A team of six has been awarded the major prize of $10,000 towards buying a share in a racehorse after winning a competition held on Tabtouch Pinjarra classic race-day at Pinjarra Park on Sunday.
The Own the Dream competition run by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) provides the opportunity for people who are looking into racehorse ownership to dip their toes in the water as shareholders in established racehorses.
Own the Dream ambassadors Brittany Taylor and Brad Sheppard hosted the 2021 competition, which consisted of a series of educational events held over a month, including a trackwork breakfast, racing insight tour and masterclass, before culminating with the grand finale at Pinjarra Park.
Teams of four or six members were able to nominate for the competition, with every event attended earning the team an entry into the final draw.
Team Showusdmoney took out the top prize.
"We are all rapt with the result," team member Russell Collier said.
The winning team consisted of Mr Collier, his wife, two of his sisters and one of their boyfriends - and a friend of Mr Collier's from work who he jokes he "roped in" to being involved.
"The whole Own the Dream series was fantastic, the insight into the racing industry, especially for novices who have no knowledge of the industry, is great and this year was different to last year and we have learnt more," he said. "I would recommend anyone to have a go at being involved."
Mr Collier had previously taken out a second place title in the Own the Dream competition, which he used to buy shares in three horses - this time, he plans to put all of the prize into the one horse.
"This year we will spend the $10,000 prize on one horse to give ourselves a bigger share."
RWWA chief executive Ian Edwards said the competition gave people the opportunity to delve into the behind-the-scenes of the racing industry and what it was like to own a racehorse.
"It helps to break down the perceived barriers to ownership, with the series highlighting that owning a racehorse is very affordable and that you don't need to be a racing expert," he said.
RWWA was awarded the prestigious 2020 Australian Marketing Institute WA Event or Brand Experience State Award for Marketing Excellence for its Own the Dream series.
The group looks forward to bringing the event back next year after a successful 2021.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
