Networking and creating the best contacts meant that there was no household connection to the enterprise, and there was a stable foothold on this planet of jumpstarts and thoroughbred races and breeding.
The 28-year-old Gowans works at one of many Gainesways, the world’s most prolific and revered breeding and racing entities, close to Lexington. Whereas he oversees Bradstock and races at Gainesway, the Gowins even have his personal exterior purchasers.
His solutions are edited for readability and house.
Bloodhorse: How did you introduce the race?
Ben Gowans: It got here from the horse racing background, not from the horse racing background. Rising up, my dad and mom educated Morgan Shaw horses. I used to be born in Seattle and once I was 4 or 5, the motion introduced us to western Massachusetts.
My first expertise in horse racing got here to Saratoga as a fan. I used to be on the rail and obtained an autograph from the jockey. From a really younger age, I used to be translated into sports activities.
I used to be on the varsity bus at age 7 or 8 and skim the Keeneland catalogue. So far as I can keep in mind, I used to be an enormous horse racing nerd.
BH: How did that curiosity flip into one thing extra?
BG: I labored as an intern at Saratogas Particular once I was in school. He was then transferred to the College of Kentucky’s horse program in his sophomore yr.
By my particular connection between (UK) and Saratoga, I used to be based with the good folks of Millridge Farm and labored there by means of college. I did just a little little bit of all the pieces. I primarily labored at Head Liebel (managing companion). Principally, no matter Headley was doing, I used to be engaged on it too. I realized so much throughout the course of and obtained a little bit of a flavour for all the pieces associated to lace and bloodstock.
After graduating (2021), I had the good alternative to work at Gainesway. I labored there for over 4 years.
I initially began below Alex Solis (II) when he was director of Race and Bloodstock. He was very variety to take me to develop into his assistant at Gainesway. When he resigned in January 2023, I took on extra of his position.
BH: What’s your obligation?
BG: My important focus is caring for our racing pursuits, which additionally comes with consistently in search of individuals who could wish to promote with us in gross sales.
We’re a really small, shut group in Gainesway, particularly within the workplace, and we’re at all times serving to and pitching each time we want one thing. Gainesway is concerned in all elements of the business. There may be at all times one thing to do and one thing to assist, however my important (accountability) is our racing curiosity.
BH: Is Gainesway’s racing curiosity selfmade or is it a purchase order on the market?
BG: Some horses are bred by Gainesway and we additionally purchase some for the race. I’ve been very lucky to have (basic supervisor) Brian Graves work with the method for the previous couple of years. Brian’s equestrian… being round day-after-day may be very particular.
I’ve at all times been based with the best folks and have labored for nice folks alongside the way in which. Brian and (Gainesway Chairman) Antony Beck are not any exception. They’re superb folks. I realized so much from them.
BH: What number of horses does Gainesway have for coaching?
BG: There are 40 horses in coaching (as of mid-July). Plenty of partnerships. Plenty of totally different trainers. It’s fixed communication between catching as much as the horse and coach and easily masking issues. A lot of our horses are with Corridor of Fame and future Corridor of Fame trainers, so there’s really no large administration workforce. It’s primarily communication, and it’s conscious of what’s taking place.
Working with Gainesway, I’m very lucky to have the ability to do my very own bloodstock as nicely. I believe I do a novel job. On this planet of Bloodstock, we all know very a lot that (everybody) can do each. I’ve a small variety of purchasers.
BH: How did that occur?
BG: Once I was nonetheless in class, I began working for (coach) Arnaud Delacour and (proprietor) Mark Grier. Greer was the primary to start out shopping for horses in 2020. He is an exquisite man who has been racing horses for a very long time. The affiliation got here by means of my work with Arnaud, who I’ve executed a wide range of issues – discovering (race) spots for horses, and together with bloodstock for a few years. He has a wide range of purchasers who store for gross sales and I lead that accountability to attempt to discover a horse.
I’ve been working with Arnaud for six years. Alnotrain for Mr. Greer. It was amongst Covids that Greer needed to purchase horses on the Fasig Tipton (annual) sale in Kentucky that yr, not Saratoga. It was the primary sale we purchased a horse for him and Arnaud was very variety to advocate me to him. I by no means purchased a horse, however I realized about it on the time with Headley Bell. Since then, I’ve purchased a horse for Mr. Greer.
We bought the fourth yr in 2022, two of whom ran within the Breeders’ Cup the next yr – Air Recruitment and Fulmineo (each stakes winners, the latter being rated stakes). Fulmineo was the most affordable horse I purchased on the primary day of (Saratoga Sale) and purchased it for $90,000 with (companion) Starlight Race. The airline was bought on the market in July (Fasig-Tipton).
In (Greer), we purchase 5 to 6 horses a yr. We went to Deauville up to now (3 years) and purchased the filly, Eversing, in 2023. She made her 3-year-old debut (July 9) with the Colonial Downs and gained (afterwards she got here in second on the invitation of Fasig Tipton’s Saratoga Oaks and joined the Previous Dominion Oaks in Colonial Downs on September sixth). She is Churchill’s daughter, so hopefully she shall be greater and higher together with her.
BH: What have you ever realized about your self since collaborating within the race?
BG: I grew up as an individual. I used to be 23 once I first began at Gainesway. I believe my communication expertise have improved. Once I began, I felt like an outsider. I am not saying I really feel like an insider now, however I really feel like certainly one of us… I am one of many folks within the business. I’m not afraid to stroll to Chad Brown or Billmot and say “hey” and begin speaking about our horses. Then again, once I begin, I am very (tentatively) about beginning that dialog.
BH: What are your future targets?
BG: I’m at all times attempting to construct new relationships. You’ll be taught a lot about this enterprise relationships. I’m very lucky that many individuals I met on this enterprise are actually my closest pals and may actually say it’s skilled and social. The place this enterprise takes you, whether or not home or worldwide, you may meet many individuals in all life.
I used to be very lucky to work for nice folks. I’m going to work day-after-day and inform folks it would not really feel prefer it’s work. I’m happy with the current. I am doing what I wish to do in 10 years now. I’ve already achieved lots of what I’m attempting to do. I attempt to be taught increasingly day-after-day. I’ve at all times had a objective, however I’m very happy with my life now.
