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Partnerships, Presented By Taylor Made: A Taste of Victory

The exhilarating rush of adrenaline created when seeing your Thoroughbred soar across the finish line creates a sweet taste of victory that brings a sense of satisfaction and a touch of disbelief.

That often-elusive flavor remains on one's tongue in a constant search for more. Taste of Victory Stable's founders Kyle Yost and Brian Richardson have reveled in that sensation, knowing it can be interspersed with bitter moments that only life and owning Thoroughbred racehorses can produce.

The seeds of Thoroughbred ownership are typically planted by family and/or friends. Yost, a graduate of Penn State University, grew up on a small South Central Pennsylvania farm where his parents raised and brokered livestock. “My dad raised some mid-level Thoroughbreds on the farm which attracted me to the sport, almost by osmosis,” reflected Yost. “We would take in days at Penn National and Pimlico. There was just something about a Thoroughbred that drew me in.”

Richardson, on the other hand, and on the other side of the country, grew up just 20 minutes from Los Alamitos Race Course in Huntington Beach, California. “Aside from the early trips to Los Al, I will always remember my days at USC and making trips to Santa Anita with friends. On one occasion I hit an exacta for $680 and I was hooked as a horseplayer. As a fan, attending the races in Southern California was something special for our family.”

The road to ownership for Richardson began while on a fishing trip with his dad and his dad's best friend Gene Ward, who was affectionately nicknamed “Cherry.” “Cherry offered up what he called the idea of all ideas to my dad who they called `Hawk,' Richardson said. “Why don't we gather friends and family and rent out a luxury suite at Del Mar to take in the races and put Brian in charge?” It became an annual event, titled the Del Mar Cherry-Hawk event.”

The Partners | courtesy of Taste of Victory Stables

After a number of years enjoying Mexican buffets and drinks at Del Mar, it was another genius idea from `Cherry' who figured since they enjoyed going to Del Mar so much each year, it was time to buy a Thoroughbred and race themselves. So, 20 friends and family members got together, including Hawk, Cherry and Yost, who was a business associate and friend, and they started Cherry Hawk Stables.

The partnership's first horse was a yearling who the 20 partners opted to name Twenty Hawks (Unusual Heat). “We didn't think the name Twenty Cherries would provide the intimidating aura we wanted in our first racehorse,” quipped Richardson.

Twenty Hawks would go on to earn over $338,000 for the group of first timers, but sadly Brian's father passed away prior to the horse moving out to Charles Town and finding success. Twenty Hawks broke his maiden in his fifth lifetime start. “It was bittersweet considering my dad inspired us, along with Cherry, to start going to Del Mar and purchase a racehorse. I knew Twenty Hawks was wearing angel wings when he first scored for us. It was an emotional moment for me,” said Richardson.

Twenty Hawks: The Life-Changing Story of “The Iron Horse”

The concept of Taste of Victory Stables was amalgamated over multiple conversations between Yost and Richardson. “It was about 10 years ago, and we both wanted to somehow elevate the popularity of the sport,” said Yost. “There were other groups out there like West Point and Dogwood, but buying shares with them was out of reach for most people. We wanted to make it affordable for the average fan.”

Richardson concurs. “We had the ability to attract new owners from coast to coast and at a level that wasn't going to break the bank,” he said. “Giving people a `behind the ropes' experience that most racing fans have never been a part of was something we were committed to providing. The partners in Cherry Hawk Stables were also looking for more action and more horses so we launched Taste of Victory Stables in 2015.”

Partner Jeff Guffey and wife Nancy with Marley's Ghost at Saratoga | courtesy of Taste of Victory Stables

Current partner Dan Filipek recounted his initial connection to horse racing and Kyle Yost. “I let him know that I had been going to the racetrack with my father since I was a young boy,” said Filipek. “I had great memories of watching the Michigan Mile at Detroit Race Course and watching the Trotters at Northville Downs. I was sad that both of those tracks closed along with Hazel Park Raceway. I mentioned to Kyle that the three things my father and I did most together were go to the racetrack, work on cars and go hunting. But since my dad passed, my passion for working on cars and hunting faded, but not my love for horse racing. It was then that Kyle told me about the partnership group that Taste of Victory offered, and I thought what better way to rekindle my memories of watching horse racing with my dad then getting truly involved in the sport, so I joined.”

