There has been no shortage of celebrations this season among The Thirteen Apostles Racing Syndicate as The Truant recorded his third win of the campaign for connections on Tuesday at Punchestown for trainer Paul Flynn. What began as a small group of racing enthusiasts from different walks of life has grown into a close-knit circle of friends united by their shared passion for the sport. The Truant has not only brought them success on the track, but also forged new friendships, proof that ownership is as much about the journey as it is about the winning. From mornings at the yard to the thrill of race days, The Thirteen Apostles have enjoyed every moment.
Gerry Keegan shares the story of how the syndicate was formed, the joy the ownership experience has given its members, and plans for the future.
How did you become involved in Racehorse Ownership?
I always loved racing and going to the Roscommon races as a kid, my father had a real interest in racing, and I caught the bug from there. I love horses and the racing game, but I didn't come from a horse background.
I was asked to join a syndicate a few years ago, which was great. A few years later, I ended up setting up my own syndicate with a horse called The Truant, who was owned by an existing syndicate that had kind of fallen apart. The Truant ended up being for sale, and I bought him for small money for the syndicate and have had great luck since.
How did the Syndicate come together? How many are involved?
It's a mix of people, there are 4 or 5 from the old syndicate that knew each other, and it just grew from there. I got one lad in from work, and he bought two or three of his friends in, so there's a good mix of people from all over, but everyone has gotten to know each other through the ownership. It's been a great way of meeting new people and making friends through a shared interest. The majority are Roscommon-based, and a couple of guys down near where Paul Flynn trains in Ballymahon. We would mainly be involved in GAA.
Is there a story behind the name of the syndicate?
We were trying to come up with a name including thirteen in the title, as there are thirteen of us in the syndicate! I think one of the lads suggested twelve apostles originally, and we had another lad join, so it went from twelve to thirteen. There were no other suggestions, so we went with that!
What has the Ownership experience given you so far?
It's been brilliant, it's a great day out & very enjoyable for everyone involved. From the moment you get to the racetrack, you get your owners & trainers badges, meal vouchers & your racecard, I'd highly recommend it to anyone. It's a great experience, and if some of the members can't make it to the races, I'd always bring family or friends to have the experience of what it is like being an owner for the day. I brought a young lad to Thurles last week, he is in college down there, I got him a pass, and he was delighted and loved the day out, hopefully he will catch the racing bug now.
What is it like to share the experience with your syndicate members?
It's just brilliant, there are people following us and our journey from all different areas, different villages, and it just feels like everyone owns the horse, it's special. Paul Flynn has been brilliant; he gets the best out of horses that might have been out of form, he sweetens them up, and we couldn't be happier with the way things have gone this season. He's done wonders for us, and he's very down to earth, you can phone and chat away to him any time. He'd listen to you as well, the odd time we might come up with an idea, and he'd listen and wouldn't just throw it out! We would try to get down and visit the yard every couple of months as a syndicate, bring a few sandwiches, and keep everyone happy!
Do you think your Ownership journey has sparked an interest with family and friends?
Oh, definitely, the interest has definitely grown; most of my family wouldn't have had an interest until I had gotten involved. When the horse is running, it always encourages a bit of chat in the family WhatsApp group! You'd get a text saying 'is he going to win today!?' but it has definitely brought them from zero up to some level of interest. Some of my friends have shown an interest in getting involved in the next horse, which is great.
Any ambitions or plans for the future of the syndicate?
We are actually selling The Truant this week; he is in the online sale at Tattersalls. He's left us on a high. We obviously have a price in mind we would like to get; if he doesn't get that, then we will hold on to him. We will probably sell and then reinvest in something younger as he is eight now and he has been very good to us, however the programme in England would suit him much better as there aren't a lot of suitable races for him for where he is at currently, he is a two mile flat horse and there isn't many races for him over that grade and distance. It will be tough letting him go as he's been so good to us, he won 4 races for us, three this season and one last season, and he's been super for the syndicate.
What would you say to someone who's always dreamed of owning a horse but hasn’t taken the leap?
Send them to Paul Flynn! He's great for small syndicates who have small budgets, which most people are. He will get the best out of whatever you have. It's not all about the race days, the day's going down to see the horse with the syndicate are just as good, he has an owners room with photos of previous winners, a bar, dartboard, TV, it's good fun, very welcoming and just a nice experience going down to have a chat, talk racing and he's a gas man as well!
If you're interested in exploring racehorse ownership opportunities and discovering the stories behind the sport, contact us on [email protected] to find out how to get involved.
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