Bringing thoroughbred glamour to Bermuda

Racehorses owned by Bermudian syndicates and sporting the island’s traditional pink and navy blue colours could soon be trotting into the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot.

Bermudian businessman Simon Scupham last night unveiled a scheme that gives islanders the chance to become part owners of some the most promising thoroughbreds in the world.

Mr Scupham, who is chairman of Shoreline Insurance Managers Ltd in Hamilton, has teamed up with the UK’s leading horse syndicate management firm, Highclere, to establish Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing (BTR).

And the new venture will also mark the first time that ‘Bermudian’ horses race on some of the most famous courses in the sport of kings such as Goodwood, Ascot or Newmarket.

The horses will even be given Bermudian-themed names and the jockey’s silks will be Bermuda pink and dark blue. 

Mr Scupham told the Bermuda Sun that the creation of BTR was the realization of a personal dream that had been many years in the making.

He added: “I have always felt there was a place for something like this in Bermuda.

“To have the Bermuda brand on the international racing scene is not just exciting, it’s also going to be great for Bermuda.

“I’m looking forward to the day when BTR’s pink and blue colours are seen on the racecourse and indeed the winner’s enclosure. “This is an opportunity for people in Bermuda with a passion for the sport to own a thoroughbred horse that competes on the big stage.”

Mr Scupham’s partnership with Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and the firm’s boss, Harry Herbert will give syndicate members access to a wealth of experience and expertise.

The Highclere team, which is based where the hit TV series Downton Abbey was filmed, will act as BTR’s racing manager.

And the firm’s bloodstock expert, John Warren, will choose the first two ‘Bermuda’ horses next month at the sport’s two major sales that take place in Ireland and England.

They will then be trained by two of the UK’s best trainers; Sir Michael Stoute and John Gosden, before they start racing in 2014. Mr Herbert told the Bermuda Sun: “This is a very exciting new venture for Highclere and we are extremely pleased to be a part of it. This will also be great publicity for Bermuda too if things go well.

“At the moment we have around 28 syndicates and race around 50 horses.

“And we have owners all over the world.

“But our partnership with BTR is a new kind of venture and it has great potential.”

Mr Scupham revealed that although the BTR horses would initially run in the UK, there were hopes that they could be taken further a field to races like the Breeders Cup in the US and the Melbourne Cup in Australia. He added: “I have been involved with Highclere since 1999.

“And in that time I have had interests in nearly 100 horses that have run in more than 600 races with a win percentage of nearly 25 per cent. 

“This opportunity is not a guaranteed win-win.

“It’s an opportunity for people in Bermuda who genuinely love the sport to be a part of this great sport as an owner.”