MyRacehorse Horse

Seize The Grey! Wins the Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday, September 21

Shortly after my seventieth birthday, when my life began reluctantly but unavoidably slowing down, I found renewed interest in an old friend —horse racing. As a teenager, I had frequented the local racetrack, fascinated by the sound and speed of these majestic equine athletes. Throughout my early adult years, I was enthused every first Saturday in May when the Kentucky Derby was broadcast to the world. I was thrilled, along with millions, at the Secretariat spectacle. Seattle Slew was another favorite, as were American Pharoh and California Chrome. My friends and family would pick our favorites and, with nothing at risk except pride, cheer that horse on during the race. Much like my interest in baseball was limited to watching the odd game during the World Series, my focus returned to my work until the next Derby or World Series rolled around.

I never developed the patience to watch baseball on TV, but horse racing intrigued me, and I started watching regularly on Saturday afternoons. I wanted to learn more about the sport. I wondered what racehorse ownership required in terms of money, energy, and knowledge. I became determined to satiate my curiosity. The avenue to answers presented itself to me in 2022 when I saw an advertisement for a racehorse partnership organization called MyRacehorse.

To participate in the partnership, I would need to buy at least one share of a thoroughbred horse. The MyRacehorse people would put the deal together, select a horse and a trainer, and project the anticipated cost of maintaining and racing that horse for its anticipated racing career. An ‘all-in’ cost would be determined, and the number and cost of shares would be derived.

I reviewed several horses before deciding on a young colt – a yearling sired by the famous Arrogate. Just a few years before, in 2017, Arrogate had won the Breeder’s Cup Classic, beating California Chrome at the wire. He became the richest racehorse in the world, acquiring some $17 million in winnings before retiring to stud( where the real money was to be made.) Arrogate sired only three crops, but among the progeny were some very special horses: Archangelo and Secret Oath, to name two.

The colt did not yet have a name when I purchased my single share. It went by the temporary moniker of Smart Shopping ’21. Part of the experience of MyRacehorse ownership is selecting a name from among a few suggested by shareholders. The name Seize The Grey was selected, which at the time seemed odd to me because, as you can see from the above and below photos of the horse as a yearling, he wasn’t grey at all – he was roan. I later learned that grey horses don’t usually start out grey; they earn that color as they mature, and sure enough, he did turn into a spectacular grey horse.

The financial outlook prepared for the share offering delivered a per-share price of $127, which fit in with what I was willing to pay for an insider’s education in the industry. To me, this was equivalent to paying tuition to an academic institution. The horse was a bonus.

All future expenses were included, which comforted me, knowing my risk was limited to $127. I was also told that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas would be training the horse. D. Wayne has won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness Stakes seven times, and the Belmont Stakes four times. There was no doubt in my mind that D. Wayne was someone I would be comfortable learning the details of training and caring for the horse. What I didn’t know at that time was all that goes into structuring the racing schedule and career development of a successful racehorse. It turned out that this was one of D. Wayne’s multiple talents.

Horses normally don’t go directly to the trainer as yearlings. Instead, they go to a facility that specializes in breaking the horse and introducing it to the equipment, riders, starting gate, running surfaces, and such. In this case, our horse was sent to a talented group of professionals at a farm near Ocala, FL. I received regular updates, including videos, on the specifics of my horse’s development.

Seize The Grey’s first race as a 2-year-old resulted in a disappointing eighth (out of 8) at Ellis Park. He was shipped to Saratoga Springs, NY, and dang, if he didn’t win in his next race in July of 2023! His next few races were okay, but he did not win again until February 2024. Time ran out on him earning enough points to snag a spot in the Kentucky Derby, although he had enough points to be the third ‘also eligible’ horse. D. Wayne advised that Seize The Grey be pulled from the ‘also eligible’ list and entered in the Pat Day Mile instead. That turned out to be the right call – Seize The Grey won the race and $1 million. Watch this 2-minute video to get a sense of the thrills to be found in this sport.

