Thoroughbred racing with a focus on happy horses, transparent owner communication and enjoyable racing.
Thorotek Racing is the Canberra based racing stable of Natalie and Luke Jarvis.
Racing with Thorotek
We know owners prefer to be cheering their horse on at the track than just receiving a monthly training bill for a horse that never races so we operate a stable largely comprised of tried horses. With a small team in training, we can focus on each horse individually, which makes it easier to keep our horses sound and racing. Our aim is for our owners to get to know their horses like we do, with regularly email updates, photos and videos.
The training facilities at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra are of an excellent standard, comparable to provincial and metropolitan NSW tracks. The synthetic all weather track provides a consistent surface for trackwork, reducing injuries and training interruptions. The heated equine pool allows for variation in the horses programs as well as recovery and injury management. Multiple sand tracks accommodate the horses at all stages of their preparations.
Canberra’s central location gives our horses a wide range of tracks and levels of racing to compete at. Located on the highway, Thoroughbred Park is a perfect base to travel in all directions giving us the best opportunity to place our runners in the races they can win.
Ownership
At Thorotek Racing we are always on the lookout for suitable horses to join our stable
The easiest way to enjoy racing is to become a part owner of a tried horse. Tried horses have race experience so they are able to race quickly and frequently unlike yearlings which have a much longer preparation time.
Most of our horses are sourced from tried horse auctions that are conducted online. To select horses that have a good chance of racing and winning, the horse must meet certain criteria:
- good previous form
- suitable Benchmark rating
- racing history that suggests no serious previous injury
- have soundness confirmed by a pre-purchase veterinary check
- pass a pre-purchase veterinary scope to confirm no restrictions to airways
- from a reputable stable with a good record of horse welfare and compliance with Rules of Racing
To register your interest to become a part-owner of our next horse just fill in a few details:
New to racing?
What to Expect
Each training preparation has three phases; pre-training, racing and spelling.
When your horse commences their preparation, they begin pre-training. This usually involves 3-4 weeks of slow work (trotting and cantering), followed by another 4-6 weeks of pace work. This program prepares your horse for galloping by building their fitness and strength.
The final step before your horse goes to the races is to have a jumpout or barrier trial. This is a practice race over 800m to 1000m distance. This is used for education in younger horses and to peak the fitness of older horses. Most horses will usually need two jumpouts before going to the races.
Most horses will begin racing over a shorter distance (1000m to 1200m), even if their preferred distance is 1600m+. Each horse if different, but usually they need 2-3 weeks between races to fully recover and prepare for their next start. The number of starts your horse has before they need a spell again depends on the individual horse but most will do 6-10 races each preparation.
Spelling is time spent recuperating in a paddock. If your horse has no injury they will usually spell for about 4 to 6 weeks. If they have sustained an injury and need time away from training to heal, the spell may last for longer.
Let’s go racing!
When your horse is ready, it will be nominated in a suitable race. Nominations are published on the Racing NSW website about six days before race day.
The weights and ballot order are published the following day.
If we want to run, we accept and declare a jockey the next day and fields, including the barrier draw, are published online.
Our horses race in the Thorotek silks unless a majority owner nominates to race in their silks.
You will receive an email from us with the race information and a short summary of our expectations for the race.
If you are able to come to the races to watch your horse in person you are entitled to full owners’ privileges, which typically includes race course entry, race book, members access and mounting enclosure access to speak to the jockey before and after the race.
If you cannot make it in person, the races are broadcast on Sky Channel and online at the Racing NSW website. Replays are also available on the Racing NSW website. Jockey and trainer post-race comments are emailed to the owners with a report on the race.
Winners are grinners!
The NSW prize money structure is the best in the country, perhaps the world, at the moment and each race will usually result in a prize money payment.
The prize money allocation for each race is published with the race fields. The owners receive 83% of the purse.
Stakes payments are made directly from Racing NSW to each owner fortnightly according to the below schedule:
Races between 1st and 15th of the month are paid around the 19th
Races between the 16th and the end of the month are paid around the 4th
If your horse wins and you are on course, there may be a trophy presentation, photo opportunity and a complementary drink to enjoy while watching the race replay, depending on which track your horse races at.
Winning photos are available for purchase through Bradley Photos.
We find the owners that get the most out of their racing are those that come to the track on raceday. Many Thorotek owners have become great friends, meeting up regularly to cheer their horses on.
THOROTEK RACING 