Hawthorne Race Course is proud to present a fractional ownership seminar conducted by Anthony MacDonald, founder of TheStable.ca.

The cooperative horse ownership group is drawing praise for its innovative efforts to engage new fans into the business and excitement of modern horse racing. The discussion will take place on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Club Hawthorne off-track betting parlour and sports bar in Oakbrook Terrace located at 17 West 648 22nd Street. The event is free and open to the public – reservations are suggested, so please call 630-627-8238.

Fractional horse ownership offers new and veteran harness racing enthusiasts a chance to experience the thrill and excitement of true horse ownership. By providing a limited risk low-cost entry to become a horse owner, TheStable.ca bridges the gap to the public. In this way, trainers have an opportunity to grow their business and breeders can have a better chance to get fair value for yearlings.

The MacDonalds have proven fractional ownership can work as the number of owners in their stable has grown from three to just over 200 in under two years. Part of the reason for the dramatic increase is because 76 of the original 78 fractional owners returned to buy shares in Year Two. As is evident, the MacDonalds are doing something right, and now patrons will have a chance to hear how it is done.

"Bar none, there is nothing as thrilling as watching ‘your’ horse race from the moment they leave the starting gate to when they take that final corner. We are sure groups of friends will decide to share in the excitement and go in on a horse together," said the president and general manager of Hawthorne Race Course, Tim Carey. "This is the most straightforward and accessible way to become a horse owner and to develop long-lasting relationships within the racing community."

The Stable simplifies buying and owning a horse with a low risk way to purchase yearlings which allows owners to buy a small or large share by catering to all budgets. With their unique single-share purchase program, each horse has an initial offering of 100 shares, and buyers can participate in racehorse ownership starting at one per cent up to one hundred per cent.

Fractional horse ownership provides an open, affordable, fractional purchase program, with a flat rate, no-surprises monthly billing system. "I'm not trying to sell anybody magic beans. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for anybody, on any budget to get involved in horse racing. Whether you are a seasoned horse owner or new to the horse racing world, we want our investors to be informed," explained TheStable.ca Founder Anthony MacDonald. "It doesn't matter if you only own one per cent of a horse; on race night, that's your horse. The whole point is to get people enthusiastic about owning horses again."

Two years ago, Anthony and his wife Amy started TheStable.ca. At that time the couple had three horses under their care and today they are managing a stable of 62 horses, 40 of them are two-year olds. The model of TheStable.ca focuses on customer service and entertainment while employing benefits for both new and longtime harness fans.

According to Keith Gisser of The Daily Racing Form, "Fractional ownership is a winning concept. It can, in some instances, cost a participant less than a night at the track, and it gives the participant a chance to get all the trappings of ownership (except a name in the program) with no risk other than the initial investment."

Anthony MacDonald is a well-known Canadian horseman and businessman with over 20 years experience in the horse racing industry. As an owner, trainer, and driver, he has competed in the biggest harness racing events in North America with multiple wins in stakes races. MacDonald has been one of Canada's top-ranked drivers for purse winnings and number of starts by a driver.

In 2011, MacDonald was ranked third in Canada for number of wins. He recently passed $23-million in career purse earnings as a driver.

MacDonald regularly participates in programs to support harness racing in rural Ontario. He volunteers at youth and adult harness racing camps at Grand River Raceway, offers seminars in handicapping and takes every opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the sport.

The Stable was created by avid harness racing enthusiasts Anthony and Amy MacDonald and after only a year in business, TheStable.ca has more than 160 owners. The Stable gives buyers and investors the opportunity to make decisions about potential horse ownership, or allows owners to keep up to date on their yearling's progress by reviewing pedigrees and videos, or reading weekly updates from the trainers, veterinarians and blacksmiths as they give their assessments of their yearlings in training.

(Hawthorne Race Course)