Our grey horse was maturing quickly. D. Wayne said we should enter him in the Preakness Stakes on a quick turnaround rest of only two weeks. He was entered and won in a shocker. He was 9:1 odds at the start of that race because not many people believed in him. The favorite was Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan, but there were other heavy hitters to contend with, the likes of Catching Freedom, Just Steel, and Tuscan Gold. Seize The Grey raked in another $1.2 million. In this short video, Seize The Grey shows he can handle a wet track, even as the Kentucky Derby winner breathes down his neck!

All eyes were now fixed on the upcoming Belmont Stakes, a mere three weeks away. It all proved too much for our grey horse, and he ended up in a miserable seventh place in the Belmont and followed that up with another disappointment – a fourth-place finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. It was time for a well-deserved rest. For the next 56 days, Seize the Grey’s non-racing downtime was interspersed with solid training and workouts. He began to display his better form again, recording sharp times all the way up through six furlongs. Watch our grey horse run out of gas as the horses turn for home down the stretch during the Belmont.

D. Wayne entered him in the Pennsylvania Derby. The Grey had demonstrated enough capability to catch the eye of the breeders. Being a last-crop son of Arrogate didn’t hurt, and the shareholders were offered a lucrative breeding rights contract, allowing us to share in the breeding revenue. The details of that contract are covered by a non-disclosure agreement, but I, for one, was excited to ink the deal. I can reveal that the multi-million dollar stallion agreement offered a $2 million bonus should Seize The Grey win the Pennsylvania Derby. Watch here as Seize The Grey comes under pressure at the 1/16th pole and accelerates away to the wire for the win.

He won the Pennsylvania Derby and earned another $1 million, which triggered that $2 million bonus payout. Needless to say, my experience so far with my single $127 share of ownership has been a spectacular case of Beginner’s Luck. I learned a lesson in reality last week when one of my newer MyRacehorse investments finished in last place in a race at Horseshoe Indianapolis, 50 and 1/2 links back from the leader. Through no fault of my own, I was lucky with my first horse, Seize The Grey. I’ll likely never have another like him, but I’m enjoying the sport and learning more every race, which is what I set out to do. For now, my slogan is, “Win some, lose some.”

I’ve learned that jockeys can make a huge difference in the outcome of a race. Many of the best are skilled at reading the narrative the horse presents as it rips down the track. I’ve learned that all tracks are different, colts generally race differently than fillies, turf races are different from dirt, which is different from synthetic surfaces, that some horses thrive on a muddy track while others do not enjoy mud at all. I’ve learned that horses need a rest every now and then, and that they take a lot of care, and that the people who provide that care are the salt of the earth. They are passionate about what they do – even in light of the hard work and low pay. I’ve learned that ‘horse people’ get out of bed well before dawn, and most live right at the track. They do this because they love horses and the industry. This extends to what is called thoroughbred ‘aftercare’ and deals with the well-being and reassignment of skills in the life that follows racing. I’ve learned that I like knowing what this industry means to these horses and these people.

Along with the luck of selecting a great horse and the absolute joy I’ve experienced in watching him win, I’ve earned a bit of return on my initial investment. My share of the horse’s winning amounts to several hundred dollars so far, but I’m told that the big payoff comes from the activity in the breeding shed. We do not yet know the Grey’s stud fee, but I’m guessing it will land somewhere near the six-figure area. That adds up when a stallion covers well over 100 mares each year. I’m hoping he lives a long and productive life.

Welcome to 3-Minutes A Day University, where you can learn a little about a lot of things every day in three minutes or less. We help you expand your knowledge and understanding of the real world, and 3-MAD University is tuition-free. Our wide-ranging syllabus includes a fascinating insight into topics including Health and Medicine, Science, Sports, Geography, History, Culinary Arts, Finance and the Economy, Music and Entertainment, and dozens more. You will impress yourself, your friends, and your family with how easy it is to learn facts and perspectives about the world around you. One topic you will never find covered is politics. We hope you enjoyed the previous three minutes. If you liked this post, please pass it along to a friend.

                          Was this email forwarded to you?   Subscribe Here.

      © Copyright 2024.  3-Minutes A Day University    All Rights Reserved.  Unsubscribe