Expat Dan Blacker, who trains in California, saddled Straight No Chaser to follow up a Breeders’ Cup victory with overseas success in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia
A British racehorse trainer has secured a £960,000 windfall for 946 owners of a star sprinter.
Englishman Dan Blacker is the son of Philip Blacker, the renowned equine sculptor and former jump jockey who finished third on Royal Mail in the 1981 Grand National.
He has a barn of around 20 horses at Santa Anita in Los Angeles of which Straight No Chaser became the outstanding member when he landed the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last year.
Running his first race since November, Straight No Chaser blitzed to the front, eventually taking over the lead and charged to a three and three quarter length triumph under John Velazquez.
Only one of his 946 owners, members of the MyRacehorse syndicate, witnessed the success in Riyadh, the other 945 watched the race back in the US, where the time was 6am.
Blacker said: “He is such a fast horse. He’s so game and tries so hard in every race.
“He hasn’t run since November 2 so to come in this race, run his guts out and fend off all those other horses, I’m so proud of him.
“To prove himself on the global stage in front of such an international crowd is a great feeling. It’s always been a great ambition of mine and to do it is very rewarding.”
Owner Steve Carpenter paid £180 for his share in Straight No Chaser who has now won nearly £2million in prize-money, of which his owners get a cut.
Carpenter, a retired engineer from Delaware, said: “This is a dream come true for me. He is the first horse I bought into. I never thought something like this would happen. I like following the horses and to cheer for them.
“It’s not about the money. For me it’s about the excitement of following the horse, getting the updates, hearing about the training. That’s what it’s all about for me. I don’t think anyone is in it for the money.”
