We're all winners

Triumph and disappointment are always better shared, as are expenses, and multiple ownership is on the rise in racing. Marcus Armytage examines the pleasures and pitfalls of syndicate-owned racehorses

- Marcus Armytage

SYNDICATION as a form of racehorse ownership hit the headlines in April when Corach Rambler, owned by an eclectic bunch of seven Scots, including a 21-year-old business student from Heriot-Watt University in Edin- burgh, won the Grand National. Cameron Sword, whose interest in racing developed during covid to alleviate the boredom, had paid less than £4,000 for his share on trainer Lucinda Russell’s recommendation—wonderfully undersold, as it turned out—that the slow-burning point-to-pointer would be a ‘good starter horse’. He became the youngest winning owner in the race’s history.

Corach Rambler originally cost £17,000, so none of the ‘Ramblers’ have had to dip into their pockets for training fees yet. On top of £500,000 for the National, the Irish-bred gelding has also won the Ultima Chase twice at the Cheltenham Festival and, looking ahead, he should not look out of place in next March’s Gold Cup.

Syndicates, as a form of ownership, have really only been in operation since the mid 1980s, when it was rare to ride for anyone other than a sole owner. However, I do remember riding an old chaser called Dargai (named after a regimental battle honour at which four Victoria Crosses were awarded), owned by a group of then-middle-aged ex-army officers. They were informally organised by former Gurkha Maj John Urquhart and the horse was usually ridden by Lt-Col Bobby Faulkner, a Grand Military race veteran.