About standardbred ownership
Everyday Australians are entering the inner sanctums of racing to experience the buzz of the occasion, excitement of the competition and bond with the animal.
Getting Started – Pathways to Harness Racing Ownership
Dreaming of finding the next Pure Steel or Im Themightyquinn? It’s possible—and we’re here to help you take the first step.
There are several ways to get involved in standardbred ownership, each offering different levels of commitment, cost, and involvement:
Syndicate
Joining a syndicate is a great way to start your journey in harness racing. You’ll enjoy all the thrills of ownership at a fraction of the cost, while sharing the experience with a group of like-minded enthusiasts.
Lease
Leasing allows you to “rent” a standardbred from an owner for a set period—no upfront purchase fee required. It’s a practical and flexible way to get involved without long-term financial commitment.
Joint Ownership / Partnership
Perfect for friends, family, or colleagues, partnerships let you split the costs and share the excitement. Up to 20 people can jointly race a horse, making it a social and affordable way to participate.
Sole Ownership
As a sole owner, you’ll enjoy full control and all the rewards—but also take on all the costs. It’s a more involved option, ideal for those ready to fully commit to the ownership experience.
Choosing a trainer
WA has over 300 registered harness racing trainers located across the state.
These range from small, hobby trainers with only a couple of horses, to mid-range trainers (around 10-20 horses) and large training operations with 30+ horses in their stable.
Depending on your location, lifestyle, budget or syndicate, choosing a trainer is an important step to ensure your racehorse is given every possible chance to excel on the track.
In many cases, you might choose a trainer before you choose your horse – trainers can provide their expert advice and opinion to guide you in choosing the most suitable horse for you or your ownership group.
Need some more help?
Contact one of the following industry organisations:
WA Breeders, Owners, Trainers & Reinspersons Association (WA BOTRA)
BOTRA is the harness racing industry body representing licenced Standardbred trainers in WA.
• Contact: Warren Robinson (President) or Rob Deadman (Secretary)
• Email: botrots@westnet.com.au
Harness Racehorse Owners Association (HROA)
HROA is the harness racing industry body who represent Standardbred owners in WA.
• Contact: Glen Moore (President)
• Email: glenmoore@westnet.com.au
WA Standardbred Breeders Association (WASBA)
WASBA is the harness racing industry body representing Standardbred Breeders in WA and promoting the WestBred Bonus Scheme.
• Contact: Jeanine Diederich (President)
• Email: info@wasba.com.au
How to get involved in harness ownership?
When you are ready to take that next step into racehorse ownership , the Australian Pacing Gold (APG) Yearling Sales can be a great avenue to acquire a potential equine star.
As Australia’s industry owned, industry dedicated, not-for-profit sales company, APG offers a race series that is second-to-none when it comes to delivering buyers “bang for their buck”.
APG’s combination of top quality yearlings and Australasia’s richest 2yo & 3yo race series makes for an irresistible buying proposition.
APG’s Race Series for 2021 APG Sales Graduates maintains its status as far and away the richest and best value Sales series in Australasia, offering its graduates the ability to compete for over $2.2million of APG prizemoney, spread across an incredible 23 Group races (13 x Group Ones and 10 x Group Twos).
Expert advice
Your trainer can help you find your perfect racehorse. Alternatively, the WA Standardbred Breeders Association can provide pedigree advice and assistance in contacting Standardbred Breeders directly, if you are considering purchasing at a yearling sale.
Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales
Naming your standardbred
Naming your racehorse can be an exciting process and one that will be shown on television screens nationally and internationally, as well as race books, newspapers, and other media outlets.
That said, there are several common-sense rules by which you have to abide.
- It can’t be the same (or sound the same) as an existing racehorse
- It can’t be any more than 18 characters long, including spaces
- It can’t include any offensive material, so no expletives or those that sound like it
- It can’t be stolen from someone else, such as a famous brand or celebrity name
- Finally, it may be rejected if it is too difficult to pronounce
To be safe, make sure you are familiar with the Australian Harness Racing Rules for Registration and Naming prior to choosing your horse’s race name.