Another partner who said he was glad Taste of Victory started to expand is Larry Hopkins. “I have met some incredible people through TOV,” he said. “I have been on a few road trips to see our horses including our annual pilgrimage to Pimlico for Black-Eyed Susan day. It is interesting getting to mingle with more experienced horsemen and also meeting some of the trainers. It has really opened my eyes to what a great sport Thoroughbred racing is.”

As the partnership expanded so did the management group. In 2016, while attending an owners' conference at Keeneland, Yost and Richardson met Russ Sapienza on a tour of Adena Springs. Originally from Pennsylvania like Yost, Sapienza would eventually make his way to Saratoga Springs where the former senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers currently resides. “I was first introduced to horse racing in high school when I went to Brandywine Raceway in Delaware to see the Stanley Cup, which was on tour after being won by the Flyers,” said Sapienza. “But I looked around and my attention turned to the horses. That experience and years of going to Saratoga and Belmont with my wife and her dad turned me into a hardcore fan of the sport and the horses. I enjoy handicapping and even participated in the 2020 NHC in Las Vegas and continue to play in tournaments today. I hope I bring a bit of the 'business of Thoroughbred ownership' in my role as an advisor to Kyle and Brian.”

Sapienza has focused on New York-breds and racing at Belmont, Aqueduct, and Saratoga for Taste of Victory. “New York has a friendly condition book for New York-breds, and the purse structure is extremely competitive. They also have a strong aftercare program which is important to our partners. When you race at places like Saratoga, you get to compete at an elite level in sport while still being part of a small barn or group. You can't do that in any other sport.”

Taste of Victory provides a variety of opportunities that can include young horses or claimers. Their groups are also regionally diverse with groups competing in California, the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and recently Ohio. “We like to keep the investment levels between $1,500 and $7,500 and want people to have at least a three percent interest in any group,” said Yost. “Each group has multiple horses to provide plenty of action and we don't mark up any of our purchases. Each group starts off with a budget that includes estimated expenditures for a year in advance, assuming no purse earnings. We don't want to be reaching out and making cash calls every month.”

The lower starting investment level was a key for partner Doug Shepherd. “The idea of purchasing a horse on my own was too daunting and expensive for a hobby, so the concept of an ownership group was perfect for me,” he said. “I have now been a part of numerous TOV groups that race in various parts of the United States. My wife and son have also become interested in horse racing and my son has recently joined a group with TOV.”

Hit the Road | Lauren King

Filipek agreed and aptly summed it up. “The cost of entry is affordable, but the thrills are priceless!”

Taste of Victory does reserve $300 per month for administrative expenses that go to cover professional fees and the services of their trusted bookkeeper Cara Thomas. The group has begun retaining 5% of purse earnings for new groups to provide funding for expansion and offering more social events. The trio of experienced managers has recently begun offering private management for individuals or groups that want to own horses on their own but need some additional guidance and support.

“Private management is great for families, poker or golfing groups, fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, corporate groups–essentially any individuals or groups that want a program customized to provide maximum enjoyment and flexibility,” said Yost.

Jeff Guffey is one partner who enjoys the events and access. “On race days, they are always willing to host owners at the track, and even set up barn tours for up-close access to the horses and the trainers. It really makes you feel like a true owner and horseman. I think that is what differentiates a group like Taste of Victory from other ownership groups that are less hands on, and more crowd-sourced.”

Taste of Victory Stables has sent two horses to the Breeders' Cup since its inception. GISW/GSW What a View (Vronsky) was the first in 2016, but success arrived in a big way when Taste of Victory Stables bought into Hit the Road in 2019. The More Than Ready colt won the GIII Thunder Road S. and the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile in 2020.

