The Aspiring Owners Club – a perfectly named brainchild of leading SA trainer Will Clarken – aims to give budding racing enthusiasts a “try before you buy” experience with racehorse ownership.
Free to join, the new initiative will provide an inside look at the thrill of racing from an owner’s perspective, following the entire career of a racehorse – starting from its purchase as a yearling at next month’s Adelaide 2021 Magic Millions sale.
Each “Aspiring” owner will:
- Receive regular reports on the progress of the horse.
- Have opportunities to visit stables and meet staff.
- Be able to watch the horse in track work, trials and races.
- Receive invitations to Clarken Racing owner events throughout the year.
- Receive weekly stable news, updates and Will’s thoughts on all his horses running each weekend.
The initiative will be launched – with food and drinks in a marquee – on Sunday, March 7 ahead of the Magic Millions sale.
Clarken said the Aspiring Owners Club aimed to help “demystify” the world of racehorse ownership.
“We have a lot of people come to us to buy a share in a horse, but say how hard it is to navigate through the system and how everything’s so new and unfamiliar for them,” he said.
“So the idea is a bit like a ‘try before you buy’ – you get an experience like you are part of the horse.
“I’m very proud of what my team delivers for the owners; our updates are very good, you’ve got access to ring someone whenever you want, we’ve got processes to name the horses, and we’ve got excellent information available when we purchase tried horses and explain why we buy them.”
Clarken said giving ownership newcomers a taste of the industry was a pathway to boosting industry participation.
“I just wanted to try something to attract people who haven’t had a share in a horse at all before, are thinking about it, but aren’t quite committed to it,” he said.
“I think once they get the experience, you know, come to trackwork, get to go to the races, get the updates, have the journey with the horse – both the highs and lows – they’ll be more likely to be on board.
“It’s an educational tool to see if people are up for future ownership and it gives them a taste of it.”
To be involved in this unique opportunity, get in touch via: insideaccess@clarkenracing.com
RSVPs for the Magic Millions Adelaide marquee are required by Thursday 25 February.
