Latest / Glovisor Podcast / Ep. 25: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Own a Racehorse (The Secret Most People Don't Know) Anna Najam

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Ep. 25: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Own a Racehorse (The Secret Most People Don't Know) Anna Najam · Glovisor Podcast

• Joe: This is a story about access, belonging, and getting closer to something you love than you ever thought possible. Welcome to the Glovisor Podcast, where we explore leadership, communication, business growth, and personal development through real conversations with people that make an impact. Our guest today has spent years living at the intersection of passion and possibility. Someone who has stood at the rail just like the rest of us and asked the same question so many fans quietly carry. How do I get closer? How do I become part of the world I love? Through first hand experiences. Through firsthand experiences, race day adrenaline and friendships. That form around the horses we follow. This guest has discovered something powerful that the future of thoroughbred racing, ownership. Through first hand experiences, race da expert well. Through first hands ev my gosh. Through firsthand experiences, race day adrenaline, and friendships that form around horses that we follow, this guest has discovered something very powerful that the future of thoroughbred ownership isn't reserved for the few anymore. It's becoming a community, a shared journey, a place where connection matters just as much as the pedigree. Her work bridges the gap between insiders and everyday. fans her work her work bridges the gap between insiders and everyday fans showing how modern micro share ownership is reshaping the sport and today she's here to share that story with us Glovisor welcomes Anna Najam hi Anna welcome ANNA: Hello. Thank you. Appreciate it. Joe: ⁓ we're very excited to hear your story. ⁓ so Anna Yes. So Anna, let's begin. So what first pulled you into the world of horse racing and specifically the fractional ownership? ANNA: Very excited to talk about it. Well, I was always interested in horse racing growing up, horses in general. ⁓ I grew up mostly in rural New York and I had horse farms around me, so ⁓ the love of the horse just really blossomed there and I was able to ride as a young girl and learn ⁓ the horse itself and take care of one. So the horses have always been part of me. ⁓ not necessarily my family because nobody else in my family had this. So it was ⁓ it was definitely something that was just me and I followed it and I you know would watch the Kentucky Derby and Dream and maybe one day I'll own a horse and then I found my race horse advertisement on one of the Kentucky Derbies in 2018. And I looked at that and I thought, that's a great idea, but it's not gonna work. And it not because of the concept, but because of the industry. Again, like you stated, it it there was a conception on the outside that you could not get in unless you were part of that world already. And it was handed down to you or you worked hard up through the ranks because you were already in there. And my racehorse and Michael Brens, their his dream was to open that gate to everybody and he's done an amazing job with it. ⁓ so that's how I started and I and after a few years of watching it grow because of course like everybody else I'm I'm skeptical. ⁓ and I watched it grow and they won the 2020 with Authentic, ⁓ the Kentucky Derby with Bob Baffert as his trainer. And then of course in 2024 it took off with Seize the Gray winning the Preakness, the Pat Day Mile and the Pennsylvania Derby. So it really exploded after that. But I had been in it since twenty twenty ⁓ four. Joe: ⁓ where's your microphone? ANNA: ⁓ in my computer, am I too low? Joe: No no no, there's something that's going on. Like I it's when it it's it's like making a weird sound as you speak. ANNA: ⁓ okay. It's it not well, just that ban. I'm on my default, but I have some I have communication speakers and real tech R audio. So do you want me to put the the real communication speaker on? Joe: Is is anything moving? No, it's not that. Yeah, let's g let's give that a try. Let's see what what it does. 