A Horse by The Name of Fractional Life

Fractional racehorse ownership has been around since the mid 1980s in the form of 'syndicates' and is one of the earliest forms of true fractional ownership and is, perhaps, why we have a plethora of fractional opportunities today.

The exotic world of top-drawer racehorse ownership has traditionally been the preserve of very rich men and women. Aristocrats, Arab princes and those that enjoy the upper echelons of the high life using old money or new gamble on pedigree as well as starting prices.

Celebrities of every generation, from the comedian Freddie Starr in the 20th century to Alex Ferguson, Jodie Kidd, Lawrence Dallaglio and Andrew Lloyd-Webber in the 21st, have attempted to gatecrash the party from time to time. While most ordinary punters have tended to abstain from racing's allure with the odd speculative once-a-year flutter on the Grand National down at the local bookies, there has been a marked increase in the avid race-goer's approach to getting more than just close to the action and excitement in the grandstands.

The 2005 Derby made racing history: Motivator, the winning horse, was not owned by a super-rich breeder or personality, but by a syndicate of 230 people from the smart-moneyed classes.

Motivator started as the favourite for the most famous flat race in the world and, as the pace developed, he was willed on by the syndicate owners and favourite backers alike. Coming onto the final straight with three-times-Derby-winning rider Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, the powerful bay colt stormed home five lengths clear of his rivals.

Cheers and excited whoops from the crowd ensued and this victory was special.

When Motivator returned to the unsaddling enclosure, his ecstatic owners from the Royal Ascot Racing Club were already celebrating, for they had never imagined a day like this-it was the stuff of dreams! Their delirious expressions of joy were a glorious contrast to the normal poker faces that greet flat racing champions in the winner's circle.

At the forefront of the throng was Sue Brealey, a 43-year-old PR executive from central London, who "opened up my newspaper the following morning and saw an enormous picture of yours truly grinning like a schoolgirl with a crush on a movie star. But I don't care. You've been the owner of a Derby winner, even if there are 229 other owners. And this horse has given most people involved with him more pleasure than they've ever had in their lives before."

Spurred on by dramatic events like the Derby of 2005, syndicate ownership by means of a racing club combining one flat-rate fee, excellent facilities and knowledgeable managerial insiders is taking off much as the whole fractional ownership concept is growing in the 21st century. And it is not hard to see why. An average-priced racehorse costs around £65 000 and another £25 000 or so a year to have the horse trained and travelled and vetted. But this is my serious 'head' talking and only half the reason. The other half is that syndicates are becoming more and more popular because of the excitement. It is not just the buildup and anticipation of racing occasions, the status and the winning (if you are lucky); it is the whole process of group attachment through ownership, however small. You are involved as much or as little as you wish to be in the horse's progress and development from yearling to racing. You become really close to the horse, coupled with the trainer and stable staff, which are, in effect, the horse's extended family.

Most of all, you have a lot of fun with limited downsides and, if you get in early on a syndicate, you can sometimes even choose the name of the horse.

A horse by the name of 'Fractional Life.' Now you're talking.

Articles

Any:
An Introduction to Fractionals

Art:
Fractional art donations prove charity starts at home

Handbags:
25 questions to ask about fractional handbag clubs

Boats & Yachts:
25 questions to ask a fractional boat operator
Fractional Boats in New Zealand
Pushing the (fractional) boat out
Boats & yachts- what's on offer?
Fractionalize This

Classic Cars:
25 questions to ask a fractional car club
Why opt for a 'fractional' classic car?
Classic Car Club Feature
Getting the most out of your fractional ownership experience
Why Not Rent?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Fractional Life hits Le Mans

Destination Clubs:
Lifestyle Asset Group: the best of both worlds
Relationship Selling to Todays Affluent Fractional Clientele
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Focus on the Registry Collection
DCs- Variety is the spice of (fractional) life
Fractional Property Glossary
Aspirational vs. Inspirational Media
Member Strategies For Lean Times
Brand Maintenance During An Implosion
What Goes Up Must Come Down...
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Destination Clubs- an alternative?
Fractional Ownership Heads to Europe
Private Residence Club Perspective Part 1
Quintess
Ultimate Resort
Calistoga Ranch
The Weybridge Collection
The Villas at The Grand del Mar
The Solstice Collection
Vacation Visions: Exceptional Exterior and Interior Designs of Residence and Destination Clubs 
Why the Boomers will change second home ownership in the US
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
Bear Mountain Resort - A View from Paradise
New Association For Fractional Ownership
The New Vacation: A Time to Retune Re-Connect

Consultancy:
Profit Opportunities in Luxury Fractionals - A Summary

Exchange:
The Golden Rules of Fractionals

Racehorses:
A Horse by The Name of Fractional Life
Running Down a Dream

Corporate Hospitality:
So Long to the Suite Life

Aircraft & Jets:
25 questions to ask a fractional jet operator
Top tips for fractional jet travel
Jet Republic pilot applications reach new heights
Focus on Fractional Jet Europe
A closer look at fractional aviation
CoGoJets introduces jetpooling
Joining the jet set
Fly for a fraction of the cost
Flying without Wings
Can't afford that jet? Rent it
How Private Aviation Works

Legal Services:
Fractional ownership: is it timeshare in disguise?

Private Clubs:
A tale of two cities - Private residence clubs in San Francisco and London
The Italian Job: interview with Byrne Murphy of Palazzo Tornabuoni
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
PRCs with added benefits
Northstars 'stay and play ' option
Private Residence Club Perspective
Fractional Property Glossary
What are the ingredients for the ideal Private Residence Club?
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions

Real estate:
Fractional Life in Ireland: For peat's sake!
Fractional Summit USA 2010- Speaker biographies
25 questions to ask about fractional property ownership
Fractional Summit Speaker Biographies
Fractional Property - The New Normal
Gay Community Embraces Fractional Property
Fractional Real Estate Investment Or Lifestyle Purchase?
Fractional Sales: Square Pegs In Round Holes?
Fractional Real Estate Commissions
Urban Fractionals
European Mixed-Use Resort Development in 2009
Mixed Use: Avoiding a mix up
Property- the legal issues
Fractional Holiday Getaways
Fractionals-Recession beaters?
State of fractionals
Fractional Property Glossary
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Fractional Finance Solutions
Fractional Property- the legal issues
Fractional Property Regulation
Fractional Ownership? We'll have a piece
Keep The Door Open
Why Fractional Property?
The Benefits of Fractional Ownership in Private Residence Clubs
Middle East Leisure Real Estate Market Booming
New Association For Fractional Ownership
Saving Homes, Homeowners and Banks Through Fractional Ownership?

Lifestyle:
Savings through Foreign Exchange
Convergence in the Fractional marketplace
The stock market for songwriters

Supercars:
25+ questions to ask a fractional car club
Live The High Life In A Fractional Supercar
Why Individuals Should Join A Supercar Club
Why opt for a 'fractional' supercar?
Focus on Marque II
Eco-road-warriors- How will the supercar club line-up of the future change?
Fresh metal- What's new on the supercar front?
So Why Not Buy?
You've Always Loved Cars?
Supercars- The cars of 2006/7
Let's Take The Lamborghini
Fractional Life hits Le Mans
Ascari Racing Festival Weekend
Fractional Supercars at the MPH Show
GROUP20 The SuperCar Club announce their 2007 Road Show in aid of Children In Need
New supercar club with green credentials

Luxury Motorhomes:
Denver RV show ready to roll

Wine & Spirits:
Wine