It is no question that star horses have rather large fan bases, but how about the equine participants which do not have sparkling resumes? What kind of following does a six-year-old pacing mare with 120 career starts and $73,000 in earnings have? How about 360 Facebook friends and an unbelievably passionate ownership throng
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As an article by The Daily Gleaner explains, the mare in question is the aged Omar Khayam lass Khayam I Am, who made her way to the Maritimes this past spring.
The mare has recorded one win in 16 starts since making the trek to the Canadian hotbed of the sulky sport. But to her owners -- all 12 of them, each win a $500 piece of the mare -- Khayam I Am is now part of the family. A member of the ownership group told The Daily Gleaner that the purchase of the mare was, "not an investment. It's just an investment in fun."
"We don't really care...win, lose, last...it doesn't matter," one of the owners, Matt Ashfield, was quoted as saying.
Each of the owners has an unofficial title and role within the group. For instance, Ashfield is 'VP, Hydration Quality Control.'
"You pay money to play hockey, you pay money to own a racehorse," Ashfield said, echoing the group sentiment that the mare was purchased for all the right reasons: to have fun, be with friends, and maybe get a cheque from time to time.
'Ky' will have a shot at banking another cheque tonight at Fredericton Raceway, as the mare has drawn the rail in the $900 fourth race, which will house a field of seven. The mare's trainer, Philip Reid, will drive and the duo has been named the 5-2 morning line favourite.
"It's been a lot of fun," Reid was quoted as saying. "It's been a great environment around the back stretch (with the enthusiasm of the new owners). I haven't seen this many new faces and this much fun around here in a long time."
Click here to view tonight's harness racing entries at Fredericton Raceway.
To read the The Daily Gleaner article in its entirety, click here.
Click here to go to Khayam I Am's Facebook profile.
(With files from The Daily Gleaner)