Real Life: Owning a racehorse

That said, there is an affordable way to rub shoulders with the rich oil barons and businessmen. Welcome to the world of the Owners Group.

The group gives everyday folks, like myself, the chance to experience the world of the turf and to have a stake in a thoroughbred. Quite like mega-rich Manchester City playing a non-league team full of window-fitters, mechanics and postmen in the FA Cup, the Owners Group is made up of people from all walks of life, my Asda shop assistant other half among them.

True, our horse Yulong Xiongba (pronounced you-long shawn(g) ba) hasn't quite hit the heights on the track – with no massive wins behind us. But the excitement of just telling people 'that's our horse' is something money cannot buy. It's a wonderful thing, but put the Champagne on ice. . . he's finished third twice and earlier this week romped home in second place.

As a year's membership is less than it costs to keep a car on the road, what is there to lose, we asked ourselves when we set out. Even if our share probably only equates to a toenail on its hind leg – not that he's divvied up that way.

The cost actually depends on the training fees dictated by the yard at which the horse is based. Yulong had been stabled by Derby-winning trainer Roger Charlton near Chippenham in Wiltshire, but has since switched to the Malton, north Yorkshire yard of Julie Camacho. A smaller string means the training costs aren't as high, so a second year of membership is only half the price of what it was the first time round. Bargain.

So what can you expect for your money? Not to get rich, unfortunately, though that doesn't stop us dreaming. "This time next year. . ." said the great philosopher Del Boy Trotter.

A regular newsletter informs all syndicate holders what the Owners Group horses are up to and there are text and email updates of when a horse is running or declared to do so. That in turn gives owners the chance to claim a free badge to see their horse race.

There's even merchandise in the form of souvenir pictures and mugs (that's the drinking vessel, not us gullible punters), while stable visits are also offered. My friend Andy, a fellow Yulong owner, and I took up the offer to see the horse 'at home'. He was well-behaved that day, but unfortunately that has not always translated itself to the course. A seven furlong winner in Ireland as a two-year old when trained by former Derby-winning jockey Johnny Murtagh, we had high hopes Yulong would progress. But more of that later.

My involvement began when my other half spotted a newspaper advert for the Owners Group, looking for shareholders for Champagne Express, a jumper trained by Nicky Henderson – an ideal Christmas present she thought, knowing of my love for the sport.

"But I want us to experience it together," I said.

And so our journey began. Shares in Champagne Express were gone when we applied. So Yulong it was. Meanwhile, our first choice won his first race, bolting up at Chepstow to earn nearly £2,000 in prize money.

Another Owners Group horse, Sound Investment, has lived up to its name, finishing first past the post on three occasions, racking up around £80,000 in win and place earnings in the process, adding to that with a third place finish in the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

And Yulong? His name means clever person, but he hasn't been too intelligent on the course. His two third-place finishes and one second are his best efforts from his six outings this year. But, like a football team showing steady year-on-year improvement, we know a win is just around the corner.

Spare a thought, though, for the owners of Spirit of Wedza who, after 13 races, have yet to see their horse get its head in front.

Yulong got off to an inauspicious start when he refused to go in the stalls and unseated his rider on his seasonal bow at Lingfield. They do say you should never work with children or animals.

Subsequent races saw Yulong down the field at Windsor and Kempton. He was even scratched on the morning of a race because he had a 'dirty nose'. That translates to 'having a bit of a cold', for those not versed.

But this ownership lark is nothing to be sniffed at. Yulong has thrived following a change of surroundings. He was only just touched off when third at Dunstall Park – which meant the three of us, myself, my other half and mate, could all witness it. And we were also there when it followed up with another third placed finish, enjoying the ultimate owners' experience.

The feeling was indescribable, collecting an owners' badge, meeting other shareholders and the trainer's husband, cheering him on then watching him parade around the unsaddling enclosure. The joy was unbridled, you could say.

Listening to the trainer's husband Steve Brown is an absolute pleasure. So knowledgeable about his field, he talks the owners through Yulong's races, gives the lowdown on future plans and informs us all how the horse is doing at home. All are convinced the right race will come along and a win is just around the corner. But should that not happen, it's been fun watching him try.

We haven't quite got another Frankel on our hands but as my mate put it, 'we are living the Yulong dream'. This time next year, we could be millionaires!

Owners Group still has shares in a number of horses. Visit here or call 01380 811888 for more details. Pictures courtersy of the Owners Group.