So, what's it like to be part of a BDR Syndicate?

In our new weekly series on racing syndicates, we meet those involved, get their take on the ownership experience and outline the key details should you wish to join. This week: BDR Syndicates.

• Read the full Join The Club series

The Lowdown

How much does a share typically cost?
Between £1,000 and £3,000.

What does it get you?
A share gets between a 12th and a tenth share in a horse and the full owner experience, with badges, yard visits and the social side of the syndicate. 

Typically how many owners are there in each horse?
Share sizes vary but there are never more than around 15 people in any one horse.

Do syndicate members get tickets every time their horse runs?
Yes. Founder Colin Burr guarantees it and says there has never been an issue. The organisation is a member of the Racehorse Syndicates Association, which gives him access to extra badges, and if needs be he buys extra ones, although it is rare every single member turns up.

How do you communicate with members?
Burr said: "We use the Racing Manager app in some syndicates, it gives automatic information on entries and form alerts and allows you to upload videos and analysis. And we also use WhatsApp and email." 

How often do members get to see their horses at home?
"We have an open-door policy, people can go whenever they want and that's no issue with any of our trainers," Burr said. "Nobody has ever been turned away and we have official visits once or twice a year, with breakfast or lunch."

BDR syndicate founder Colin BurrCredit: David Carr

Which type of horse does the syndicate like to buy?
The syndicate focuses solely on jumps horses but they are acquired in a variety of different ways. Burr said: "We quite like three-year-old stores but we also buy weanlings and horses in training. With our kind of budget, we can't just go and buy horses for six-figure prices, so there is no set model, we just try to buy tickets in different raffles – £20,000 stores or £10,000 weanlings, say – and hope we get it right now and again."

What success have they had?
The syndicate is in its sixth season and has had 19 winners, at a strike-rate of around 16 per cent, with around 40 per cent of runners placed. Billy Boi Blue was bought for £21,000 and scored his fourth win at the Scottish Grand National meeting, where Driftwood Bounty finished an encouraging third in the bumper. 

Is there any chance of a return on investment?
Every quarter each member receives a full financial statement with their pro-rata share of any prize-money won. At the end of the contract, everyone receives their share of the sale price, minus costs – which are set out fully beforehand. 

How many horses and members does the BDR have at the moment?
There are currently 86 members on the books and the group has 14 horses, many of them unraced. 

Where is the syndicate based?
Burr is based in Norfolk but members come from all over Britain — one woman in Ayrshire has been involved since the organisation's second horse.

The delighted BDR Syndicate celebrate success with Billy Boi BlueCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Which trainers do the syndicate use?
Graeme McPherson and David Killahena are the group's main trainers but it also uses Olly Murphy, Stuart Edmunds, Ben Case, Noel Williams and James Owen. "We try to open it as wide as we can because some people like a certain trainer, so the more options we have the more members we can attract," Burr said.

More information available at bdrsyndicates.com

The experience

Mike Moss, retired financial adviser based halfway between Norwich and Ipswich

BDR syndicate member Mike MossCredit: David Carr

When did you first get involved with the BDR Syndicates?
I'd been in other ownership groups, dating back to my time with Walter Swinburn syndicates, and I used to play golf with Colin, so I've been involved with BDR since the start.

What's been the highlight on the track?
It was previously Billy Boi Blue winning unexpectedly at Wetherby in October but then he went on to win at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr — that was an amazing day.

And biggest disappointment?
Racing is racing and the horses don't always win but I'm glad to say that there haven't been any big disappointments.

What do you like about the way the BDR Syndicate do ownership?
Communication is key. Colin keeps us all informed and he has good connections with the trainers and jockeys.

How do you find sharing ownership with strangers?
I have shares with the Owners Club where you're one of 4,000 but here it's very much a family affair. Everybody in all the different syndicates is friendly. You meet at the races and you get to know each other, which adds to the experience as you share the highs and the lows together.

How can racecourses improve the experience for syndicate members?
I think there's still an issue over the number of tickets allocated for syndicates. I know that courses try their best but more and more syndicates are coming out of the woodwork and they need to be considered in the future.

Read more from Join The Club series:

So, what's it like to be involved with Racing Club? 

What's it like to be part of a Quest Thoroughbreds syndicate? 

So, what's it like to be part of a Ross Burdon Racing Syndicate? 

'Their engagement is outstanding' - so, what's it like to be part of RaceShare? 

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