Sponsored content: Not Your Average Racing Syndicate - Starlight and StarLadies Racing

By Jennifer B. Calder

As the horses turned for home on that warm June afternoon in 2018, the crowd of 90,000 plus at Belmont Park was electric.

The chestnut stallion with the large white blaze and long, elegant stride stood out amongst his competitors, not only due to his powerful ground-eating strokes as he raced for home, or as the only horse in the field not covered in the dust of Big Sandy, but also as only the 13th horse in the history of horse racing to win the Triple Crown.

Partially owned by Starlight Racing, Justify’s run into history was watched by some partners from boxes in the stands, while others stood on tip-toes on the apron, creating a raucous, joyful party atmosphere. The noise from the group of Starlight partners was deafening, as if cheering alone would will their horse to capture the Triple Crown.

As Justify crossed the wire, the Starlight partners, all from varying backgrounds and of all different ages, jubilantly hugged and high-fived each other as they whooped and hollered. There were lifelong racing fans in the group and long-time partners crying and hugging the newer members of the syndicate surrounded by younger generations and children hoisted on shoulders.

While many joined Starlight Racing as strangers, over the years, they have become an inclusive family. They are an eclectic group united in their shared love of racing and enjoyment of one another.

As selective with their partners as they are with the horses they buy – Starlight and StarLadies syndicates put an emphasis on, not only those who love racing, but also a culture of drama-free fun. The syndicate is purposely kept small (10 to 16) partners, which lends to both the friendly, family atmosphere and a feeling of being personally invested in the string of horses.

Starlight Racing’s commitment to their craft has launched them into the top five racing syndicates in the country and continues this year with the promising Authentic, recent winner of the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell. His next stop: the Kentucky Derby.

The horse that started it all was multiple graded stakes winner Harlan’s Holiday, purchased by Laurie and Jack Wolf in 2000.

In 2004, the Wolfs decided to create a racing syndicate, one that would focus on competing at the highest levels of racing while making it cost effective for the partners. They further expanded on this idea when, in 2013, Laurie created StarLadies Racing, an all-female syndicate purchasing and racing only fillies.

Both syndicates are currently accepting new partners, but only through August. Unlike other racing syndicates, both Starlight and StarLadies do not offer year-round buy-ins but rather want their partners to feel included in the process from the beginning, which starts with buying yearlings. And partners own equity in the entire crop, rather than a piece of a horse.

There are opportunities to visit the sales and see the yearlings, and trips to see the 2-year olds in training in Florida along with numerous races to attend.

During normal times, the yearlings are purchased at public auction and mostly from three premier yearling sales in North America –Fasig-Tipton Lexington in July, Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select in August, and Keeneland September.

After partnering with SF Bloodstock (and others) with Justify, Starlight Racing has continued the relationship but at the yearling level. The first crop of their joint purchases produced Authentic, the precocious Charlatan, and Grade 1 winner Eight Rings.

Approximately a third of the horses purchased are solely for Starlight Racing, and the other two-thirds are with SF Bloodstock under the name Starlight West, giving the syndicate a presence on both coasts and upping the advantage to participate in the most prestigious races.

Training for the string on the East Coast is primarily headed by Todd Pletcher, and the West Coast horses are under the tutelage of Bob Baffert.

In 2018 they went global! Laurie Wolf merged a portion of StarLadies Racing with an all-female partnership based in France and then in 2019 Starlight Racing joined forces with SF Racing in an Australian venture.

“We have a great group of partners and we have fun!” Starlight Racing managing partner Jack Wolf said. “These men and women are united in their love of the sport and their shared passion for the horses. There’s really no one else I’d rather spend time with than my family and our partners.”

If interested in joining in on the fun and excitement of top Thoroughbred racing ownership, please contact Donna Brothers at donna@StarlightRacing.com.