Making the most of Ownership

So you’ve decided to become an owner either on your own or in a partnership and you’ve bought a horse – the fun is just about to begin!

You’ll need to register as an owner if you’re not already registered (we will help you with all of that), and select some racing colours which will be worn by jockeys who ride your horse in a race. Then, get ready to enjoy an exhilarating experience as a racehorse owner!

Stable Visits
Most owners say that this aspect of ownership is just as enjoyable, if not even more enjoyable, than racedays. Good trainers, like Micky Hammond, understand this and make every effort to encourage owners and groups of owners to visit as often as they can, at times to suit them. The team at Micky Hammond Racing understand that many of today’s owners are time-poor people, and try to arrange things around their time as much as possible.

A stable visit typically involves getting to the stables early in order to see your horse at the early morning gallops. This is the traditional time of day for exercising horses, and leaves the trainer and stable staff free to deal with duties at the races in the afternoon and evening. At Micky Hammond Racing, there are generally 4 “lots” of horses taken out to the gallops on Middleham Moor between first light and late morning – this is really the time to visit.

Micky and the team will take you on to the gallops in the stable’s 4x4, talk you through the training routine and the latest progress of your horse as you watch from the 4x4 (if it’s cold!) or on the gallops themselves on Middleham Moor. There’s a chance to take photographs of your horse in action. Also, if it’s a jumper, you could arrange to come up on a day when “schooling” is taking place.

Once the gallops are over, it’s time to return to the stables for a hot drink and maybe some breakfast, and then a look around the yard at your horse and the others in the stable’s care.

Middleham is such a beautiful setting. There really is nothing quite like being there as dawn breaks over Middleham Moor, watching your beloved charge getting ready for his next race. If you want to be sure of getting there early, why not stay over at the excellent Blue Lion in nearby East Witton?

There is plenty more to do in and around Middleham when you visit, so why not make a day of it? Click here for information.

Racedays
For some owners, this is the only part of being an owner that matters – the buzz, nervousness and exhilaration of watching your runner competing for glory, no matter at what level of racing. Cheering him on and having a couple of quid on the nose.

The day starts with a call from Micky Hammond to give you a view of your horse’s chances on the day, and to discuss tactics for the race. That gives you a chance to decide whether you will actually go racing, and whether to have a bet on your horse or not (if that’s what you like to do).

Then it’s off to watch the race. As an owner with a runner, you get free admission to the races for you and up to 5 others (special rules apply for partnerships) at all racecourses in Great Britain. Get to the races well before your race, and perhaps have some lunch with your family or guests and then meet up with Micky Hammond for a pre-race discussion. Then you and your guests enter the parade ring before the race to watch the final preparations and hear your trainer giving final instructions to your jockey.

And then….they’re off! Hopefully, you’ll win and go and collect a trophy from the sponsors of the race.

Regular Communications
In between racedays and stable visits, the training team should keep you up-to-date with your horse’s progress. At Micky Hammond Racing, we do this via phone calls from Micky, e-mails and via updates on the private area of this website (only accessible by you).

As well as your own horse, you will be able to access some information on other horses in the yard, and many of Micky Hammond Racing’s owners do feel part of the stable team and are able to take pleasure from watching the progess of other horses in the yard.

The combination of visits, communications and racedays is the experience you are paying for as an owner. Treasure it, and get the most from it.