Tuesday, December 23, 2008

PAUL SILLER SHARES HIS OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Horse Partnerships - A Healthy Addiction:    When one has a tragedy in life or is just experiencing the  mid-life questioning of self and purpose, that individual often slips into unhealthy addictions like drugs, alcohol, excessive gambling, fast women and cars,  and all the other things that your parents told you to stay away from.   With my personal tragedy of the passing of my wife I was immediately thrown into that mid-life period of  questioning of self/purpose.  I  chose to devote a lot of my idle time to learning more about my passion of horseracing.  I could have easily slipped into the excessive gambling habit. Instead, I studied pedigree charts, sales results, and generally tried to read as much as possible about the industry, breeding, racing, handicapping, ownership, and partnerships.  A few 'research trips' to the Derby, Breeders Cups, and Del Mar were thrown in.     My dream was to one day own a race horse (one day meaning retirement).   I particularly liked Cot Campbell's book - "Lightning in a Jar."  In my research I contacted several partnership groups and read many web-sites all touting to offer the best partnership experience.  That is when I landed on MTG's website.  I instantly got the feeling of honesty as their website was realistic and compared the potential downside of the partnership experience to that of having a horrible vacation.  You went on the vacation, had a horrible time…but, you can't get your money back. That does not stop you from going on another vacation…   Wow, honesty in the horse business..    I contacted Lisa and within a month met her and Gary.   In my gut  I knew this was the right partnership group for me. I sensed Lisa's devotion to the health and the happiness of the horse over winning at the expense of the horses health.    At the next Keeneland yearling sale Lisa bought three horses… I picked one and I was in! I was part of the game, part of a team.   No waiting for retirement.   For the next 15 months,  up to the horses first start, I experienced one of the greatest drugs one can experience.  That great ( very addictive) drug called "anticipation."  That anticipation culminated with the extreme high, nervousness, and elevated heart rate of watching your horse load into the gate for his first race.  A day at the track is always great but, a thousand times better when you have a horse on the card.  Even though our horse never made it to the winners circle I became addicted to the anticipation.  Addicted,  so much so, that I am now on horse partnership number two.  But, a healthy addiction! I imagine that I'll get addicted to winning, once that happens.  You'll not find a more honest, pleasant, nice,  group of people to be associated with.  The "G" in MTG is the best.

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

THE AVERAGE THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE

The "average" thoroughbred racehorse stands 16 hands tall (64 inches or 4 inches per hand measured to withers) and weighs about 1,000 lbs.  The heart of the thoroughbred is about as big as a volleyball and usually weighs about 10 lbs.  The massive heart of the racehorse can pump up to 75 gallons of blood per minute during a race.  Secretariat's heart weighed an astounding 22 pounds!  The average horse can run at speeds of 35 to 40 mph.  The stride of the thoroughbred racehorse is approximately 20 feet long and they can take up to 150 strides per minute!

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