Our thanks to Jack Murrell for the following article in which he discusses the benefits of greyhound syndication, as seen through his personal experience with the Romford based ‘Young At Heart’ Syndicate.
I run The Young At Heart Syndicate and have all my greyhounds with Paul Young based at Romford. I have been doing so now since late 2010 when Paul put together a consortium of owners to buy a greyhound who won on debut at Doncaster live on Sky at the time called ‘Droopys Sid’ he was renamed ‘Young Sid’ and began the start of The Young At Heart Syndicate.
Sid was riddled with injuries but finally come good to land the last Blue Riband run at Hall Green in 2012.
In 2013 we struck it lucky with a British bred Greyhound out of the brilliant ‘Final Gold’ from the late Malcolm Daniels called ‘Young Golden’. He went on to win The Gymcrack and reach the final of The William Hill Classic and The Laurels and then be nominated for British Bred Greyhound of The Year.
Six years later and we have managed to win this years Romford Puppy Cup with ‘Young Princess’. This success was extra special for me as some old friends are involved in the syndicate with her and to land a Category One success at my home track was extra special.
Syndication is not just about success though as I have made some great friends for life through running the syndicate and had many great social nights out with members at the dogs and elsewhere. It also is great when you are low after a defeat or an injury because you are surrounded by other people who are there to pick you up and go through the good and bad times with you.
It soon becomes a way of life, meeting new interesting people who have the same interests, splitting costs and now more than ever a great way of rehoming your greyhounds after racing.
My syndicate is based on 10 equal 10% shareholders involved in each dog. Myself and Paul are normally involved in every dog so there are 8 available shares in each new dog that often sell quickly due to the many syndicate members we already have and Paul’s big network of owners.
Granted syndicate ownership is not for everone but even some of the biggest owners in Paul’s kennel and even greyhound racing as a whole have been involved in syndicates.
For example John ‘Jaytee’ Turner and John Keefe (Eyeonthe Prefix) were once members of the Champagne Club run by Steve Fluin who has the biggest syndicate and arguably the most successful syndicate in greyhound racing landing many big race success’ over many years.
I have had Geoff Bowmer, Peter Abrey, The Late Shaymus Ryan & Alan Heard who also now has his own ‘Underground’ syndicate involved in The Young At Heart Syndicate who all owned Derby Runner Up Droopys Ward and have all had many top class greyhounds on their own over many years.
So syndication is not only a way of getting new owners involved, it can bring together some great friendships, split the costs of greyhounds which is in everyone’s interest and gives a bigger chance of your greyhound being rehomed without having to go through the Rehoming Centres which do a fantastic job but normally have a long waiting list.
Most trainers have a kennel syndicate now or someone who runs a syndicate within the kennel and always welcome new owners and members. They are all easily accessed by contacting your local track or trainer. So even if you think syndication is not for you I advise you give it a try with your favourite trainer or even with someone new at a new track.
There is always a budget to suit everyone’s pockets and a brilliant way to get to know new people within greyhound racing. Best of luck if you do decide to take the plunge!
Jack Murrell
