Racing Club FAQs

How many members do we intend having in the Club?

Our aim is to have 50 Club members and 2 Club racehorses. If more members are forthcoming we will add a further racehorse for every 50 members i.e. 3 racehorses for 100 members, 4 racehorses for 150 members.

Is there a limit on how many members we take on?

Yes, at this stage we will not take more than 200 members.

How much does it cost to join the club?

Peter Bowen Racing Club membership lasts 12 months from the day you join and costs an ALL IN price of £500.00.

You can pay via standing order/bank transfer.

What’s the procedure with prize money?

Peter Bowen Racing Club will run a prize money dividend period every 12 months. The Club prize money will be calculated on 1st of November each calendar year and distributed amongst current qualifying members.

The amount will be calculated on a monthly basis to enable the administrators to fairly proportion the monies according to the members' membership period.

To qualify for prize money you must be a member for at least 6 consecutive months during the dividend period which ensures members joining late in the year don’t have to play catch up with fees, nor do they dilute the input of long-standing members. All membership fees must be up to date at the time of distribution.

Prize money will be divided between those in membership at the time when the prize is won.

How much does it cost to race a horse?

Costs can vary hugely depending on where a horse runs and in what type of race, for example, a standard race costs in the region of £60 to enter, then a further £20 to run. Then there is a jockey fee of approx. £170 and if the horse picks up prize money a percentage is automatically deducted for both the trainer and the jockey. Money earned is also subject to other deductions such as riders insurance schemes. On average the total cost to race a horse would be nearing £450. There is also transport to the races, staff expenses and veterinary fees.

If a Club Member would like to know anything regarding the Club’s horses or any general query who should they contact?

The Manager will at all times be the single point of contact for Members. It is not possible for Peter to enter into dialogue with Members due to time limitations.

However, the Manager’s role is to keep Members fully informed of all Club matters via telephone, Social Media, Email or SMS messages.

Who can attend the Annual Peter Bowen Racing Club Day and Quarterly Stable Visit and is there any cost involved?

The Racing Club Manager will organise the Annual Peter Bowen Racing Club Day at the Stables, when all Club Members will be invited to come and enjoy the hospitality of the Bowen family, and have a guided tour with a chance to meet the

horses. Members are welcome plus one guest each. Children are welcome if fully supervised. Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs.

The Manager will also organise a Quarterly Stable Visit when all Club Members are invited to visit the Stables. Again, children are welcome if fully supervised.

Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs at any of our events.

What are the facilities at Peter’s Yet-Y-Rhug Stables?

Peter’s horses enjoy top-class facilities including -

• 70 boxes, including 20 in our recently constructed American-style Barn;
• Six furlongs straight uphill all-weather carpet gallop joined to a four-furlong flat round all-weather carpet gallop. These two gallops allow our horses to do continuous work at distances up to two miles;
• Two schooling arenas - both with all-weather carpet surfaces. One of these has both hurdles and fences for schooling;
• Horse walker, treatment box and an indoor wash-down area.

With such care, it is no wonder that Peter continues to enjoy success with his runners up and down the land!

When was the club first up and running?

The Club was up and running by October 31st, 2018.

Any goals for the Club going forwards?

The long-term aim for the Club is to increase the calibre of horses, and get plenty of winners for you to enjoy and be part of, but our main goal is to provide members with the ultimate thrill of racehorse ownership and fun is very high on the agenda.

Do all members receive tickets every time the Club has a runner?

How many tickets are assigned to each runner vary hugely from the racecourse to racecourse but most of the time we aim to accommodate all who ask – we also negotiate discounted tickets where possible if we have lots of members wishing to attend. There can be no guarantee of a ticket if we have many members wishing to attend but we always make sure they are distributed fairly and on a rota basis. For this reason, we can only provide members with tickets (not guests/friends & family).

When is the horse entered/declared and can I plan my day out at the races?

Entries are made 6/7 days before race day, depending on whether the horse runs on a Sunday. The final declaration stage is 10 am the day before the race (except its Friday for racing on a Sunday). You should know whether your horse will run soon after 10 am, and the Club manager will be in contact as soon as he knows. What this does mean is that owners need to be flexible and be able to make last minute plans!

What do club members do on arrival to the races?

Once you have been allocated your ticket by the Club manager - we will advise at declaration stage - you can plan your day out at the racecourse. Most racecourses have introduced free hospitality for owners (usually including a warm meal) and your complimentary badge gives you access all to all areas, including the Owners and Trainers bar, as well as a private area where you can watch your horse race. Winning owners are usually invited back to a private suite at the course where they enjoy a glass or two of champagne as they watch the replay of the race - if you’ve never experienced this, it comes highly recommended!

Can I go racing if the Club hasn’t allocated me a Ticket or if the racecourse has not offered a reduced rate?

Of course, you can. We will do our utmost for you to obtain a ticket and then you can meet up with Club Members and enjoy your day! We cannot guarantee parade ring access for the race in which the Club has a runner but again, we will certainly do our best.

What do we know about the Trainer Peter Bowen and Team Bowen?

Peter, together with his knowledgeable wife Karen, have runners in all parts of the country, and although he trains from Pembrokeshire, is a familiar figure at all National Hunt tracks up and down the country, having had winners as far afield as Ayr and Perth, as well as Exeter and Newton Abbot. As Peter has runners in all parts of the UK, every Member has a good chance of attending a meeting close to their home.

Who will be our Racehorse Jockeys and what about Team Bowen?

The Club will have two of the Country’s top young jockeys on their side, Sean and James Bowen, sons of Peter .... so it will be a family affair at Yet-Y-Rhug Stables and Peter Bowen Racing Club. Peter and Karen train the horses, ably assisted by son Mickey, who has rapidly gained a reputation for training Point to Point winners. The majority of the Club’s runners will be ridden by Sean and James, each of whom has enjoyed major success over the last couple of seasons.

Sean has ridden over 300 winners, frequently scoring for the powerful Paul Nicholls stable as well as for Peter. Youngest son James rides for champion trainer Nicky Henderson, and his father. He hit the headlines as a mere 16-year old when becoming the youngest ever winner of the Welsh Grand National, riding Raz de Maree to victory, a horse which was just 3 years younger than the jockey!

What happens if a Club horse is sold or is no longer able to race?

The Club leases the horses and, as a result, members are not entitled to any money resulting from the sale of a Club horse

Are there any other benefits of joining Peter Bowen Racing Club?

Yes, there are plenty of other reasons to join ....

How will upcoming events and information be passed on?

Regular Peter Bowen Racing Club Newsletters

The Manager will produce a regular Newsletter about everything going on at the Stable including interviews with Peter, Karen, Mickey, Sean and James, as well as stable staff and owners. This will be produced as a PDF document and emailed to all Club Members on a regular basis.

Secure and Private Email/Text Communication 

All Members will receive Stable news direct from the Yard, as and when it is available, and this will be the responsibility of the Manager.