'They have a really good record, they're great at getting horses with winning potential and it's not massively expensive'

The lowdown

How much does a share typically cost? An all-inclusive share costs between £1,000 to £2,000, depending on purchase fee, and whether it is owned or leased, and the number of shareholders. Any unused funds are returned to owners. 

What does it get you? The percentage depends on the syndicate size. Manager Dan Abraham says: "On top of that they can attend racedays, get stable visits, and we try to organise lots of events. We have talks with handicappers and vets, trips abroad to other meetings, visits to Weatherbys, dinners and golf days, all sorts." 

Typically how many owners are there in each horse? The smallest Foxtrot syndicate has seven owners and the largest has 20. 

Do syndicate members get tickets every time their horse runs? "We're very lucky that it usually works that way. Some racecourses do syndicate lounge badges, which gets them their own exclusive area but without a meal. The experience can vary a little bit but I've found everyone can get in," says Abraham.

How do they communicate with members? WhatsApp, including video and photo updates. 

Dan Abraham: "The real thing is meeting people, having a chat and making new friends"

How often do members get to see their horses at home? "They can go whenever they like," says Abraham. "That's one of the great things about the trainers we choose, they're so understanding. Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, for example, open their yard the first Saturday of every month for Foxtrot owners, but they can go other times as well. We try to give the sole ownership experience for the fraction of the price."

What type of horses does the syndicate like to buy? Abraham says: "We're looking for winners, horses who haven't shown their true potential. It's a lot of hard work, and in general we don't buy unraced horses, but they're predominately jumps horses with a few on the Flat."

What success have they had? Anythingforlove landed the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Novices' Hurdle in 2021, the same year the syndicate enjoyed its first Grand National runner in Hogan's Height, who finished tenth [won the Grand Sefton in 2019]. Vosne Romanee, winner of 12 races for Foxtrot, was runner-up at Grade 1 level in the US. 

How many horses and members do Foxtrot Racing have at the moment? 30 horses (three Flat, 27 jumps) and approximately 340 members. 

Where is the syndicate based? "We don't really have a base, we've got several trainers and we have members from Scotland to Devon and abroad," says Abraham.

Which trainers do Foxtrot Racing use? Foxtrot have horses with Jamie Snowden, Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, Christian Williams, Oliver Greenall, Ben Pauling and Dan Skelton. 

More information available at foxtrotracing.co.uk

The experience

Foxtrot Racing syndicate member Nigel Smith, 60, from Norfolk

When did you first get involved with Foxtrot Racing? I've been involved in syndicates from the early days, around 2003, and through another syndicate I met people who had shares in Foxtrot in 2018. I went into a horse called Hogan's Height, who was brilliant, and I've been involved in Foxtrot ever since. 

How many shares have you had with them? I've got shares in two horses at the moment. Snipe, a nice chaser with Dan Skelton, and Bali Body with Richard Newland and Jamie Insole. 

Hogan's Height: Grand National run a highlight for Nigel SmithCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

What's been the highlight on the track? Hogan's Height running in the Grand National. That was a real high, lots of us were there and it was a one-off day. You're unlikely to have a top, top horse with a syndicate, but he was one of the best I've been involved with. 

And biggest disappointment? The worst day was when we lost a horse called Here Comes Johnny. He was a real favourite. 

What do you like about the way Foxtrot does ownership? The key is communication, you love to know what's going on with your horse and Dan's really good at that. Foxtrot have a really good record too, they're great at getting horses with winning potential. It's not massively expensive and it's a well-run syndicate.

How can racecourses improve the experience for syndicate members? I think there's an issue with badges. Courses need to differentiate between what is a racing club and a syndicate. Racing clubs have thousands of shares, while there could be ten of us, and some courses lump us into syndicate rooms where you don't get any food, which dilutes the experience. The owner-breeders aren't there anymore and syndicates are growing, so courses should rethink how they do things and provide more than six badges.

Read about more syndicates:

Meet the 250-strong Ursa Major syndicate with 38 horses and 12 trainers - and why it feels like a 'big racing family'

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