“Welcome Sir, welcome to Ascot racecourse.”

Having arrived at the owners entrance of Ascot racecourse, to pick up our badges for the day (badges are like access all areas passes), we gave them our names and were given a number of pieces of paper and directions

“Are you here for a winner ? Are you confident of your chances today?”

She didn’t know the name of our horse but was in good cheer and so were the four of us.

“I think we are in with a shot, but it would be fantastic even to get a place” the head of our group said. “This is what we do it for, Saturday racing at places like Ascot!”

We all trooped off excited then exited the building into howling gales and ice like rains.

We jostled through the throngs in the grandstand  building trying to find the owners and trainers bar. Eventually, we did. The host’s list of directions had gone completely over our heads as we dreamt of watching our horse be led into the winners enclosure and it turned out the 15 minute detour was unnecessary as it was next door to the entrance.

I’m not an owner of the horse in question. I’m part of another syndicate of the same people that owns another horse. But not this one, as I was repeatedly told throughout the day, as the reason my opinion didn’t count! There was a spare ticket so I happily jumped in the saddle to come along.

The syndicate of schemers

This is a group of people that club together to buy a horse and split the training costs. They’re big beasts and so cost an arm and a leg to get one yourself. We aren’t talking about top horses either, these are lower league and people do it for fun and love.

It’s made up mainly of business owners that have been successful in their field and love racing (from what I can tell they also love drinking and eating!)

We sat in the owners and trainers bar and got stuck into some Guinness. There was a bit of talk of respective business hassles or opportunities. Ok, it was mainly hassles! People don’t like to boast and what worries us is usually what we talk about more isn’t it?

Everyone talked rationally and logically about their problems and how they could be resolved. Others chipped in with their thoughts. All what you would expect from successful business owners.

Dreamers

Then, the conversation returned again to horse racing. We had a table bet over who would score the most points throughout the day. 3 points for picking a winner, 2 for 2nd and 3 for third. £20 in and winner takes the whole pot.

What struck me about this bunch of people is how dreamy they are about horses. They get really soppy about them! It’s lovely to see and hear about. Throughout the rest of the day I learned things that I would not expect from schemers:

• Speaking to the jockey before hand, they all said to pull him up if he getting too hard for him, they weren’t that bothered about the race if the horse got hurt.

• Being at Ascot was a dream come true itself! Let alone the chance to walk in a winner.

• One had bought his first horse and it had died of colic (stomach issues) having only raced once. He jumped in and bought a second horse!l as didn’t want to give up.

• It really is the taking part that counts! Winning once is almost an impossible dream. Winning regularly is an even rarer deed. They all know they are going to be disappointed most of the time. And some of the time, heartbroken. But maybe, just maybe one day it will happen!

• The amount of cheese I ate from the buffet was unacceptably large. I thought it was pretty normal! Point taken and noted.

• All were in awe of the trainer when he sat down with us for a drink at the end of racing. The horse had run well and come 3rd. We had stood in the winners enclosure! The trainer talked of how hard it is to win and how the horse that had died was a going to be good and how rare it is to find one like that. But maintaining health is just another obstacle to getting the results you want.

Dreamers and schemers

Are business owners more likely be dreamers? Is that what compels them to start a business? That they can see the light that others can’t through the dark clouds of risk and despondency when their efforts do not come to fruition?

Maybe.

Here are two quotes about dreamers. One serious, one not. Both I agree with.

All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers - Orison Swett Marsden

You gotta have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna make a dream come true? - Oscar Hammerstein II

Either way, I like being around it. Long live the dreamers!