Snakes On A Plane producer switches from Hollywood to horses with new syndicate

George Waud, the film producer behind Snakes On A Plane and the Margot Robbie-starring Terminal, is preparing to go from Hollywood to Hexham and Haydock after purchasing a large share in new British syndicate management business Old Gold Racing.

London-born Waud has worked with the likes of Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta in his movie career but has always had a keen interest in racing.

When living in California, he part-owned Society's Chairman, who in 2010 finished second in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes and ran in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Waud is also in the ownership group of last season's Fred Winter runner Oi The Clubb Oi's.

But now he plays a key role in the launch of Old Gold Racing. The syndicate currently own one horse in training – Bob Pebble, trained by Paul Nicholls – and are looking to expand this year with Waud hoping to be part of a different kind of blockbuster success.

George Waud: new venture in ownership

Waud said: "It's really fun having an interest in a horse and I think this is going to be really good. I've owned shares of horses for a while, but when you're at the racecourse or watching the TV it's just 'your horse', regardless of how much you have.

"Paul Nicholls is training Bob Pebble so it doesn't get any better than that.

"Horseracing can be an expensive hobby to have – racehorses tend to have more shoes than my wife – but this is an affordable way into ownership. Society's Chairman gave me some of the best experiences of my life, I hope I can have more with Old Gold."

Of combining his passion for film and racing, Waud added: "It's hard to compare [horseracing and films]. Some people have a successful formula for making movies and some for breeding and training. There's also that uncertainty of whether your film or horse is going to perform well, which makes it exciting.

"Horseracing movies are difficult because your audience is quite narrow, but I thought Seabiscuit was absolutely fantastic. I think there's definitely a movie in the Red Rum story too."

While Old Gold Racing have only recently launched, they have a historical connection in jump racing. Syndicate founder Ed Seyfried was the great-grandson of Ronnie Holbech, who owned 1945 Cheltenham Gold Cup third Paladin.

Seyfried said: "Our mission is to win big races in our very own distinctive Old Gold silks. We look forward to welcoming a new and diverse audience to the world of horseracing."

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