HMDC PARTNERS UP WITH A TASTE OF VICTORY

There’s a time-tested axiom in the world of racing, “It’s better to own part of a good horse, than all of a bad one.”  With a diminishing annual foal crop and the costs of getting a healthy horse to the races, those words have lent to the growth of partnerships in the business at all levels. HMDC is always looking for partners to join in the risk and reward of thoroughbred racing.

It’s best to approach these ventures with those that have an understanding of the sport and HMDC has found a perfect partner in Taste of Victory Stables. Founded by Kyle Yost and Brian Richardson.  Yost had early exposure to small farm life in Littlestown, Pennsylvania where his family raised and brokered livestock.  His father raised some mid-level thoroughbreds,  “Four mares, kind of small-scale stuff I grew up around,”  but big enough to leave Yost with a life-long attraction to the breed.

“A friend of mine that I know professionally through my computer distribution business, who was a part-time trainer, gave me a call in 2002 wanting to claim a horse with him.  We claimed this horse for $3,500 at Charles Town and he won six or seven races over the next year and a half.”   That seems to be the bait on the hook the Gods of Racing use to lure newcomers to a lifetime in the sport.  After that instant, successful, racetrack experience, Kyle’s next statement was one that we have heard before. “I owned seven horses the year after that,” Yost laughed in retrospect. “I just kept getting involved in it and friends of mine and business partners expressed they may want to be involved.”

Yost started looking into syndicates around the country and could find no low dollar thresholds,  “ There were no partnerships like MyRacehorse at the time.” He created his own in 2005 and Taste of Victory began in 2010. That phone call about a $3,500 claimer evolved into a racing partnership that raced coast to coast in over 1,500 starts with over 200 horses. “It’s been fairly extensive, we’ve run some good horses and have even run in the Breeders’ Cup a couple of times.”

Kyle examined what HMDC had to offer shareholders and thought it would be a good fit with his program. “I love this Ohio racing and the syndicate,” he said emphatically. “I love everything that’s going on. I’ve narrowed my focus to the mid-Atlantic region, but I want to stay in Ohio.  I look at value proposition – look at purses, day rates, vet expenses and things and we came up with West Virginia and Ohio as your best values in the country, so that’s where I’m focused.”

"There’s significant action with HMDC, especially in the accredited market. You don’t need a Kentucky Derby winner to make an impact. I love their trainer Megan (Fadlovich).”  Yost embraces the partnership plan with a realistic and upbeat approach, “This is not our (Taste of Victory) primary job, we’re just trying to make it fun for everybody.”  The socialization aspect of a partnership can be a key factor to its success. Everyone enters at the same level, has a shared interest and collectively a shared experience.

Kyle and his experienced group of partners have become excellent ambassadors of the sport.  “I have gained a lot of friends through this,” added Yost. “The last 20-year journey of running these partnerships has developed friendships. We do events together at the races and have people . They are getting into the game, and hopefully, those people are getting a good enough experience that they want to go and get some equity ownership in something like HMDC or Taste of Victory.”

Dominus - Spun In Artemus as a yearling

Yost states a great case for Partnerships and the HMDC program. Take a moment to go to our 2025 Stable and inspect the six horses available and their pedigrees. Remember – these photos were taken during the summer – they’ve done a lot of nice growing since then and have taken to the saddle. 

Shares are still available.