“Hit the Road made it to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2019. Even though he didn't hit the board, it was such a joy to be able to host our partners and family at one of our home tracks,” Richardson said.

Hit the Road will be starting his stud career in South Africa this year.

Hit the Road | Benoit

The sweet taste of success was less palatable for Yost though. His wife of 15 years was also immersed in a cancer battle, which sadly she lost in June 2021.

“The horses, including Hit the Road, helped divert my mind for a bit and provide some positivity to the situation, but it was difficult for everyone,” said Yost. “I couldn't get over the outpouring of support from our partners and all the people in the horse racing industry we work with. From sending food for my family to simple notes of support, it was unbelievable.”

Shepherd reflected on the sentiment. “Sure, we love to win stakes races, but that is not what drives everyone. I have learned so much about the sport and the people involved, that it has made me love and appreciate the sport so much more than I ever imagined.”

As Taste of Victory Stables continues to welcome new partners, one thing will continue to hold true: The flavor of life and owning Thoroughbreds is a complex blend of sweet successes, bitter disappointments, and the savory experiences that linger in between.

The post Partnerships, Presented By Taylor Made: A Taste of Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Partnerships, Presented by Taylor Made Partnerships: Rocket Wrench Racing

From bustling cities to quiet rural towns, the potential for achievement and success knows no geographical boundaries. The same goes for Thoroughbred racing partnerships. Successful partnerships are not always born on major circuits like Kentucky, New York, or California. Sometimes they are born in a barn just south of a rural town in Minnesota called Elko New Market.

For Rocket Wrench Racing's managing partner Justin Revak, what started out as a dream one summer while stomping divots on Canterbury Park's turf course has developed into a partnership group on a meteoric rise. From a daydreaming teenager to top-10 owner at his home track, this story proves all you need is for the planets to align and a rocket to get you there.

“It really has been an extraordinary adventure that began over a decade ago when I came across a Craigslist ad offering one percent of a Minnesota-bred 2-year-old colt for $300,” Revak began. “Loving horse racing since I was a kid, I decided to pick up the phone and call the number on the ad. Hell, it was only $300.” The horse's name was Rocket Wrench, an unimpressive dark bay with donkey-like ears and a blaze on his face resembling an open-faced wrench.

The trajectory of the new venture started out with a series of not-so-impressive races, thus the general partner was ready to give up on the horse after the second year. “I still had faith in Rocket, as we called him around the barn, so I agreed to buy him. The next day I brought him to my farm for the winter,” recalled Revak. At the start of Rocket's third season, Justin took to Craigslist himself and looked for nine partners asking $1,000 each. The ad, to his surprise, took. Revak was now the general partner of Rocket Wrench Racing.

Rocket Wrench partner Shawn Valek recalls the day the stars aligned for him. “I was looking for a lawn mower about 12 years ago on Craigslist. I clearly got sidetracked and found an ad for a partnership in a racehorse. The price was $1,000 for a 10% share. I quickly called my friend Joe McBroom and said I had two questions for him. First, I asked him if he would like to go in on this horse. He said, “Yes but what is your other question?” The second question was, “Can you tell my wife you found the ad on Craigslist?” McBroom granted the request, and the first group of partners were on their way.

Justin Revak and Rocket Wrench | Courtesy Justin Revak

McBroom has never regretted that day either. “When your horse is at the top of the stretch, it's absolutely thrilling to me and, the fact that we have a group of friends involved makes it a decidedly social endeavor.”

Revak sent Rocket to Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Bernell Rhone to see if he could work his magic. On June 30th, 2012, Rocket Wrench Racing officially became a winning partnership as Rocket Wrench pulled away from the field by four lengths and crossed the finish line first.

Since that first win in 2012, Rocket Wrench Racing has amassed over $1,000,000 in earnings, boasts a 28% win percentage, and an in-the-money rate of 64%. “We have always been an aggressive claiming partnership. If a horse we have in the barn can't win or at least hit the board, we will drop him to where they belong,” explains Revak.

