the number of winners they produce compared to the number of starters they actually have. An average figure is 1 winner from every 10 starters or so, with around a winner in every 4 or 5 starters being regarded as exceptional! Another consideration with your choice of trainer is whether you get on well with them. It’s no good you having the best trainer in your area, or the best one you can afford, if you don’t get on well with them. EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION between you and your trainer is paramount to your enjoyment of the game! It’s the same if you have a syndicate manager acting as your conduit for information. Again, EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION must be paramount. There should be no such thing as a stupid question and you’re entitled to know what your horse is up to at all times. Oh and here’s a word of warning about racehorse trainers. Generally speaking,

they’re all very busy people and usually don’t take too lightly to having a great deal of their time taken up in idle chit chat that’s going nowhere. We’ve had some owners that bale up the trainer and during the course of the conversation ask him the same question three or four times! Make sure there are clear lines of communication between you and your trainer (or manager) and respect their time! Trainers come in all different shapes, sizes, personalities and attitudes and degrees of knowledge. However, beware the trainer who is always at the bar! He’s probably a very likeable bloke who can always tell a good story. But is he the best man for the job? Do your due diligence when selecting whether or not to go with a particular trainer as this relationship is likely to last for a minimum two to three years! Again, asking around to impartial sources is the way to go.

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 5 (Actually it’s a question)… Colts or Fillies, Tried Or Untried. Which Is Best For You? When you buy into a yearling, which is what most people do to start off with, then consider these two scenarios. Unless you buy into a colt with a potential stallions pedigree, (it better be good and cost six figures) the chances are that your once proud rampant entire will most probably be subjected to the unkindest cut of allhe’ll have his nuts removed and he’ll be a gelding. Therefore, no matter how he performed on the racetrack, at the end of his racing career, he’ll be worth around the $0-$1,000 mark. A filly on the other hand is a different kettle of fish. Assuming

she’s got a good pedigree which would be desirable to future breeders, there’s some kind of residual value as a broodmare. This of course will increase according to her performances on the track. Further, buying a filly gives you the advantage of racing them in fillies only and fillies and mares races, in addition to that extra value when they’ve finished their racing days. So, it’s worth considering... There’s no doubt though that the most durable racehorses are geldings. All things being equal, you should get more runs out of your gelding than you will from your filly or mare. So, is it better to buy a filly than a colt? Well, it really is a toss up according to your preference. And should you buy a yearling or an older tried racehorse? The various racing publications and websites often

contain listings of tried racehorses for sale. Quite often a horse has “reached its mark” in a particular area and the connections have decided to move it on. The advantage to you in buying a tried racehorse is that the action can be more or less instant compared to the waiting game that applies after you’ve bought a yearling. Once a yearling is purchased, it could be six months before it’s racing, but then again it could take a couple of years! Usually however, when you buy a tried racehorse with exposed form, you know exactly what you’re getting. And if the forms good, you’ll have to pay plenty! Bear in mind that racehorses don’t come with guarantees against injury or lack of speed. All horses can run fast, it’s just that some run faster than others... The glorious uncertainty of racing however is that the untried yearling you buy into could very well be the next champion of the turf! Over the years, I’ve found that it pays to buy quality, however there’s nothing better to make a fool of a man than a horse. There are thousands of horses with high price tags that have possessed the bloodlines and conformation to warrant them-only to reveal a total lack of ability. At the other end of the scale, there are the horses that have obvious faults and/or an average pedigree—but BOY CAN THEY RUN! For instance, TULLOCH was a swayback, KINGSTON TOWN was a windsucker, NORTHERLY has very average knees, the great DULCIFY had a parrot mouth and the immortal stallion NORTHERN DANCER was definitely ‘vertically challenged’! So, there are a few just to set the cat amongst the pigeons. Hefty price tags don’t guarantee success either. Racehorses don’t know how much they cost and there’s no way that you have to spend a King’s Ransom to buy a good 14