'Cause it's it's making like a little tap tapping sound as you speak. ANNA: Tapping. that could be my overhead, but that would turn off my light. Joe: No, see like right now, let's test it out. Yeah, I mean you sound fine here, but then as you were speaking earlier, it it was just like almost like a microphone is moving. ANNA: Da hätte. Hm, no, I don't even have one to move. Joe: Yeah, I thought it's like probably you know, like people have lapels and sometimes they move on a shirt. So I thought that's what it was. All right. Well, let's hope. Let's fingers crossed that it's gonna work out the next time. All right. ANNA: Yes. No. Okay, so we're so redo that whole thing. Joe: so we I mean I guess would you like to do it again? And to test it out? ANNA: I mean if it's if it's going to yeah, if it's gonna inhibit what people hear, I think that's probably a good idea. I mean I I can shorten it, that's fine. Joe: Yep. No, no. So you see I can hear it there again. ANNA: Okay, so let me turn the fan off. Now I'm gonna be climbing again, Joe, so bear with me. I I think it's the fan. And now I'm gonna suffer from my horses, just so you know in the heat. Just so it can come through correctly. Let's see if that helps. Does that help you? Joe: Okay. But I don't know if you think so? Okay. Ha ha ha. No. ANNA: No? Joe: Let well let's see, let's give it a try again. Are you back? Are you back? ANNA: ⁓ I'm here. I I can hear you. Can you hear me? Joe: Yeah, no, no. It's only when you speak. When you speak it makes kind of a sound and I just I I hope that it can come off. ANNA: ⁓ is it something they can take at well, all right. Let I don't hear any sound, so that's why I'm kind of curious as to what it is. Joe: Some Yeah, I hear it on my side. Let me see if I can go to the audio and see what it does. Gives me an up some options here. I just want to make sure that we don't record the whole thing and then ANNA: Sure. And then not be able to use it. I get you. Joe: Exactly. ⁓ ANNA: ⁓ yeah, well that is making a noise. But that means I gotta turn that off, so hang on. Joe: So I don't think it was your fan though, whatever the first fan was. ANNA: Yeah, I'm gonna s turn the second one off, but I'm gonna try I'm gonna leave the light on. Joe: Nope, I still hear it. Right now that you're speaking, I still hear it. ⁓ okay. So it's it's sort of like when you your words when you speak. I I'm curious, do you have one of these? One of these like ANNA: Yeah, but it's still going, so maybe when we I didn't I d ⁓ I you mean with a mic? Joe: Yes. ANNA: Let me see if my daughter will let me use hers. I don't know. But bear with me. Yeah, let me I don't have any, but my daughter does. Let me see if she'll let me use them. I'll be right back. Joe: Like a headphone. Okay. Sure, thanks. Sure, thanks. ANNA: 'Cause it'd be great if it wasn't the fans. Ariel? Okay, so I'm not a headphone girl and I don't know where to put these in in my computer, but we'll figure that out. ⁓ I think right here. I think right there. Hang on, I'm coming, Joe. Joe: Okay. Sure, no problem. Take your time. ANNA: ⁓ okay. Now I gotta change my ⁓ audio to headphones. So hang on one second. First let me climb. Joe: The headphone, yes. Ha ha ha ha ANNA: ⁓ you have no idea. This is so much fun. ⁓ god. Let me get the right s angle. Okay. And the other side. ⁓ goodness gracious. ⁓ getting old and getting old. Joe: You're only fifty five. Fifty six. ANNA: fifty six and I'll be fifty seven next month. Nope, not that. Not muted. Alright, so how do I get the fact that I'm using these on here? Because again I'm not Joe: Okay, so did you plug it into your lab your computer yet? Okay. So I think if you go to audio at the bottom, for me is at the bottom and then audio and there should be like a little audio settings. ANNA: I did. Yup. Yup. it's just giving me ⁓ It's giving me the speaker. ⁓ and it's of course I can see me. 