Owning a race horse definitely falls in the ambit of “living the holiday,” but it’s a mid-term dream, right? We’ll get there soon. That picture is the shot of the horse that won the 2014 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Handsome beast, eh? It would be nice to own that horse. It would be nice to have bagged the winning purse. Tom Callaghan, the CEO of Bloodstock SA just walked in and blew our minds. He says it could have been us.

So we sat Tom down, and we asked him some pressing questions. Our questions are in bold.

Why is owning a race horse part of Living The Holiday?

The sport of horse racing has been around for centuries, and is well known as the Sport of Kings due to the fact that royalty and the super wealthy throughout the ages have owned racehorses and are very passionate about the game.

I think it should rather be called the Sport of Success as it attracts people who are successful in life and business, and who are looking for a hobby and a lifestyle that is relaxing and fun and a break from the stresses of their day to day business.

Owning a racehorse is one of the most enjoyable experiences a person can have – they are majestic animals that are born to run and watching them run and win in your own colours makes you feel on top of the world. It is a feeling that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime – words cannot describe it! If you are a passionate, thrill seeking type then I strongly suggest connecting with this amazing athlete that is the racehorse.

Horse Racing is known as the Dream Factory – it is for dreamers that want to live the fairytale that you see in movies like Phar Lap and Secretariat. The one great thing is that absolutely anything is possible in this beautiful game.

And how are you guys involved in the sport?

We breed top class racehorses that have won big races on every continent of the world. Our horses are tough and fast and can compete against the best in the world. If you are sports fan this is a sport that will capture your imagination like no other. Horse Racing is looking to the future and has the potential to be one of South Africa’s greatest exports to the world and we would love to welcome new racehorse owners of the future to the sport.

It is a great networking opportunity where you can meet business contacts from all over the world, and entertain clients and friends at our racecourses all over the country and the world. It is also a great way to get the family together to share in a common passion and enjoyment.

But it isn’t exactly an inclusive sport, is it?

The sport’s great transformation story has to be S’manga Khumalo becoming the first black jockey ever to win the Vodacom Durban July last year. It is a memory I will cherish forever – this young man is a fine example of what hard and dedication can achieve. He is currently heading the National Jockey Championship for 2014 and looks sure to become the first black jockey ever to win the coveted Jockey Championship. He is surely one the best black sportsman in South African at the moment.

Cool. But don’t you have to choose between a yacht and a race horse? How much money are we actually talking here?

It is not as expensive or as difficult as you think to get involved and newcomers can purchase small shares in horses, or buy in a syndicate with friends. We have special syndicate managers to help new people along every step of the way, making it easy and fun. Horses sell from R50,000 upwards and average training and keep costs are R7,000 so four people would have a monthly bill of R2,000 per month each. Not as expensive one thinks!

So when’s the next opportunity to get our hands on a bona fide race horse?

The next sale on the calendar is The National Yearling Sale sponsored by Emperors Palace which is held on the 27th and 28th April at the TBA Complex in Germiston, Johannesburg.

To find out more, check out their website here, email them here, or call them on  011 3235700.

Follow @BloodstockSA1 on Twitter, and find them on Facebook, here.