A common misconception in the sport of horse racing is that it will cost you thousands of pounds a year to own a racehorse. However, in this day and age you can be involved in a horse for as little as £25 for a one-off payment for the duration of the syndicate term (typically 12 months from when the syndicate term begins). It is a common theme that the lower the price, the more shares are available in the horse. However, a lot of the time you will still receive the same benefits as an owner still.  

What Are Syndicates?

Syndicates are an affordable option of racehorse ownership, where you own a percentage in the horse, for example most syndicates tend to offer 1%, 2.5%, 5% and even anything up to 25% shares in their horses. Obviously, the higher the share percentage, the more you will have to pay to get involved. 

There are two different payment options for syndicates:

• One-off payment - These require a simple one-off payment at the beginning, which is the only fee you will pay for the duration of the syndicate term, which is typically 12 months. These are extremely popular as they come with no hidden payments or further costs for the duration of the syndicate term. The only time you will need to pay more is if you wish to renew your share for the next syndicate term. A good example of a syndicate that adopts this payment method is Racing Club, who offer shares from just £25, making it one of the best value syndicates around currently. 
• Monthly payments - The other option with syndicates that tends to be for those who are looking to have a larger investment in the horse. Typically, you would pay an initial upfront payment, which is then followed by monthly payments spread across the duration of the syndicate term. These monthly payments contribute to training fee's, vet bills, entry fees etc. 

Another thing to note is that some syndicates may require an up-front payment, which is usually a percentage of the syndicate costs, to cover their backs if mishaps happen. From there, monthly payments for the training fees will be substantially cheaper than the up-front payment. 

Do not fear if you are unable to pay the up-front payments, be sure to get in touch with the Syndicate first and they might be able to offer packages to incorporate some of the payments into the monthly training fees - never be too scared to ask the question! 

Benefits Of Joining A Syndicate

• Owners badges when your horse runs (sometimes Syndicates can offer more than one if you have family or friends who also want to attend, but that is down to which course the horse will run at)

• Regular updates via videos and/or photos of your horse, usually when they are working or just after their exercises have been completed

• Updates directly from the trainer, usually about how the horse is getting on with its training or the plans for the future

• One or two stable visits during the year to visit your horse and any other stable stars the yards might have

• Sometimes Syndicates offer you to join WhatsApp Groups with the rest of the owners, which can be great fun and even an opportunity to make new friends with common interests

• And finally, your share in the prize money won if your horse has managed to pick some up by winning/placing in races 

In conclusion, Syndicates are an affordable way of getting into racehorse ownership that offers the perfect blend of fun, thrills and chances to make new acquaintances through the ownership game.

Why Should I Get Involved In A Syndicate

• Affordable - Outright racehorse ownership is a very expensive game to get into these days, and with the ever growing prices and bills that you would have to pay, joining a syndicate and paying a fraction of the price is just simply an incredible idea. You get to be fully involved in the horse, along with like minded owners watching your horse grow, mature and improve with racing, and all of this is done with just the same monthly payment. This is much more affordable than trying to buy your own horse, register it with the BHA and finally pay the monthly training fees outright, which tends to be around the £2000 per month mark.

• Experience the thrill of ownership - There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing your horse compete on the track. By joining a racehorse syndicate, you can experience the excitement of ownership without having to bear the full cost or responsibility, as the monthly payment costs will cover all of this.

• Join A Community - You will get to meet the other syndicate members involved in the horse at the races and other various social events that the syndicates put on. Getting the opportunity to share your passion with like-minded individuals who are in the same shoes as you and taking in the experiences of syndicate racehorse ownership.

In summary, Racing Syndicates are an affordable and fun way to get you closer to the sport you love and will render some incredible moments on and off the track. So, if racehorse ownership is something you would want to get involved in but you don’t want to pay the extortionate fees of owning a horse outright, then look no further than syndicates.    

If you're looking for a syndicate to join, we can recommend Racing Club, who offer some fantastic perks to their members and they have various horses to choose from, with shares starting at just £25. You can view their available horses by clicking HERE.