How do I get involved?

Simply phone or e-mail me and we can arrange for you to come down to the yard and discuss the different opportunities available. The office number is: 01488 72598 Mobile: 07831 873531 or e-mail markusher.racing@btconnect.com

How much does it cost to get involved?

We have lots of different options available. For sole owners and those running their own partnerships, training fees are £34 a day, and you take on responsibility for all other costs such as entries, jockeys, transport etc.

For the partnerships run by Mark Usher Racing, you can get involved for as little as £350 capital cost for a 5% share, then £85 a month, which includes ALL racing and training expenses. Costs vary depending on the number of horses and shares in the partnership and the initial purchase price of the horse.

What if I want to buy my own horse? How do I start?

Horses can be bought privately or at auction, or they can be bought or claimed at the races out of Selling and Claiming races.  Prices vary considerably from a starting price of 400 guineas at Ascot Sales to the millions we hear about at the big sales at Doncaster, Newmarket or Keeneland. If you would like to know more about any of this, I am more than happy to talk through the different options available to you.

What facilities do you have?

We have excellent access to the Jockey Club’s newly refurbished Mandown Gallops, which have over 550 acres of land. The facilities include eight miles of turf gallops and six miles of artificial tracks: plenty of space to train thoroughbreds. We also have practice starting stalls and schooling grounds for jumpers, on all-weather as well as turf. And the quiet roads in the area are ideal for simple walking exercise for the horses. In the yard itself we have a horsewalker and plenty of paddocks for the horses to enjoy when out of training.

Where are you based? 

We are based at Saxon House, Upper Lambourn, which is a 15 minute drive off J14 of the M4. (RG17 8QH for your satnav!)

Is it a good investment?

In terms of making money, no, because a very select few actually make a profit from racehorse ownership, but in terms of entertainment value, then the answer is a definite yes! It’s like any hobby,  e.g. holidays, playing golf, football season tickets, it costs money, but it’s what you get out of it that makes it worthwhile. Being an owner adds an extra dimension to a day at the races and there is nothing like the thrill of owning a winner.