galloper. As all Grand Syndicates horses are sold into 20 share syndicates at $1,000 a share, the most we can ever pay for a horse is $20,000 (obviously). Here’s a list of horses that have all done well on the track, and all of them cost $20,000 or LESS... • TAKEOVER TARGET: Purchase price $1,250. 21 wins-World Champion Sprinter! Prizemoney $6,000,000+. • PRIVATE STEER: Purchase price $18,000. 12 wins-Triple Group 1 winner including the Stradbroke Hcp, Doncaster Mile and the All Aged Stakes. Prizemoney $3,407.000. • SHOOT OUT: Purchase price $15,000. 7 wins-Dual Group 1 winner including the Australian Guineas and the AJC Australian Derby. Prizemoney $1,970,000+ • REGIMENTAL GAL: Purchase price $16,500. 7 wins-Dual Group 1 winner including the Australia Stakes and the Lightning Stakes. Prizemoney $1,531.000 • SINCERO: Purchase price $8000: Dual G1 winner of the Stradbroke Hcp, George Main Hcp. Prizemoney $1,400,000. • LADY LYNETTE: Purchase price $14,000. 14 wins including the Blazer Stakes G2. Prizemoney $1,095,000+ • BEL ESPRIT: Purchase price $9000. 3 wins inc Doomben 10,000 G1, McNeil Stakes G3. Successful stallion. Sire of BLACK CAVIAR!!! Prizemoney $1,022,000

• DRUNKEN SAILOR: Purchase price 7000 Euros. 12 wins Roy Higgins Qt y G2, Glorious Stakes (Goodwood UK) G3. Prizemoney $1,000,000+. • SWISS ACE: Purchase price $8,500. 12 wins inc Oakleigh Plate G1. Prizemoney $948,600 • YOSEI: Passed in at auction-reserve price $15,000. 4 wins Triple Group 1 winner inc Sires Produce Stakes, Thousand Guineas, Tatts Tiara. Prizemoney $891,000+ • LORDS RANSOM: Purchase Price $15,000. 9 wins inc Perth Cup, Cox Stakes, Bunbury Cup (twice), Pinjarra Cup. Prizemoney $800,000+ • TORIO’S QUEST: Purchase price $15,000. 8 wins inc QLD Guineas G2. Prizemoney $860,000+ • HEAVENLY GLOW: Purchase price $10,000. 9 wins. Dual Group 1 winner Inc Australian Oaks and Arrowfield Stud Stakes. Prizemoney $782,950. • PUNCH ON: Purchase price $16,000. 3 wins inc Magic Millions Guineas G3, Vo Rogue Plate G3. Prizemoney $755,000. • NOVA STAR: Purchase price $13,500. 7 wins inc Winter Stakes G1, Queensland Guineas G2. Prizemoney $749,900 • KING KOOL KAT: Purchase price $9,000. 8 wins inc. Hannans Hcp L, Hyperion Stakes G3. Prizemoney $683,000.

• ROCKPECKER: Purchase price $1,250. 9 wins. Prizemoney $624,000! • MIRJULISA LASS: Passed in at auction reserve price $5,000. 5 wins inc G1 Vinery Stud Hcp. Prizemoney $343.000+ • LATE NIGHT FLIGHT: Purchase price $800. 8 wins inc. Detonator Stakes. Prizemoney $321,000. • MISTER MILTON: Purchase price $7,500. G1 placed Australian Guineas. Prizemoney $150,000+. • SLEEPWALK: Purchase price $10,000. 7 wins. Prizemoney $245,120. • DIDNTCOSTALOT: Purchase price $3000. The best named of them all! Prizemoney $61,000.

Leasing Just a quick piece of advice on leasing while we’re here... The Golden rule is never lease a cheap horse. Why would you bother? If a horse is just a few thousand dollars, then you may as well buy into it rather than lease it off someone who you eventually have to give a third, (or whatever you’ve negotiated) of the prizemoney to. Of course, you can negotiate any deal that you like with an owner offering to lease a horse so long as he agrees. Cheapies aren’t worth it and eager vendors usually prefer to sell expensive ones. Usually this method of acquiring horses relates to fillies that the owner wants to retain and breed from after its finished racing.

