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When a yearling becomes a two-year-old on January 1st, it is eligible to race. Two-year-olds generally begin racing at four to five furlongs and are gradually extended to five-and-a-half, six, and seven furlongs, and longer. During the early two-year-old season, many young horses prove simply too small or fragile for early racing and are ‘turned out’ for further development. Racing careers will not begin for many horses until they reach full development in their third or fourth year. One third of all foals never make it to the track for even one race. Over one half of those who do never win a single race. During its career, a Thoroughbred may run in a variety of faces. A maiden race is one for horses who have never won any race. A claiming race is one in which any horse running may be purchased at the specific claiming price that posted as a condition of entry. In allowance races, the weight that each horse carries is set by the track’s racing secretary, who makes specific allowances for horses with less impressive past performances, and saddles better horses with more weight. Allowance races are distinguished by entry conditions which restrict the race to horses which haven’t won more than a certain number of other, lower level allowance races. Horses thus generally compete only against other horses who have won the same number of allowance races, advancing up the ladder as they win. The most important Thoroughbred races, stakes races, attract the best horses and the most public attention. Owners must pay a nomination fee or a series of nomination fess in advance, and an entry fee and starting fee at the time of entry (a few days before the race) and on race day. The stakes money raised by these fees is supplemented by ‘added money’ contributed to the purse by the track, and in some cases further supplemented by state breeders’ association awards. There are also a number of combinations and variations on these race types. Horse racing partnerships come in many shapes and sizes. So much so, that it is sometimes difficult to discern the differences between competitors. So what does a novice, or even an experienced investor, do once they have decided to invest in a horse racing syndicate? With a multitude of variable choices available, the task of selecting a racing stable can be overwhelming and complex. A few years ago, the Green Monkey, a two-year old colt in training, sold for a record price of sixteen million dollars. Some of the top prices paid can be very discouraging to individual horse investors seeking to get into the racing game. With the inherent risks associated with horse racing, and they are substantial, the concept of participating as a partner in a syndicate has become a popular way to participate in the "Sport of Kings" and minimize risk. Participation in a horse racing syndicate should primarily be done for entertainment purposes with low financial expectations. The notion that your first racehorse will win the Kentucky Derby is highly unlikely. Your odds of that occurring are about one in forty thousand. Maybe it's a little better than the odds of winning the lottery, but still very hard to achieve. If your entrance into the racing game is based upon the idea of entertainment and enjoyment, you're probably in the right frame of mind to get into the business. Most horse trainers will tell you there is no way to know for sure if a horse will do well in racing - until it actually races. Some horses train great and are huge disappointments in the afternoon. Conversely, some horses that have shown little during training become stakes winners. You just never know. There are studies that look at the success of racehorses by price range. Strangely enough, there isn't that much of a difference - statistically. Your odds of having a better horse if you pay one million dollars is not much better than a horse you bought for one hundred thousand dollars. The difference is minuscule. And that is what allows average people to own great racehorses. No doubt, racing partnerships are the way to go for the average participant. It allows you entry into the game for a fraction of the cost and it allows you to diversify your risk. Typically, for every three racehorses you purchase, only one will do well. That doesn't mean that the one successful horse will turn a profit, just that it will be able to compete and come close to breaking-even. If you get lucky, you might even make a profit. Only about seventeen percent of racehorses make a profit. Granted, you can get lucky and do very well financially, but it's rare. Bigger is not always better. Bigger outfits spend substantial money on advertising and marketing. You see their advertisements on the horse racing television stations all the time and their marketing is brilliant. They have the nicest websites and the nicest brochures. Claiming partnerships are becoming more and more popular. They allow you entry into the game at a very low price with a horse that is currently racing. Although we do not have any partnerships available at the current time, we may have one in late 2008. Our goal is to to do the very best job we can with our horses and to make sure we have a lot of fun doing it. Nothing is worth doing if it’s not going to be fun. We make every attempt to surround ourselves with friends and associates who share our passion for Thoroughbred racing and is up for the excitement of their lives.
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Emerald Forest THOROUGHBREDS 
