Howard Hamilton

There is a publication sponsored jointly by the Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of South Africa. This publication is directed at furthering the interest in the sport of horse racing and focuses on introducing the joy of racehorse ownership to prospective new owners, and to bring back those who have been lost to the industry in recent years.

The Racing Association (the counterpart of our Racing Com-mission) serves the interest of the racehorse owner. This is embodied in their mission statement, which includes the specific statement: "To protect and support the sport of horse racing in general and in particular the interests of owners".

There is much in this publication which mirrors our current position and HORSE SENSE will devote the next couple of weeks to sharing with you some of the thoughts of the leaders in an industry which we would do well to emulate.

We have all recognised that horseracing faces stiff competition from other spheres of the leisure industry. This is so universally. Despite this, it remains a sport that is way ahead of others in the passion and thrills provided. We need to encourage others to share with us the exciting benefits that the industry has to offer.

Owning a thoroughbred race-horse is the ultimate thrill afforded humankind. It is an endeavour that combines nobility and sports-manship in a completely unique way. The racehorse owner is given entry into a special realm where the excitement of sport is overlaid by an ancient mystique and majesty.

Horse racing is as old as civilisation itself. While racing today is ultra-modern, and utilises all the latest technological innovations, it has an earthy, primitive dimension to it that stirs up the most basic human urges. It's a heart-thudding, throat-catching sport that surpasses all other contests in its drama and intensity. The sound of racing hooves beating the turf were first heard long before the Christian era. Prehistoric tribesmen wandering the plains of Central Asia felt a natural urge to race the sleek, imposing animals they had tamed. Ancient races were no doubt thrilling and furious affairs, with riders desperate to prove the supremacy of their magnificent mounts.

Modern racing, it is recognised, had its roots in the 12th century, when English knights brought speedy Arab horses back from crusades. Over the next several centuries, racing became the pastime of kings, knights and noblemen, and this continued to be the case when it became a professional sport in the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714.)

Spirit of pageantry

Racing today still owes much to the spirit of pageantry and heraldry that accompanied earlier equine contests. Modern owners, after all, procure coloured silks that represent their good and honourable name among the ranks of their contemporaries. Victory at the track, as in early times, brings triumph to the bearers of winning colours as well as appreciable financial rewards.

Investing in horse racing is somewhat comparable to investing in other leisure activities. It involves intelligence, consideration of all factors, and a fill appreciation of the nature of the game.

But there is more than a little need to befriend special lady called Luck, who bestows or withholds favours in accordance with her notoriously fick1e nature. Yet she had bedded down with many suitors and brought them very sizeable rewards.

While racing is characterised by risk and uncertainty, it can bring financial rewards of a quite spectacular nature. Stakes on offer in the industry are attractive, and the great thing about good horses is their ability to win, or place, again and again. A good horse pays its way and puts its owner well ahead.

The principle that money makes money applies to some degree in racing, but it is also true that a small, first-time owner can enjoy success with a shrewd purchase. Those initial successes can pave the way to a greater, and increasingly lucrative, involvement in "the greatest game in town".

If a neophyte spends carefully to join a racing partnership or two, his entree into the racing world is accomplished. After that, anything is possible. For a limited investment, all the fun of the track is there to be enjoyed and celebrated.

The game is often kind to enthusiastic newcomers, who - a few years later - find themselves major players in a fabulous field of endeavour. "Why didn't I start earlier?" is the common refrain of such participants.

For, successful owners, the financial rewards may be described by adjectives ranging from good to incredible. Given that our biggest races carry 7-figure stakes, it is not uncommon for the owners of champions to make substantial profits from their runners. But even lower down the scale there are significant financial rewards for solid performers. Also, it is possible that a single minor placing in a month can cover full stabling fees for that horse in a given month. Even when runners do not perform as well as expected, they provide their owners with great pleasure, and the days on which they race are always filled with excitement and anticipation.

The astute owner never looks back. As his knowledge of the game increases, he uses his winnings to invest in better horses. The momentum increases and the rewards follow. After that, it's a thrill a minute, and more than able to pay for itself.

When things reach the stage where your investments are ticking over in the time-honoured tradition of a good, solid portfolio, the racing world becomes your oyster. Like rulers of old, you will be a potentate in a special kingdom.

Unlike monarchies, the racing world has room for several kings of the turf. Why not try to become one?

Howard L. Hamilton, C.D, J.P is a former chairman of Caymanas Track Limited. He is the current president of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeder's Association. He can be contacted at howham@cwjamaica.com.