The team of trainers still includes Rhone but is now led by Karl Broberg and Tony Rengstorf. “We currently race in multiple states and all our trainers have impressive teams that do the day-in and day-out work that is ultimately responsible for our success,” said Revak. “Karl has taught me so much about finding good claims and we've become a really strong team. If both of us like the same horse, there's a pretty good chance it is going to do well for us.”

Partner Bret Woodson recalls, “I was in a previous partnership with some friends when I lived in Kansas City. It was a decent-sized group that claimed horses mostly in Louisiana. At the time, we were always going up against, and usually getting beat by, trainer Karl Broberg. Now I am a partner in Rocket Wrench Racing with Karl as our trainer. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?”

Plenty of other racing enthusiasts have joined Rocket Wrench Racing in recent years including Lisa Migletz. “After my parents passed away, I wanted to honor them and our tradition of going to races by doing something special,” she said. “After doing some research, I was eventually led to Justin Revak and Rocket Wrench, and I became a partner. It was one of the greatest and most exciting things to ever happen to me.”

Rocket Wrench Racing has zero markups on any of their claiming partnerships and has gone from one group to seven in the last decade and now have 37 different owners. “We have had Canterbury-only groups, groups with higher investment levels, and groups with specific circuits in mind,” said Revak.

“We are currently offering our first Hoosier group to race at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2024, which is exciting.” Each partnership group has $300 per month set aside to pay for all necessary legal and accounting services. The minimum investment level for a group starts at $2,500 and partners can own anywhere from five percent to 25 percent.

“I work to retain enough capital for each group so that we have few, if any, cash calls while the group is still active,” remarked Revak. “I am proud to say that we haven't had a single cash call since the first group was formed. That is not to say we haven't had swings in the total value from year to year, but overall, I work hard to manage our cash and horses, so I don't have to send out invoices.”

Partner Ida Schneck was drawn to the business model. “What I liked about Rocket Wrench Racing was that it was affordable and had a solid business plan so the risk of having to pay additional fees beyond my initial investment was minimal. Plus, I could own 5% and get an owner's license.”

Rocket Wrench Racing will be moving into the yearling market with Marcus and Crystal Ryan from Mason Springs Farm this year, due to a number of current partners looking for something new to experience.

“I am fortunate to be able to be a part of the main group of owners who have a piece of all the diverse groups within Rocket Wrench,” said partner Woodson. “My wife and I have three adult kids and they are all interested in and supportive of the Rocket Wrench partnership. Our four-year-old grandson has already been in the paddock and the winner's circle on numerous occasions, and we are hoping for many more as the years progress.”

Chris McCarron, Angel Cordero, and Justin Revak | Courtesy Justin Revak

Revak not only has learned that partnerships are the best vehicle to introducing new owners to the industry, but also that new owners expect more from the industry as it relates to racehorse aftercare and supporting the people who live and work in the stable areas.

Nebraska native 29-year-old Derek Drews is one of those partners. “I love being able to take family and friends to the barns to feed the horses,” he said. “Watching horses train in the morning is something special to see. Justin has always been great about getting myself and my family involved with the entire experience of ownership. Rocket Wrench participates and supports many of the charitable organizations, such as the Leg Up Fund down at the track. Yes, our ownership group is managed as a business, but we believe in much more than just winning races.”

Revak and several Rocket Wrench Racing partners unintentionally started a campaign in 2021 to buy air conditioner units for the dorms at Canterbury Park. “It was a sweltering summer, especially for Minnesota, and I went out and bought a couple of air conditioners at Home Depot for our groom's dorm rooms. Before I knew it, the HBPA, and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association (Minnesota's breeding organization) and our partners chipped in even more money. Home Depot gave me a discount to help and away we went,” recalled Revak.

