Think It Over
Make no mistake about it, owning a thoroughbred race horse is a speculative proposition. It should be considered an expenditure- not an investment. It is similar to purchasing a pleasure boat or a camping vehicle. One buys a houseboat or an RV because he or she enjoys getting out on the water or vacationing overland. The buyer does not expect a monetary return on that type of expenditure. Instead one hopes to get his or her money's worth in the pleasure derived from cruising on a river or touring America's back roads.

Likewise with buying a race horse; one should hope to get his or her money's worth from the thrill of competitive racing and from the pride that comes with participating on the inside of the "Sport of Kings." One tries to buy a good "product," then hope it serves him or her well in the pursuit of pleasure.

Blue Sky
The above being said, it's a mortal lock that you will not buy a boat or an RV that has any chance of "hitting it big," or even increasing in value. The race horse you buy probably won't hit it big or increase much in value either. But some horses can and do "win the lottery," pay a dividend, or at least pay their own way. This possibility adds to the allure and romanticism of thoroughbred racing. If that doesn't make sense and appeal to you, you probably aren't a good candidate for buying into Button Down Racing or any other thoroughbred racing enterprise.

Feet On The Ground
If someone asked me what the best personality traits are for a thoroughbred owner to have, I would say patience and humility. Patience is required because race horses have all sorts of ways to delay getting to where you want them to be. A ding here, a slight fever there, entering a race that doesn't fill, and not drawing into a race are a few of their favorite methods of making you wait. They have many more!

And as for humility, it's hard not to get a bit inflated after your filly blisters the track for a bullet workout or your colt has all the backside denizens gawking at his muscle-rippling conformation. Careful now; stay humble. Thoroughbreds have a way of dumbfounding (and humbling) owner and trainer alike by inexplicably under performing when "all systems are go." The less prepared one is for that downturn, the deeper the sting when it occurs. And it inevitably will occur!

Go For It!
Now that you've heard a few caveats, let me say this. If you can comfortably afford the expenditure, if thoroughbred racing excites you, if you like the pressure of competition, if you can tolerate some setbacks in the pursuit of the horseman's ultimate thrill- watching his or her horse overtake the favorite to win at the wire- then I would say to you, "What are you waiting for?"

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