by James Platz

Last season, I took the plunge and joined Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino’s First Turn Stable program, documenting the season as it unfolded. As a member of the stable, I and several others experienced a form of fractional ownership at the Anderson, IN oval providing a different perspective on racing. For someone expecting to watch their horse race weekly, the endeavor turned out to be… underwhelming. Feeling unfulfilled by the first go-round, I re-upped for First Turn Stable again in 2025 hoping for better results.

To recap, the stable’s racing interest, Fast Feet, fired out of the gate in 2024 with consistent efforts, delivering an early win. But the pacer eventually reached his ceiling and the decision was made to sell him. Seven-year-old Sweet Truth was claimed as his replacement, only to make one start before being claimed. First Turn Stable attempted to claim horses multiple times only to lose out each time. Sweet Truth’s Aug. 30 effort turned out to be the last start for the group.

It was frustrating to not have a horse to follow heading into the fall, but I put the events of the summer out of my mind and moved on. That is, until I received an envelope in mid-December from Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Inside was a statement of account and a check for $25.80, my share of the proceeds. Although the season had been abbreviated, First Turn Stable had made money on the track. After training and vet bills, driver’s fees and race-day Lasix were deducted, $954.59 in profit remained.

I chuckled as I looked at the statement and accompanying dividend. A $250 investment, and I received a smidge over 10 per cent in return. The irony was not lost on me. I had forfeited a shade under $225 for the chance to own a racehorse for part of the season. Don’t get me wrong, it was a loss, but a very small one. I’m not complaining. I think of the buyers at Lexington and Harrisburg that sign checks each fall that start with $250 and have two or three zeros added on the end. That’s the initial investment, not including training bills, stakes payments and a host of other fees that are part and parcel with the privilege of owning and campaigning racehorses. It’s much higher stakes than the $250 I chipped in to tag along with very few strings attached.

So, like many others in this business, I am giving ownership another shot. I’m optimistic that this time will be different. Hope springs eternal, right? And after the way the season fizzled last year, I feel that there is unfinished business. Fingers crossed, I want to see a horse that First Turn Stable campaigns race weekly throughout the spring, summer, and into the fall. Even if it may mean no dividend at year’s end.

First Turn Stable’s 2025 season began Friday night (April 4) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Trainer Patrizio Ancora claimed pacer Robertsgladerunner for a $10,000 tag on March 21 and gave him a week off before dropping him in the box for his debut for the partnership. A 24-time winner with more than $200,000 on his card, Robertsgladerunner is a 9-year-old gelded son of Fred And Ginger. Last season he was winless in 17 starts.

Drawing post 5 in Friday night’s third race, a field of eight battling for a purse of $7,500, Robertsgladerunner picked up the services of catch driver Mike Oosting. When the gate folded, the veteran took a seat in fifth with the pacer in the early going. As favorite Imalwaysclassy and Trace Tetrick led the field to the half, Oosting and his charge slowly advanced on the outside, moving up to third in the turn before fading in the stretch. The gelding finished seventh, closing out the mile with a :28.4 last quarter and managing to only beat breaker Legal Liar. Sent off at 17-1 odds, Robertsgladerunner covered the mile in a time of 1:54.3. In an email sent to First Turn members, Ancora noted “Bob” and Oosting endured a challenging trip.

“Unfortunately, the trip just did not work out the way we would have hoped,” the conditioner commented in the update. “With that said, Mike was forced to pull up with how aggressive Bob was on the backstretch, he had such a hold of Mike that he was cutting his air off and Mike had to move him. We will make a rigging adjustment next week for Bob to make him a little more manageable and draw a line through this start.”

While not the debut the team had anticipated, there is a path forward. Ideally, the adjustments Ancora employs will help Robertsgladerunner improve his next time out, and he can perform more like the horse that took his 1:52.1 mark in 2022.

As with last season, I approach the First Turn Stable experience with no expectations. Well, that’s not entirely true. I would prefer it if we do not repeat last summer’s run of one start in 12 weeks. Otherwise, I just want to take in all that the opportunity presents, and hopefully make it to the winner’s circle a few times with my fellow owners. The fun will be in watching it all play out from the rail.