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 6 Take Full Advantage Of Bonus Schemes.

• SABIS (South Australian Breeders Incentive Scheme)

Over the last few years, each state breeding and racing body has introduced various models of Bonus Schemes. These schemes reward the connections of winning horses for success at various levels of racing. The most popular ones are;

Each scheme pays lucrative bonus payments and is usually applicable to two and three year old races in the state where the horse was born or registered. For example, a BOBS payment for winning a city race on a Saturday is $20,000 on top of the normal stake money. A VOBIS payment for winning a similar race is $23,000 split between the owners of the first three place getters on top of normal prize money. A Westspeed Extra horse can win an extra $22,500 on top of normal prizemoney! This makes racing a talented horse very lucrative indeed! So, when buying a yearling-look for its inclusion in a Bonus Scheme to maximise your returns!

• SUPER VOBIS/VOBIS GOLD (Victorian Owners & Breeders Incentive Scheme) • BOBS/BOBS EXTRA (NSW Breeders & Owners Bonus Scheme) • WESTSPEED/WESTSPEED EXTRA (West Australian Bonus Scheme) • QRIS (Queensland Racing Incentive Scheme) 16

Grand Syndicates Success Strategy Number 7 Get The Best Jockey You Possibly Can! The golden rule with jockeys is quite simply to try and get the best available one on your horse! If you were running a business, you’d naturally try and employ the best staff you could get, right? Your goal would be to build a championship team. Well horses should be just the same. Now, understand that the best jocks, those riding in the best form at the time, (and this does fluctuate) won’t always be available for your horse. As a matter of self-interest, jocks usually go for the best ride they can possibly get in any one race. The days of loyalty are mainly long gone, even though many receive “slings” for winning rides. I’ve found that jocks have very short memories and little loyalty. Despite that however, they’re usually very friendly

people and quite chirpy! I suppose they have to be that way in order to keep getting up at 3.30am every morning! The selection of jockey is usually left to the trainer, after all they’re the ones who work with them all of the time. In a partnership or as a sole owner, you only have to suggest the use of a particular jock, or better than that, a shortlist of jocks, and your trainer should be only to keen to oblige. Whilst loyalty is an important quality in all human beings, try and steer clear of using out of form jocks or indeed, jocks that have a LOFT problem, (ask any golfer what that means!). Horses have been known to win in spite of the jockey rather than because of them! I’ve seen many a good thing slaughtered by both good and average jocks, but you’ll certainly end up further in front by consistently having a rider that’s in the top ten on the city riders premiership, than you will by legging mugs up.

A reliable way to spot a top flight jockey is to recognize where he consistently has his mounts coming to the turn. If you want to get a better idea of this, take a look at one of Australia’s leading strike rate jockeys Paul Harvey (pictured right) who rides in Perth. See where the majority of his mounts are approaching the home turn and you’ll see that generally they’re all within three lengths of the leader and ready to strike. A jockey who’s a good thinker-that’s what you want... Oh, and a word about “slings”. If you happen to have a good win on your horse and wish to reward the jockey for a job well done with a “sling”, then please feel free to do so. It’s not obligatory, nor is it essential. It’s just up to you on a purely voluntary basis. So, the word again is, get the best jockey you can possibly get on your horse-all of the time!

Grand Syndicates Success Strategy Number 8 “Keep Yourself In The Best Company-And Your Horse In The Worst! It’s an oldie but a goodie, and in many, (but not all) circumstances, it still applies to racetracks all over the world! It’s all about placing your horse to advantage and giving it the best possible chance of success. This is especially true if you’re having a bet because a 10/1 winner at Hanging Rock pays just the same as a 10/1 winner at Royal Randwick!

horse by up to 3 lengths. Placing your horse to advantage also takes into account barrier draws. Usually, inside draws can be of a great advantage to a horse, whereas outside draws can be very awkward. Wherever possible, you should ask your trainer to give your horse a better chance of success by going for better barriers and easier company! And you’ll get more wining photos on your wall too!