The giving did not stop there. Rocket Wrench Racing is a generous supporter of Jockeys and Jeans, the Leg Up Fund, and an exciting new organization that operates at Canterbury Park called Abijah's on the Backside. Sally Mixon, the founder of Abijah's, summarized the program. “Abijah's is the bridge between the racing industry and community wellness, pairing off-track Thoroughbreds with counselling professionals who are trained in a mental health experiential framework called ARCH. Justin and Rocket Wrench Racing have been big supporters of the work we do not only with horses and horse people, but also local first responders who participate in the program.”

The Rocket Wrench Racing story has now come full circle as the very first horse to launch this partnership, Rocket himself, is now one of the horses providing care for the clients of Abijah's. “It's cool being able to see Rocket work with people who need help, plus I get to see him most of the summer,” said Revak. “It is fun to look back at winner's circle photos on my wall from 2012 when my kids were eight and six and Rocket won his first race for us, until now when they are all grown up. My family and these horses are so important to me. The whole thing is wild. This horse, and this partnership has brought so much to so many.”

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Partnerships, Presented by Taylor Made Partnerships: Belladonna Racing

It is often espoused at business management seminars that having access to people smarter than you is a blessing and not a threat. We also know that having access to communities that share a common interest fosters social collaboration and belonging. But did you know having access to a guy affectionately nicknamed the “Italian Yoda” can lead to a graded stakes victory as a racehorse owner?

This type of access has been thoughtfully curated by the powerhouse team at Belladonna Racing Partnership, which includes Paul Manganaro (the Italian Yoda), David Ingordo, trainer Cherie DeVaux and recent addition Casey Klein. This team, along with their inaugural partners, launched Belladonna in 2019 with the purchase of over $1.5 million in 2-year-olds, who happened to all be fillies. Belladonna, which means “pretty woman” in Italian, set out in 2019 to foster a partnership approach that provides the opportunity to buy, race, and network at the highest levels of the Thoroughbred industry.

“We wanted to bring people into the industry, people who would enjoy the journey, learn, and share the experience with us,” said Manganaro.

The partnership calling card is simple.

“We want to provide action at a high level while also spreading the risk,” explained Ingordo. “We are all involved in each partnership group and thus have skin in the game. Providing hands-on concierge-level attention and opportunities is unique to Belladonna.”

David Ingordo | Keeneland photo

Creating this type of access for new owners is made easier when you already operate in the top echelon, not only in Equibase statistics but in the relationships built throughout the racing world. Paul Manganaro is one of those people. A third-generation horse owner who grew up in the New England area, Manganaro was raised in a proud Italian-American family where hard work, loyalty, and intelligence were cornerstones. View TDN profile on Paul Manganaro.

It was in the summer of 1986, when Manganaro and his college roommate decided they would spend their break in Kentucky. Reflectively, it was a trip that sealed the fate for both UMass undergrads, as Manganaro and roommate Ned Toffey, now General Manager of Spendthrift Farm, manifestly found their futures in Thoroughbred horseracing. The Manganaro family took root in Kentucky in 2007 when Paul's uncle Anthony Manganaro founded Siena Farm in Paris, Kentucky along with Ignacio Patino and David Pope. Siena Farm, in partnerships, campaigned superstars Flightline, Always Dreaming, and Catholic Boy, among others.

Though Manganaro's football days are behind him, competitiveness is something that remains in his veins today. His admiration for Coach John Wooden's pyramid of success, and his own experience being coached on the field, branded him with the knowledge that building a team of professionals who exhibit intentness, integrity, and clarity of thought was to be the foundation of his pyramid of success for Belladonna.

Manganaro couldn't find a more professional and experienced first partner than David Ingordo (Read Taking Stock–David Ingordo) who has become integral to the success of Belladonna's selection of 2-year-olds.

The son of jockey agent Jerry Ingordo, who managed Hall of Fame riders Laffit Pincay Jr., Sandy Hawley, and Patrick Valenzuela, and mother Dottie, who was the racing manager for Jerry Moss, young David always knew he wanted to be around horses. He started out in none other than Bobby Frankel's barn at age 14 and within four years was one of his assistant trainers.

