Frequently Asked Questions
Discover answers to common questions about joining our racehorse syndicate, from ownership benefits to prize money.
Plenty, including genuine ownership of the percentage share of your racehorse. You’ll get your percentage of all prize money earned with no deductions – plus any resale value.
You’ll get two complimentary badges to the owners’ and trainers’ enclosure at the racecourse whenever your horse runs, so you can take along someone special.
We never ask our owners to pay for their owners badges – there are no hidden costs with Hambleton – while you’ll also enjoy access to our renowned complimentary social events and meet fellow owners.
Away from the racecourse, you can come for as many accompanied stable visits as you like – and all arranged around you. There’s no need to wait for the rest of your syndicate.
We’ll even find out how you prefer to be contacted and get in touch every time your horse is entered, declared or has run (if you couldn’t make it to the races).
Of course, we take care of all the admin and arrangements relating to your horse. So you can just relax and enjoy the racing.
Read more about racehorse ownership with Hambleton.
A maximum of 12 owners per syndicate. All our owners shares are equal, too, to keep things harmonious.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
Few syndicates offer an equal share in their horses to their syndicate owners. Happily, we’re one of them.
This means there are no dominating personalities with large shares of your horse or no smaller stakeholders paying far less than you for the same experience. We think that’s only fair.
You’ll own as an equal with your fellow Hambleton owners, occasionally alongside the trainer of your horse who will likely own ‘a leg’ in your horse.
Rather than have two shares in a horse, we’d always suggest you take one share in two horses. You’ll get twice the enjoyment.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
Absolutely. Come and see wonder horse Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud, enjoy our annual owners’ day at Doncaster or meet the team at one of our other many get-togethers.
Hambleton is one big family and our hospitality is famous.
Read more about Hambleton’s social events.
The upfront payment includes the purchase price of the horse, vetting at the sales, wind and drug test at the sales, Great British Bonus registration (if qualified), sales house commission (5-7.5% of the auction price) and agent’s commission (usually 5%), transport from the sales and all other costs till the date of the first monthly payment.
Just about everything. That’s:
- Training
- Vet’s bills (however expensive)
- Farrier’s cost
- Dentist’s
- Transport
- Outside gallops
- Feed
- Supplements
- Day-to-day stabling costs
- All other related administration and racing costs, such as the jockey’s riding fee and your two owners’ badges for each race meeting.
Yes, two things. Race entry fees in excess of £1,000 per year and any travel outside the UK. Don’t worry: these are both good news.
If either of these costs becomes relevant, this means you have a talented horse earning significant prize money and increasing its value.
We charge additional entry fees and foreign travel pro-rata at cost price. In the highly unlikely event your horse doesn’t earn enough prize money to cover these extra costs, Hambleton stand the charges.
This means your financial commitment can’t rise at all, allowing you to plan ahead with confidence.
Unlike many syndicates, we’ll pay out your share at fair market value rather than asking you to relinquish your share.
It’s all part of our fair-play ethos. So whether your circumstances change, or you want to move onto another horse, you won’t be penalised.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
Yes, unlike many syndicates, Hambleton insures your horse for the auction purchase price as standard.
You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your investment is immediately protected without paying extra every month, or having to worry that your investment is not insured. We take care of all the insurance admin for you.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
Yes, come whenever you like (It’s your horse). You can come when it suits you – unlike some syndicates that ask you to fit around the diary of others.
A team member will look after you at the stables and ensure you have a great time (although we can’t guarantee the weather!)
Read more about the benefits of racehorse ownership with Hambleton
Yes, two. Each and every time your horse runs. Take along a friend.
Unlike many syndicates, Hambleton never ask our owners to pay for their owners badges.
Read more about the benefits of owning a racehorse with Hambleton.
Of course. Our ethos is all about quality horses, top trainers and having a good time, both on and off the racecourse.
That’s what naming days are for. Experience tells us how much owners love getting together at the stables, meeting each other over lunch and seeing their horse on the gallops.
Unlike many other syndicates, we never levy a prize-money tax on owners. 100% of every pound your horse earns is yours to keep.
The prize money displayed on the Racing Post website is the gross prize money, including all the prize money distributed between owners, trainers, jockeys and the stable. The owners’ percentage of prize money is roughly 78% for win prize money, and 83-87% for place prize money. We distribute prize money annually towards the end of the year, without deduction.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
Yes, we have a well-established gift service, so you can buy a share in a racehorse for your loved one. This is a service tailored around you.
We try to make it memorable. We’ve presented owners with a share certificate at the stables before introducing them to their new pride and joy, and have also produced a scroll containing a certificate for a wedding gift. Don’t be afraid to make requests.
Please head over to our contact page if you’d like to find out more about buying a share in a racehorse.
Yes, we arrange for you to get a copy of each of your winners, so you can access your special moments forever, to be revisited as often as you like.
Unlike many syndicates, we’ll pay you fair market value rather than asking you to relinquish your share for nothing.
It’s all part of our Fair Play Ethos. So whether circumstances change, or you want to move onto another horse, you won’t be penalised.
We simply ask owners give us notice of their wish to leave the syndicate so we can plan accordingly.
There are also no implications at all for the other owners in the syndicate.
Read about our Fair Play Ethos.
We review each horse towards the end of the season with your trainer, keeping you in the loop at every stage.
You’re never obliged to stay with a horse and you’ll receive the value of your share if selling.
There are also no implications at all for owners who are continuing in a syndicate when another owner is leaving.
If your horse is sold rather than retired, you’ll get your share of the selling price, less any applicable commissions.
Usually these include sales house commission plus 5% to the trainer and Hambleton.
Unlike some other syndicates, our sales commission is fixed and will not increase if your horse is sold for a notable profit, like many Hambleton horses have in recent years.
We welcome your opinion on your horse’s racing plans. We’ll keep you updated personally on plans for your horse and we’re always on hand to discuss options.
We prepare owners’ income statements annually in or before December, detailing your returns for the year.
If your horse has been sold at the sales, we wait until we have received cleared funds from the sales house before sending payments. As ever, we look after all the admin.
Head over to our contact page.
Choose a share in a syndicate today - view our racehorse shares for sale.
Our brochure explains what racehorse ownership means with Hambleton.