There’s a theory in racing that confidence in a racehorse is a big factor towards success, or the lack of it. Quite often, one can do wonders for a horse’s confidence by dropping it in class and giving it a kill-an easy taste of victory. Some astute racing people will tell you that a win like that can improve a 21

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 9 Know When To Quit Your Horse! One of the hardest things to do in this game is to sack your horse. Many people find it easier to file for divorce than to get rid of their horse. Knowing when to move a horse on is a critical skill that you must acquire. There are a few situations when you will be faced with this decision. It may be that you have a talented horse and you receive an offer for it. Should you take the money or keep racing the horse? How much of your share is taxable? Will you ever get another one as good? One

thing’s for sure you’ll never go broke taking a profit! Or maybe your trainer tells you that in his opinion, the horse is now “on his mark” and could struggle now that he’s reached open class for example. You may have a horse that’s just not fast enough to compete. The best thing here could be to just get money for it. Better still, if you’ve got someone you really don’t like-give ‘em a slow horse...

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 10 Have Patience…You’ve Got To Kiss A Few Frogs Before You Get Your Prince! It is what it is. It says what it says. There are people that get into racing and everything they touch turns to gold. But it might not happen to you. That’s not to say that your first horse won’t win a race. It may very well do just that. But just maybe you’re going to get a few slow ones before you get a fast one. It’s a bit like finding your perfect life partner. The odds are that you’ve probably been through a few along the way, right? Well just because the first girl you dated

was no good, that shouldn’t put you off girls right? And ladies, just because that first guy you dated didn’t measure up to your lofty standards, you don’t stop there do you? You gotta keep looking until you find “Mr Right”. Get rid of the non-performers and those that cost too much to keep. Discard those that are too much trouble or not worth the effort to put up with. Whether it’s the right person or the fast horse that you’re looking for, it’s much the same really when you think about it. So, be patient and be prepared to kiss a few frogs....

GRAND Syndicates Success Strategy Number 11 Remember-An Ounce Of Luck Is Worth A Truckload Of Good Judgment! Yep, better remember this one all right! All the due diligence, study, homework and care in the world won’t amount to a cent if your horse gets boxed in the fence and can’t get a run, strains a tendon, runs through a fence whilst at agistment or any of a zillion other things that can go wrong when large animals are domesticated and trained to do something that is totally alien for them to otherwise do.

So, don’t wear green on a racecourse, always take your lucky charms with you on raceday, and if you are in the least bit “of the faith”, then don’t be shy in asking for a few “favours”.

And Finally, Something To Consider Joining the Race Club One of the most pleasant things you can do in life is to go to the races, park in the member’s carpark and spend a day at the race with friends having a few drinks and backing plenty of winners! It’s a lovely feeling made better only by your own horse winning on the day! Contact your local club about memberships as they all have different rates and amenities etc.

Your Odds Of Getting A Winner... Statistics show that there are about 30,000 thoroughbred foals born each year. Of this crop of young hopefuls, roughly half of them ever get to the racetrack when they’re supposed to, and of those, only half actually ever win a race! Racehorse owners though are an optimistic lot. As the old saying in racing goes, “No one’s ever jumped over the Gap who has an unraced two year old!” 28

The ultimate positive for owning a racehorse though is this... There are very, very few people out there who can afford to be associated as an owner of such high profile, glamorous sports as the America’s Cup or F-1 racing. But thousands have been and continue to be the proud owners of winning racehorses. And now-it could be your turn...

Summary Remember, a good horse won’t cost you anything at all-it’s only the slow ones that do that!’ See You at the Races!