As a bloodstock agent, Ingordo is well known for his selection of the Horse of the Year Zenyatta in the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling sale for $60,000. Zenyatta went on to win over $7.3 million for Jerry and Ann Moss. He added to his resume with the purchase of a second GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner in Accelerate for $380,000 for the Hronis Family at the 2014 Keeneland September Sale. Ingordo scored a Breeders' Cup Classic hattrick and Horse of the Year double when Flightline crossed the finish line first at Keeneland in 2022. Ingordo was an instrumental part of the purchasing team that bought Flightline for $1,000,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for Hronis, West Point, Woodford Racing, et.al.

Ingordo's top draft picks for Belladonna include standouts Bayerness, Coastana, and Grade II winner Vahva. Belladonna partner and professional physician recruiter Kelly Bownes understands what it takes to find talent.

“Seeking out talent isn't just using your gut instinct,” said Bownes. “It takes experience and deep research, something Ingordo and the Belladonna team employs.”

The University of Kentucky graduate's resume reads like a who's who of top-tier bloodstock professionals and his eye for exceptional individuals extends beyond the sale ring. In 2018, he selected trainer Cherie DeVaux to be his wife, or as his “David DeVaux” embroidered vest implies, maybe she selected him.

Cherie DeVaux | Adam Coglianese

Regardless of who made the final bid, the team at Belladonna added another hard-working, experienced, and talented professional to their team in trainer DeVaux. DeVaux, who has amassed over $12 million in purse earnings since graduating from the Chad Brown barn in 2018, has already conditioned a Grade I winner in She Feels Pretty. She also has trained multiple graded stakes runners for Belladonna, including the 3-year-old filly Vahva who won the GII Lexus Raven Run S. back in October and Legalize who recently scored a black-type victory in the Sugar Bowl S. at the Fair Grounds.

Looking toward the future is always top of mind as the Belladonna team looks to ascend its Racing Program Goal Pyramid. Recent addition, Casey Klein, who brings a master's degree in Sports Management from the University of Michigan and has worked alongside Ingordo for the last year, brings a fresh prospective to the group. Though young, Klein's roots run deep in Kentucky horse racing. The Klein family, led by Casey's father Richard, have amassed over 110 stakes victories since 1998. When you are in the business of bloodlines, Klein brings profound pedigree to Belladonna.

How does someone looking to get into Thoroughbred racehorse ownership get access to a team such as what Belladonna has assembled? Easier than you might think, and surprisingly without any of the mark-ups you see in similar operations.

Belladonna partner Bruce Fenimore, who met Ingordo at Saratoga, knew this was a well-run team and wanted to be a part of it immediately.

“It became obvious that joining a group with more buying power would give me more ability to be successful at the races. I also wanted to win the big races,” he said.

Each year Belladonna puts together a group that raises the capital needed for what is their equivalent to any professional sports team's draft. By purchasing multiple top tier horses/yearlings, the entire group, which now stands at over 60 individuals, can attain diversity, opportunity, and the dream of finding another Zenyatta.

“The structure itself is partner-friendly and we have created a family with our partners,” said Manganaro. “We go to the races together, we have dinner together, and partners become part of a tight-knit group, just like a family.”

Partner Kelly Bownes agrees.

“Paul Manganaro and the entire team are so down-to-earth and are happy to spend time with you. They have an open-door policy and have an admirable appreciation for the horse,” he said.

Belladonna partner Scott Runnels reflects on his experience with Belladonna.

“The best part I would say is the fellowship I've experienced with other partners. We are all like-minded people who all love horses. When we get together it is an absolute blast,” Runnels said.

The partnership does set aside funds for general administration and professional services to provide for the needed contracts, tax filings, and licensing support. Ingordo collects the standard 5% bloodstock agent fee on horses purchased, but directs 20% of those proceeds back into partner retention and social events for the partners. All expenses related to the training and racing of the partnership are billed at cost.

