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Message From Howard

As a long time harness racing fan and friend of the Steacy family, I volunteered to administer the LandMark Stable program when it was created in 2006.  I had recently retired from Queen’s University and lived on a small farm in Inverary, Ontario where my family had riding horses and a few of Mark’s turnouts.

I strongly believe in the ‘Fractional Ownership’ concept because it provides an opportunity for harness racing fans to fulfill their hopes and dreams of owning standardbred racehorse at a very reasonable cost.

Every year, I and the Steacy team attend most of the yearling sales, including  London, Lexington, Harrisburg and the newly formed Ontario Select sale.  At these sales I can attest to the amount of time and effort that Mark, Kathy and now his sons Shawn and Clarke, put into the selection and purchase of yearlings.  Many hours are spent studying the pedigree of yearlings before the sales and then evaluating their conformation at the sales.  Once yearlings are selected and purchased, we hope for luck, because two important qualities are hidden, that being heart and desire.  Another comment I would like to make about yearling sales is that we see many wealthy people buy some very expensive yearlings, but we also know that those expensive yearlings may not turn out to be the best.  So, LandMark shareholders really do have chance to own a piece of a really good horse.  In LandMark 6, Harper Blue Chip took us to the Hambletonian for a one million dollar purse and it could happen again.  LandMark members really do have a chance of racing against those high priced horses.

Over the years, the number of shareholders has increased.  There were 14 shares in the first LandMark group in 2006 and now there are 110 shares in LandMark 15.  Many shares are purchased by ‘returnees’ and every year there are new people joining.  I can always tell from the frequent emails how enthusiastic members are and I love to answer any questions I can.  My hope is that LandMark Stables will continue to be a popular vehicle for people to own racehorses and that we continue to grow each year.

In recent years Kathy Steacy and Mike Steacy have joined the administrative team to assist with licencing, ownerships and accounting.  No money contributed by shareholders is used to administer the stable except for some travel, advertising and office expenses. 

In closing, I would like to thank current LandMark members, the breeding farms who have donated shares that are awarded annually in contests, Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing and Woodbine Mohawk who have supported and helped promote the LandMark initiative.  Buying and racing quality horses under the LandMark name will continue to be our main objective.

‘The Captain’