Peter Morley

Testimonials “The success I’ve had with Peter in such a short time is amazing. To have 3 winners in just 6 starts is a dream come true-especially with two of those wins in the city. The fun and excitement along the way has been fantastic. Congratulations on running a friendly, informative and extremely exciting operation.” Paul Luzi, Lighthouse Realty. “Having joined in the fun with Peter and Karen nearly 2 years ago I can honestly say it’s been a life saver...Carol and I have met a whole new circle of friends and acquaintances. To anyone who requires a rest from the day to day grind of running their own business I would heartily recommend joining one of Pete’s syndicates”. Mark Whitehouse, WA. “Miss Belhus won at her very first start paying 10/1! The whole family came along and we had a fantastic day. I even took along my two mad friends! She’s won three times since and we’re there to support her every time she steps out in a race. It’s terrific fun. Thanks Pete”. Murray Thorpe, Southern River. Kathy and I have been clients of Peter’s now for around 10 years in which time we have part owned over 60 winners. Peter recently took up his full trainer’s license and, after much hard work and perseverance, with two horses that top trainers had written off, this weekend he broke through achieving what we believe is a record. He trained his first winner on Saturday in the city at Ascot (Its Judgement Day) and then on Sunday at Northam trained his second winner (The Moon Day). As the commentator said after the race, not many people thought anyone could get those two horses over their injuries and problems but that’s the character of Peter Morley. The dedication he has put into training these two horses reflects perfectly the dedication he puts into looking after his clients. If you’re considering buying a share in a racehorse, then do it with Peter & Karen Morley. But only if you like dealing with quality people, being spoiled, laughing a lot and having a great time in the winner’s circle that is! Geoff Baldwin-CEO RE/MAX WA.

about the author About the Author Since first jumping over the fence of an English racetrack at the age of 8, Peter Morley has been a devotee of everything to do with thoroughbred horse racing! Migrating to Australia at age 11, he just about grew up on the racetracks of WA, and at the age of 21, he followed on his father’s footsteps by becoming a bookmaker-a successful business he ran for 5 years. Another event that happened at 21 was to be more life changing than Peter could ever have thought-he actually laid hands on his very first thoroughbred and was soon voluntarily working in stables learning as much as he possibly could about the practical side of horses. With a voracious appetite for racing, it 30

was only natural that he should eventually become a racehorse owner. The first winner arrived courtesy of a lease arrangement with a good friend and was highlighted by a big betting plunge, which came off on July 15th 1993 courtesy of the bonny mare “Trismic”! After five years of professionally taking on the punters in the betting ring, a training career beckoned and he swapped licenses and trained his first winner in 1994. It was a brief career and a very costly one. It was a tough grind without “real” money to buy quality stock and so whilst getting the urge to own more horses; Peter decided there had to be a better way. Always being a true entrepreneur, he carried out his due diligence and started up in the racehorse syndication business, testing the water with a cast off from Australia’s biggest

stable. Although a non-winner but being placed five times, it was an enjoyable time meeting many new people, and the business now known as Belhus Racing Stables was born from humble beginnings. Near on two decades and hundreds of winners later, Peter has gained recognition in the racing industry as one of the longest standing syndicators of racehorses in Australia through Belhus Racing Stables and now with his new company-Grand Syndicates. The advice that Peter has put together in this ‘how-to’ guide has come from over two decades of experience and has been drawn from countless sources of wisdom. It is of course by no means comprehensive, but snippets of it may be

invaluable to you in your quest for a winner. Peter’s advice and opportunity has brought thousands of people to the racecourse as both owners and invited guests, and over 1200 of them have experienced the thrills and excitement of their time in the Winners Circle! There’s no doubt that owning a racehorse can be one of the most pleasurable things you can ever do in your entire life. So if you’re feeling lucky and you’d like to become a racehorse owner either on your own, with friends, or by joining Peter in one of his many professionally organised syndicates and partnerships in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland or Western Australia, please feel free to call Peter for a chat or send him an email to peter@grandsyndicates.com.au

Grand Syndicates is fully owned by Peter & Karen Morley.

Contact Details:

Registered Office: Telephone: Fax: Website: AFSL:

Level 1, 530 Little Collins St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 0488 925 055 (08) 9571 1432 www.grandsyndicates.com.au 226693