There are no commissions taken on purse earnings aside from the standard trainer and jockey commissions. Due to the amount of business a group like this brings to the industry, they also benefit their partners by accessing elite services at competitive prices. Belladonna proudly provides aftercare of all their horses via a network of people and farms who also possess the same commitment to the horse as the Belladonna team does while the horses are racing.

“Frequently, partnerships are forced to choose either quantity or quality. We have built a partnership that delivers a quantity of quality,” Ingordo said, with evident pride. “I'm a believer in the process that Paul has developed.”

Belladonna partner Fenimore said he was also confident in what Belladonna could deliver. “We are going to be making a lot of noise over the next few years.”

Making an investment in Belladonna is more sizable than an average punter's bankroll on a Saturday at Keeneland.

“Our partners invest five, six, and even seven figures into our partnerships,” said Ingordo.

Yet Manganaro quickly retorts, “There are ways to gain this type of access to the biggest races and biggest names and that is accomplished by creating a smaller partnership on your own that buys into a 2.5% or 5% stake in one of our offerings. We treat everyone the same, regardless of their investment.”

When you have a partnership that delivers not only access to the best in the Thoroughbred racing industry, but also fellow partners that are doctors, recruiters, and C-suite executives, you are part of a network few can achieve on their own.

Manganaro explains that Belladonna is a partnership not of just horse owners but of good people who have become family.

“We want to grow the industry and get more people involved in the sport we love. Let's have a conversation. We can find a way to get just about anyone involved.”

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Partnerships: With Blackout, McGinty Merges Passion for Racing and Bourbon

The horse racing industry is a unique societal tapestry of people who approach each race day from a different perspective. You have your core glass half full optimists, who see every race and every horse as the key to a financial windfall, but we also know we can easily find those pessimistic half empty folks as well. If you happen to ask Kyle McGinty, Founder and President of the Blackout Group, how he perceived his glass, he would probably retort, “it doesn't really matter as long as his glass has bourbon in it.”

As a racing fan since the age of five, when he first attended the GI Kentucky Derby with his dad, McGinty personifies what it is to be a Kentuckian. His love of racing is only matched by his passion for bourbon. The special education teacher from Louisville has made bourbon, horse racing, and helping others his North Star since 2016 when the Blackout Barrel Group was founded.

Named in homage for the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday, the social group was first formed with 100 members that joined together and purchased a barrel of Wild Turkey. “Before Blackout was even an idea, Kyle, myself, and several other guys were shipping each other's bourbon store picks from one part of the country to the other, stated member Joe Hickson. By way of example, I'm outside of Boston, so I had access to bottles of interest to those in Kentucky and vice-versa. When the first opportunity to do our own barrel pick came knocking, we already had a group of great folks with a shared interest and a high level of trust.”

Robert Bevilacqua, another inaugural member, was drawn in via an invitation from McGinty on Facebook. “It was crazy back then, not much organization to speak of in any way,” said Bevilacqua. “Super casual. That first barrel of Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, that we called Blackout Wednesday, was superb, and I still regret not picking up more than two bottles. As the group went along and enjoyed success in procuring and delivering some fantastic single barrel bourbons, I suppose Kyle and others working with him recognized a need to put some organization around the group.”

That organization led toward expansion of their bourbon barrel purchases to the current 300-barrel inventory, which is also used to brand their own select Blackout Bourbon which is distributed to members and used for fundraising.

McGinty, always one for creating new social adventures, would invite Blackout Barrel members to the Kentucky Derby each year to combine two of his great loves. Additionally, one of his fellow bourbon aficionados was D.W. Fries, assistant to trainer Mike Tomlinson, who guided Sir Cherokee (Cherokee Run) to an GI Arkansas Derby victory in 2003 and Barbados (Speightstown) to a score in the 2015 GIII Hutchenson S. It was only a matter of time until the idea of horse ownership got toasted into the cask of the Blackout Bourbon Group.

