Frequently asked questions
HOW MANY OWNERS ARE IN EACH SYNDICATE?
There is a maximum of 100 owners per syndicate each owning a 1% share.
HOW LONG IS THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR?
The subscription runs from the date that cleared funds are received and is for a fixed period set out in the subscription ( this varies for each horse and is dependent on arrangements for that particular horse).
CAN I LEAVE THE SYNDICATE AT ANY TIME?
You can choose to release your share and leave the syndicate when the minimum contract period is fulfilled.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PAYMENTS OTHER THAN THE SUBSCRIPTION?
During the subscription period all you have to pay is the fixed subscrition fee.
WHAT DO THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS COVER?
The monthly payment is guaranteed to cover all training expenses: Veterinary treatment, blacksmiths, breaking in, and training, Your monthly fee will remain unaffected should other members of the syndicate choose to leave.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A SHARE?
Your share entitles you to your % of all prize money and opprtunity to a free entry to the owners and trainers’ enclosure at the racecourse when your horse runs for all subscribers with 10% more shares. Subscribers with smaller shareholdings will obtain remaining owners passes through a ballot of the shareholders who intend to attend. All shareholders will receieve free entry to the course to watch the horse run. We will hold stable visits before the season begins and organise ad hoc visits during the season. We also hold unique experiences such as private boxes at meetings and dinners/evenings with syndicate members which you will have access to.
ANY ADDITIONAL RACING FEES?
Race entries (all such entry costs including all forfeit stages and final declaration fees) plus transport for races, are charged at cost price then pro-rata to your share – this then comes out of your share of the prize money if your horse wins. If, in the horses’ contract lifetime it does not earn enough prize money to cover these entries then any negative balance would not be charged to you but indemnified by DGA Racing.
WILL THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS REMAIN THE SAME?
Yes during the period of the subscription contract.
WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT OPTIONS?
Any initial payment is paid by Bank Transfer before the contract begins. The monthly subscription, if not paid upfront in advance , as some owners choose to do, can be paid by direct debit.
DO I HAVE INPUT IN MY HORSES CAREER?
We do welcome opinion from each syndicate member regarding your horse's racing plans with your syndicate manager. Your manager will always be available to discuss through options for the horse and plans will be detailed though our owner updates
CAN I VISIT MY HORSE AT THE STABLES?
We organise open mornings at the trainers’ yard, both during the on and off season. This allows you plenty of opportunities to get up close & personal with your horse, hear the trainer’s thoughts and meet up with fellow syndicate members.
HOW OFTEN WILL MY HORSE RUN?
The wellbeing of the Horse will be of paramount importance and the strategy for the management and racing of the Horse shall always be subject to the advice of the Horse’s trainer and if necessary at any time, vets. We pride ourselves on treating each horse as an individual, not just a number within our whole string, therefore the amount of starts during a season can vary from syndicate to syndicate. Some horses thrive on racing, some appreciate a bit of time between starts; therefore, each syndicate manager will be in frequent contact with each trainer regarding the race planning and strategy of every horse.
DO I RECEIVE AN OWNERS BADGE WHEN MY HORSE RACES?
When you purchase a share, your contract will tell you how many complimentary ‘Owners and Trainers’ badges you are entitled to (i.e. according to the % share owned: 5% = 1 badge, 10% or more = 2 badges. When your horse is declared to run, (48 hours beforehand for flat races and 24 hours for jump races), you will receive an email with the race card and also asking you how many badges you would like. At major race festivals, we cannot always guarantee owners badges for all owners who wish to attend, as some racecourses limit the number of Owner and Trainer badges per horse at such meetings.
CAN I TAKE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALONG TO THE RACES?
Yes. We work very hard with the courses and other owners to make as many badges available for our owners and their guests.
CAN I BUY A SHARE AS A GIFT?
Yes, this is not a problem, we will do our very best to make your gift special.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I RECEIVE ABOUT MY HORSE?
Every horse has a designated syndicate manager, who is your first point of contact regarding your horse. During the racing season, you will receive updates via email or audio email message in respect of your horse’s progress, race plans, entries and declarations. Every time your horse is declared to run, you’ll receive a race preview on the morning of the race and a review afterwards, once your syndicate manager has the race report from the trainer. We will also send you photographs and videos of your horse when available. Off season, updates will be less frequent, as if your horse is out of training or as we say ‘on holiday’, there will be less to report on, however we still hold stable visits to see our horses out of season and will keep you up to date on any news.
CAN MY SYNDICATES HORSE BE SOLD OR RETIRED DURING THE CONTRACT PERIOD.
Each horse is reviewed towards the end of every season by the syndicate manager and you will be kept informed of any plans. Decisions are based on the performance, rating, estimated value, and injury. DGA Racing recerve the right to sell or retire the syndicated horse at any time. This will be done with the full involvement of he syndicate members who can choose thereplacement horse of their choice from the options offered.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A HORSE IS SOLD OR RETIRED BECAUSE OF INJURY?
Offers are sometimes made during the season from buyers for our horses and sometimes a horse suffers an injury which terminates it racing career. In these circumstances we will replace the syndicates horse with another which will continue to provide the high quality race experience. This will be done with the full involvement of he syndicate members who can choose the horse of their choice from the options offered.
HOW IS THE PRIZE MONEY DISTRIBUTED?
You will receive the share of the prize money you are entitled to if your horse is placed or wins. For example, if you own a 5% share, you receive 5% of any owners’ prize money won. ‘Gross’ prize money (which you will see at the top of race cards on the Racing Post website), includes all prize money distributed between owners, trainers and jockeys. The ‘owner’s percentage’ is about 78% for a win and then ranges from 83-87% for a place depending on the placed position.
HOW DO I RECEIVE PAYMENTS?
Owners statements are prepared annually in December, summarising every owners financial account. This is normally delivered to owners in January.
DO I PAY VAT?
All owner payments made to DGA are inclusive of VAT. If our owners are to a company registered for VAT then this VAT can be reclaimed.
ARE WINNERS PRIZES GIVEN TO OWNERS?
Yes. We aim to ensure that within each syndicate, trophies, photos, champagne and race DVD’S are fairly distributed amongst the owners during the season. Certain trophys which are required to be returned to a racecourse will be held by DGA Racing but will be on display at the training yard.