It could be a bit tough to wrap and put below the tree, however a racehorse could be the right current to provide this Christmas.

Who wouldn’t love the joys of being the proprietor of a robust and modern beast of equine excellence and see it compete on the nation’s racecourses?

What’s extra you don’t need to pay 1000’s below a scheme launched by Shipston-based firm Previous Gold Racing, you possibly can part-own a race horse for simply £60.

The enterprise launched in December final 12 months having raised £270,000 in a crowd-funding marketing campaign and regardless of Covid-19, and racing solely with the ability to keep it up behind closed doorways, it has thrived.

CEO of OGR Ed Seyfried defined the way it works. “We ship the expertise of proudly owning actual racehorses for a fraction of the conventional value by syndicating very small shares to a large viewers. Sometimes an OGR horse can have round 2,000 homeowners paying £60 a 12 months however with every proprietor feeling concerned of their horse.”

Homeowners are given a welcome pack, digital updates by way of an app and may watch their horse race or go to them at their stables. As an proprietor you additionally share within the income, with as soon as of OGR’s horses, Darling Maltaix, having already made £17,000 in wins.

Beginning with only one horse in coaching at first of lockdown there at the moment are 5 horses being made race prepared of which Braqueur d’Or (Braq for brief) and Woman De Vega are skilled by native coach Paul Webber at Mollington on the Warwickshire border.

The Herald headed to the picturesque Webber coaching yard to observe two of OGR’s horses being put via their paces.

Whereas we watched model ambassador and ITV racing presenter Francesca Cumani leaping fences on Braq, Ed spoke concerning the inspiration behind the enterprise.

Hoses are very a lot in Ed’s blood. His great-grandfather, Ronnie Holbech, owned horse Paladin which got here third in within the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1945. Ronnie was left ruing destiny because the previous two Gold Cups – when Paladin was in his prime – have been known as off due to warfare.

“Now,” joked Ed, “I need to make good a historic injustice and have desires of profitable the Gold Cup.”

He continued: “After a good friend gave me a share in a horse I realised you don’t need to have a lot to name a horse ‘mine’; there’s an actual visceral, guttural feeling in proudly owning a horse slightly than simply having a punt on one, and if it’s yours you’re actually behind it.

“And that’s what OGR is about – we present all the pieces that is happening behind the scenes. You’re paying £60 a 12 months slightly than £60,000 however you’re most likely higher knowledgeable than extra rich homeowners who would possibly get a name from the stables as soon as a fortnight to say how their horses are doing. By your smartphone we will make the racing expertise dynamic for a fraction of the value. We are able to construct a group of people that develop into racing buddies.”

Movie Dream Alliance, launched in 2015, tells the true story of how a Welsh city shaped a syndicate to purchase a purchase a racehorse which went on to win the Grand Nationwide.

Ed defined that the movie captured the spirit he needs to create with OGR’s horses, he mentioned: “We need to join native individuals to a horse – and get individuals regionally behind it – it might be pretty if individuals had that.”

As soon as dismounted Francesca seems radiant after her run out on Braq, and described leaping fences as “the most effective factor ever”. She continued: “I’m a little bit of an adrenaline junkie so it was nice – he flies over the fences and it will get the heartbeat racing. He’s a horse that is aware of what he’s doing and is tremendous skilled so made it simple.”

She thinks share possession is an effective way of debunking the elitism of the game. She mentioned: “There’s a notion that horse racing and possession is for the extraordinarily rich whereas this offers you a really inexpensive slice of the motion. You will get concerned and see the horses working and, in a traditional 12 months, go to the stables and see them run.”

She continued: “For £60 a 12 months it’s actually a no brainer. What an important Christmas current – it actually retains on giving.