“At some point, someone had the excellent idea of buying a racehorse as a group,” said investor, Joel Hickson. “While Blackout was my first (and currently only) racing partnership/group, I grew up on a farm with many Arabian horses and rode, so I was naturally in at the first mention of the idea.” Thus, the birth of Blackout Racing Stables in 2018.

The group's first taste of racing came with the claim of Doc Kane (Into Mischief) for $16,000 at Churchill Downs in June of 2018. Two years later they would find a future star of the stable in GSP Thundering Creed (Jimmy Creed). The chestnut mare won over $400,000 for the stable until her untimely passing in early July this year on the same day another one of the stable's horses, Mrs. RIP (Speightster) broke her maiden for the group. “It is extremely difficult when tragedy strikes a stable like this. Our best horse dies unexpectedly and then ironically one of our young horses breaks her maiden and happens to be named Mrs. RIP,” reflects McGinty. The Blackout Racing Stable has recently partnered with others like Diamond F Racing and Patricia's Hopes LLC to take that next step forward to more stakes racing.

The Blackout Racing Stable now has over 250 members and has established five different racing groups based on the objective of the stable. The largest group focuses on claimers under $50,000. There is also a group buying yearlings, and another involved in breeding. Members can typically buy in for $1,000-$3,000 which gives each member .75% to 1.3% ownership. McGinty retains a single share and manages each group so that cash calls are a rarity. The group has grown about 10% each year. Groups are formed in January of each year and generally have an end date or wind down event.

“The key is to make it affordable for everyone and keep the commitment limited,” said McGinty. “There is a very strong social aspect to each of the segments of Blackout including the Racing Stable. Our members love coming out and seeing their horses.”

Member Joe Hickson agrees. “We're all really lucky how things naturally developed and to have the partnerships and the stable that we've assembled. Horse racing is great to watch, but when the bell rings and it's your horse leaving the gate, that's something exceptional.”

In 2019, the Blackout Group added philanthropy to what this group and its members do. Forming a trifecta, McGinty built Barrels for a Cause, a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) organization that uses Blackout's connections and resources within the spirits industry to raise money for various charitable organizations. Their work primarily funnels through an annual event held every June.

“The initial and ongoing success of Blackout is entirely due to the character of its membership,” said McGinty. “This has allowed us the ability to create a charitable wing of Blackout–that benefits charities including Super Drew, Backside Learning Center, Misters for MS, Second Stride Louisville Metro Police and more.”

Since its inception, Barrels for a Cause has raised over $800k for charities both inside and outside of racing. “We are so grateful for our longstanding partnership with Blackout Stables for their support of the important mission of the Backside Learning Center,” said Sherry Stanley, Executive Director of the Backside Learning Center. “It is particularly meaningful to see those within the industry making the conscious choice to give back to those who are the backbone of horseracing.”

Amy Eirich, Development Manager for Second Stride agreed. “The Blackout Group does amazing work for the community! Second Stride has benefitted from their generosity in several ways including being the recipient of the proceeds raised during their annual Barrels for a Cause event. We appreciate the Blackout Group's commitment to aftercare and their generous support of Second Stride.”

When asked about the best part of being involved in Blackout, original member Bob Bevilacqua communicates the successful blend that has been distilled. “No matter where we come from across the country, or our personal ideologies, we share a mutual enthusiasm that connects us. Anytime we can get together as a group, it's an absolute blast. I think racing is mostly responsible for the strong social bond we have all developed. When, I'm out or meeting new people and they ask me about the Blackout shirt or hat I'm wearing, or one of our private label whiskey bottles, it's a great conversation starter, and frankly an opportunity to brag about how awesome it is to be part of something special like The Blackout Group.”

Now that is a toast to Kyle McGinty and all the members, which demonstrates that life certainly goes down smoother when you can share the experience the Kentucky way with bourbon, horses and giving back.

Joe Scurto is the principal at Horseshoe Marketing. His Twitter is @RacingHorseshoe.

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