Are you ready to experience a taste of ownership?

Horse Racing Ireland's ownership department has launched the Experience It campaign, offering individuals and groups with an interest in racing the opportunity to trial racehorse ownership.

The campaign facilitates a group to lease a horse for a day. In the lead up to the raceday they can follow their horse’s progress, visit the trainer’s yard and have a runner on the track in their name.

The Sport for Business syndicate kicks off the campaign with Paul Deegan, trainer of Mystery Gal, a four-year-old filly who won a handicap on the Flat at Clonmel on her most recent start early this month.

Deegan said yesterday: "This initiative has lots of potential. Anything that gets new people involved in racing and gets people talking about ownership is a positive step.

'Look under the bonnet'

"Mystery Gal will be ready to run in about ten days' time. The Sport for Business Syndicate will be able to look under the bonnet of racehorse ownership and have a bit of fun along the way."

Amber Byrne, owner recruitment manager with HRI, explained how the concept works. “This is a taster experience for people with a curiosity about racehorse ownership.

"Very simply, it allows people to try out ownership. Through networking and promotion we are recruiting people from the corporate and sporting sectors to join syndicates. We have a number of groups ready to go as and when horses become available.

“The ultimate aim is to convert people into ownership, but it is also about raising the profile of ownership and racing in general, promoting the syndicate model and allowing people to look behind the scenes."