| Starring Role becoming the public's horse - own a FREE share | | Print | |
| Written by Jonathan Huntington |
| Friday, 29 January 2010 18:14 |
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Three ownership shares of Starring Role - an aged mare racing in one of Alberta's top classes - will be given away for FREE for the Northlands Park winter/spring harness meet. "I'm pretty excited," said trainer Dan Sifert. "I'm also nervous. I hope I don't disappoint." Three 13.3% shares of the five-year-old mare will be given away for FREE on Feb. 6 at Northlands Park. Three lucky fans will just collect any pay cheques from the mare during the Edmonton meet - Feb. 5-April 11 - and won't pay any bills.  The contest came to life after Bill Andrew offered to lease his 50% share of Starring Role for the length of the Edmonton meet. ASHA manager Fred Gillis took control of that 50% share of the aged mare and began to work with Northlands Park on a process to allow fans to have FREE ownership for the length of the Edmonton meet. The track marketing department has put together a contest for fans to enter on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 that will lead to three people walking away with a 13.3% share each. The remaining 10% of Andrew's original ownership share is being held back for any significant vet bills. Starring Role has $102,620 in earnings over 48 career starts - for an average of $2,137 per start. Scheduled to compete in the Open Mares division at Northlands Park, she will start the meet racing for an estimated $13,000 purse per start. "I'm really hoping it creates a buzz," said Sifert, who owns the other 50% share of Starring Role. "She's pretty sound and her vet bill is next to nothing." Over the 10-week meet Starring Role could get six to seven starts. Scheduled to make her 2010 debut on the second weekend of the campaign (Feb. 12, 13, 14), she should be well rested after a month off from training earlier this winter. If she earns $16,000 during the Edmonton meet, a fan holding a 13.3% share would receive $2,080. Of course, there are no guarantees in horse racing. "She's sound and healthy - but they are animals," said Gillis. "She is subject to illness or injury. It's a promotion and we're acting in good faith." The contest has already created a buzz - with hundreds of fans already clicking on the contest ads posted on thehorses.com this week. To learn how to enter the contest and read more details on the promotion, click here. FINISH LINES: At the end of the Northlands meet in mid-April, Andrew returns to full ownership of his 50% share. The contest will also be evaluated to determine if it would return for the summer meet in Lacombe with new fans owning FREE shares of the mare or a different pacer. (Photo: Starring Role winning at Northlands Park with Brandon Campbell.) -copyright thehorses.com |
| Last Updated on Friday, 29 January 2010 19:46 |
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