Changing the Game: The Racing Club Reinventing the Thoroughbred Ownership Experience

A new breed of racing club is changing the way Australians own and race thoroughbreds. Byerley Racing Club embraces a progressive membership model that is the first of its kind in the country. Prioritising a values driven approach and a ‘built by members, for members’ proposition, the club delivers a no risk multiple ownership experience. Furthermore, at the heart of the offering is an exceptionally inclusive member experience that shadows the entire racehorse ownership lifecycle, from purchase through to preparation, training, racing, retirement and career beyond racing.

Using a combination of digital content, stable visits, member events and race day outings, the club embraces a mantra of responsible racehorse ownership and delivers meaningful engagement opportunities and experiences for owners. This means owner race day and mounting yard access, regular training updates by video of the Club’s race horses, pre race and post race reports and continuing updates on the progress of the Club’s horses beyond their racing career. The Club has attracted a community of like-minded racing and horse lovers with membership subscription being in the form of a static, affordable monthly fee. All revenue (including winnings) is reinvested back into the club to purchase new horses and help realise the Club’s vision of owning their own training stables in the future.

Byerley Members have enjoyed being on course to cheer on the Club’s metropolitan winners such as Heavenly Bridges (8 times race winner), Rumble Doll and Gimme The Goss.

Celebrating the Club’s success is also important, with the Club covering member events such as cocktail parties, stable breakfasts and Christmas parties.

Presently partnered with trainers Henry Dwyer, based at Ballarat and Troy Corstens at Flemington, the Club’s trainers are selected not only on the basis of their commercial success, but also on the quality of the ownership experience provided and the standard of care delivered to their horses.

The brainchild of Kate Sadler, Byerley Racing Club was founded “to balance the excitement of racing with the care of its horses and provide a truly holistic experience for members. I had been syndicating racehorses for friends and family and realised there was an opportunity to build a community around a more sustainable and progressive approach to racehorse ownership. I wanted to share the excitement and enthusiasm of racing and really take members along on the entire journey, while prioritising the welfare of the horses involved, both during their racing careers and afterwards.”

Growing up surrounded by thoroughbreds, Kate Sadler’s love of horses and racing was instilled from an early age. The Sadler family’s racing dynasty was established by her father, Victorian based trainer John Sadler. His legacy continues with Kate and her siblings entering the racing industry through various avenues. The family’s reputation has expanded through representation in racing journalism, training, riding and racehorse ownership and syndication.

Today, Byerley Racing Club is the shared passion of a community of racehorse owners, with 8 club owned horses currently in training in Australia and the UK.

Byerley Racing Club Quick Stats:

The Club has a high strike rate of runners to winners annually, which sits between 17% - 20%.
Of 7 horses purchased by the Club who have raced, 4 are multiple winners and 3 are city winners.
Byerley Racing Club partners with the National Jockeys Trust and each year donates 5% of prize money to the Trust.