“I love horse racing because it gives the opportunity for anyone to be involved with horses in a capacity that can adapt as your knowledge and time allows”
What does your Fred profile say?
As an owner you can indulge your love of horses and have horse racing as a great interest that you can decide on the level of participation.
Everyone has a story about getting into racehorse ownership - what's yours?
I love horse racing because it gives the opportunity for anyone to be involved with horses in a capacity that can adapt as your knowledge and time allows.
For Ken and myself it definitely has… My father and uncle were apprentice jockeys to Harry Telford of Pharlap fame, although training was curtailed by WWII needs. My father did not resume riding but my uncle Les Fisher worked throughout Victoria and Tasmania as a jockey for many years. On Mum's side, Doug Mack was a racehorse trainer in Mordialloc and later on the Gold Coast.
Our personal involvement started when Ken had a cursory interest in the horse Jet Fighter early on in Melbourne but it wasn’t until 1999/2000 that we were given the opportunity to participate in two horses strictly as a hobby, after relocating to the GC some years earlier.
We are very fortunate that on the Gold Coast we are very close to some of our trainers and that has allowed us ongoing interaction with stable staff, trainers and the horses that some owners may not have the ability to do in larger cities.
Our hobby has led from that initial interest to breeding and racing quite a number of these beautiful animals. The range of people you meet in racing is fantastic and the opportunities the industry in Australia presents to people to contribute is staggering. From people working at horse studs, breaking in and agistment farms, many from overseas, to the Fashionista or just a Day at the Races – It is all your choice and to be honest the horses will still give their all - whether you are present or not!
What's been your most memorable experience as an owner so far?
I was most excited the day our horse Eptimum won a Group 3 just before we saw Winx parading before winning her 3rd Cox Plate. Very very proud of Eptimum and what a fabulous athlete Winx was. An absolute treat to see her race live and a credit to all involved with her.
If you could own any horse in the world (past or present) which one would it be?
A horse I wish I had had an involvement in is Danehill. What this horse has done for breeding around the world is amazing and his participation in Australia’s breeding definitely put our industry on the map. Everybody in racing world wide knows the Danehill name.
We know it's impossible to stop at one, so what's your ownership stable looking like now?
It goes a little something like…. White House Girl, Modelka, Great Keppell, Usmanov, Stellar Class, Astro Boy Toy, Xerri, Barassi, Tayella, Grand Zou, Capital Miss, Indian Dreamer, Sacred Zim, Decisive Heart, Global Citizen, Nick The Skip, Divine Courage.. I think that’s all of the named ones!
I am also passionate about life after racing for horses and have always tried to ensure that all horses we have been involved with have rehomed according to their needs, ability and individual personalities.
How do you decide which horses to get involved with?
I speak a lot to people who’s opinion I respect in the racing industry about horses we are considering to purchase. The breeding is a big part of this also but we do not use a formula as some do to determine our ultimate purchases. These days we are mainly involved in horses with others. This gives us the opportunity to spread the risk and also be involved hopefully in many more enjoyable wins.
Anything you didn’t know at the start of your ownership journey that you wished you knew?
I wish I knew at the start how much money this hobby was ultimately going to cost us. But we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Well I couldn’t have it any other way but not so sure about Ken!!
