OwnerView’s Gary Falter Chats Upcoming Saratoga Conference, Benefits of Becoming a Horse Owner

Events / Travel
Panelists discuss the benefits of Thoroughbred ownership at the National Owner Conference. (Courtesy of OwnerView)

The National Thoroughbred Owner Conference kicks off with a welcome reception at the historic National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this coming July 24, with the conference taking place July 25-27. The Owner Conference brings together some of the leading figures in the sport annually for an in-depth and informative, series of events including panel discussions, a keynote speech, dinners and luncheons, networking opportunities, and of course a day enjoying the races at venerable Saratoga Race Course. It’s a must-attend event for Thoroughbred owners or those interesting in becoming one. OwnerView also is conducting a separate virtual Owner Conference (already underway with future panels set for Sept. 6, Oct. 4, and Nov. 1) for those who cannot attend this year’s event at Saratoga.

America’s Best Racing recently interviewed Gary Falter, head of OwnerView and an owner-breeder for over 32 years, about the upcoming National Thoroughbred Owner Conference.


How did OwnerView come about and what are the goals? 

OwnerView was created as a response to the McKinsey Study that recommended The Jockey Club develop new tools and resources to encourage Thoroughbred ownership.

What is your role with the Saratoga National Thoroughbred Owner Conference? 

My role is to organize and manage the annual Thoroughbred Owner Conference, both the in-person and virtual conferences.

Can you share how OwnerView has grown since inception?  

OwnerView.com started out as a free website for Thoroughbred owners that includes an aggregate of information from many sources. The website was launched in 2012. Since then many new features have been added to make this the most comprehensive website of information for Thoroughbred owners. The website remains free to anyone that wants to research ownership topics and information.

A previous Jockey Panel at the conference. (Courtesy of OwnerView)

For folks considering becoming a Thoroughbred owner, what benefits does the OwnerView Conference offer?  

The owner conference includes up to eight panels with ownership topics and expert speakers that are all too willing to share their experiences. Beyond that, there are attending owners from around the U.S. and Canada that provide a great networking experience throughout the conference social events. Many new friendships and partnerships have developed from conference attendees.

The conference has been held in Kentucky, California and Florida. How important is it to rotate locations across the country? 

Our original plan was to rotate the owner conference around the U.S. so owners in those areas have easier access to the event. For several years we followed the Breeders’ Cup Championships and that has helped owners put this conference on their calendar during Breeders’ Cup week. This year we decided to host the event in Saratoga during their historic race meet.

Can you share what type of panels and speakers will be on tap for this coming Saratoga Owner Conference? 

There are 8 schedule panels with over 30 expert speakers. Some of the topics include:

  • Agents & Advisors - Selection and buying at the sales
  • Safety Best Practices
  • Selecting a Trainer
  • International Racing & Ownership

And our keynote speaker is Stacie Clark, who heads up the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA); she’ll talk about the evolution of aftercare.

Will the participants enjoy a day at the races together at Saratoga? 

Yes, all of our guests will enjoy an afternoon of racing on Wednesday, July 27 in the Easy Goer restaurant.

What is the cost of the Saratoga Owner Conference? 

The registration fee is $850 and includes all conference events.

An accounting and legal issues panel discussion. (Courtesy of OwnerView)

Can you share feedback you have received from past participants of the OwnerView Conference?

Here are some from past attendees:

  • “This was one of the best conferences I have ever attended”
  • “The panels were well rounded and thought out”
  • “This was one of the best organized and managed conferences I have ever attended in any industry”
  • “Exceeded my expectations!”
  • “I have been in this business for over 30 years and I learned a lot”
  • “I learned a lot and met some fabulous people!” 
  • “Especially liked the Claiming panel and we will be adding more horses to our stable”
  • “The networking opportunities have brought me in contact with people in the business that I would not have otherwise have had the opportunity of meeting”
  • “My favorite week of the year!”
  • “We are relatively new to this business and we learned quite a lot”
  • “Fun having conference at the racetrack”
  • “I have been going to conferences for 30 years and this was so well put together – it was organized – professional – extremely well done”

What are some of the more common questions you receive from first-time race horse owners or those considering becoming owners? 

New owners and those considering ownership have a wide array of questions including accounting, cost of ownership, legal, ownership options, and selecting a trainer just to name a few.

How has the industry embraced OwnerView and what do you see in the future for OwnerView? 

From the very beginning in 2012 the industry has supported OwnerView. It’s not surprising, though. Nearly everyone in our industry supports the fact that we need to retain owners and bring more owners into our sport. The McKinsey Study from 2011 was “on the mark” with its recommendation to develop new tools and resources to encourage Thoroughbred ownership. I for one am very grateful that The Jockey Club began this initiative and so many industry groups have supported our efforts.

Can you share where folks get more information on both OwnerView and the Saratoga OwnerView Conference? 

Sure, visit OwnerView.com and you’ll find a wide variety of ownership menu topics. There, you can select the Owner Conference option to view the Saratoga schedule and to register.


The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.

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