Top trainer Tony O'Sullivan has joined Anthony and Amy MacDonald in their innovative thestable.ca partnership with the aim of bringing affordable racehorse ownership to even more first-time and returning fans of the exciting sport of harness racing.

"We're trying to build a brand with The Stable and Tony will play a key role in helping thestable.ca do that as part of our growth plan," Anthony MacDonald said.

O'Sullivan will continue operating his own barn, Tony O'Sullivan Racing, but will join thestable.ca as part of a training cooperative that over time will bring more trainers, owners and yearlings into thestable.ca's unique, single share fractional ownership fold.

"I think thestable.ca is a great platform to bring new and returning owners to the industry in an affordable way, which in turn will grown the industry," O'Sullivan said. "I am looking forward to the upcoming sales and the possibilities."

O'Sullivan as operated his own public stable in Ontario and New Jersey for more than 10 years, earning close to $4 million in each of 2011 and 2012, and consistently ranking among the continent's top trainers. The New Zealand native has more than $25 million in lifetime earnings, notched over 1,000 wins and campaigned horses like Alsace Hanover and Muscle Baby Doll.

Thestable.ca, which will enter its second season this fall, was created by MacDonald with the goal of making racehorse ownership affordable by bringing new investors and owners into the sport for a low buy-in price starting at a single share, an industry first. For a yearling valued at $15,000, this means an initial investment of just $150 plus the monthly training fee of $20 per share, less than the cost of a movie night out for two and a lot more fun as owners get to cheer on their horses at the track.

While the fractional ownership concept is not new, what is unique about thestable.ca is that owners can now purchase low cost, single shares in a variety of yearling prospects from different racing jurisdictions. MacDonald's aim is twofold: to bring new owners into the sport while at the same time helping to revive a struggling industry with new blood.

Thestable.ca purchases yearlings at the fall sales or from breeders who want to place their young stock in the purchase and training program. In it's first year in business starting in the fall of 2015, thestable.ca sold all available shares in its initial offering of 25 yearlings. This bunch, now two-year-olds, has graduated from thestable.ca's yearling training program, with some notable successes, including Rose Run Speedster, a $14,000 trotter who up until early August, had won two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races and $94,500 from six starts, and Bourbon And Barley, a pacing filly who was a $6,000 yearling sales buy and recently sold for $140,000.

Thestable.ca will be out in force at the fall yearling sales in Ontario and all over the U.S. with MacDonald working to surpass thestable.ca numbers from 2016.

(The Stable)