'Cause I already answered that I didn't have it. So do it is there someone maybe I need to go out and rejoin again? I don't know. Joe: Okay. Do you want to do that? ANNA: Well I can definitely try that. Let me just put these in first before we we do all that. I don't know. Okay. Now I'm gonna be stuck to the computer. Alright. So what do I do? Just it'll it'll tell me to join again? Joe: Sure, let's give it a try. Maybe it does Make sense. Mm-hmm. Yes, you use the same link. You'll come right back. ANNA: Okay, hang on one second. Joe: And I and I think when you first do the login, sometimes it gives you like, you know, to choose which microphone you want and all ANNA: It does it does. That's what I'm saying. I don't know where it is in here. But ⁓ wait, can't see my mic. Maybe that'll help. Joe: Yeah. ANNA: that on every visit. ⁓ no, that's not. Okay. You know what? That that wasn't it. Hang on. Joe: So I do you have do you have the you could just leave if you want, leave and come right back, and then that way you can see it. It'll be easier for you. ANNA: All right. Let me let me try that. So just cut just shut this window to leave or it's Joe: ⁓ I think you don't have a leave button at the bottom? ANNA: ⁓ yeah, I do. Okay. Joe: Yeah. ANNA: All right. Joe: There we go. Our guest today has spent years living in the intersection of passion and possibility. Someone who has stood at the rail just like the rest of us and has asked the same question that fans quietly carry. Our guest has spent years living at the intersection of passion and possibility. Someone who has stood at the rail just like the rest of us and has asked the same question that most fans ask: how do I get closer? How do I become part of the world that I love? Through firsthand experiences, race day adrenaline, and the friendships that form around the horses we follow, this guest has discovered something powerful. That the future of thoroughbred ownership isn't reserved for the few anymore. It's becoming a community, a shared journey, a place where connection matters just as much as a pedigree. Her work bridges the gap between insiders and everyday fans, showing how modern micro share ownership is reshaping the sport. And today, she's here to share her story with us. Glovisor welcomes. Anna Najam. Okay. Right now it sounds better. But now I can hear myself. Hold on. Jeez. ANNA: Right now it sounds better. Okay. But now I can hear myself. Well, at least I can hear you this time. Okay, good. Joe: Okay, good. All right, so let me see if I can see your sound. Oye, one of those days, huh? ANNA: Days, huh? It stuff like this happens all the time and I just gotta work through it. Joe: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Hold on, I'm listening to myself right now. So I'm trying to find a way to is do you have on your side something echo control? ANNA: Is do you have a I don't know. Echo cancellation. Yeah, can we try that? It's not letting me do any can't change echo cancellation while recording. Joe: Yeah, could we try that? Right. ANNA: Why won't it why won't it let me do that? Joe: Yeah, 'cause I c I can you the only thing is that I can hear myself. ANNA: Yeah, 'cause I c I can the the only thing is that I can hear myself. ⁓ I can't hear I can't hear myself. You can't hear yourself? Mm-hmm. Joe: You can't hear yourself? Yeah. So you're reverbing. ANNA: Fix my hair again, Joe, 'cause you know, I had a climb all all over. Okay. Joe: Okay. So I'm sorry, do you mind just l leaving and coming back but then clicking on echo? Because maybe that'll help. ANNA: So I'm sorry, do you mind just l leaving and coming back? But then clicking on echo? Because maybe that'll help. Okay, I will do that. Okay. Mm-hmm. Joe: Okay, thanks. We're having some serious sound problems. Fingers crossed. Okay. Can you hear me? ANNA: I can hear you. Joe: I don't think I can hear me. Okay, can you speak again just to make sure? ANNA: Sure. I can hear you. Joe: Yeah, but it's making that sound again. Yeah. ⁓ jeez. ⁓ so you changed it to ANNA: You know what? I think it's from outside because they have a a fan well, they have it's very noisy out back. So I mean Joe: Yeah. No no it it's only when you speak. So when you speak it's it's the ⁓ so that's usually a microphone issue. ⁓ I'm just wondering were were you able to what was the microphone you chose? ANNA: I know, but Okay. Let me The communications. Joe: Okay, so what was the other one that y you had what are the options you have? ANNA: I have default, microphone array, and then the communications. And I was on default. Joe: But is so is D Ray the one that you have on right now? Maybe your earbuds? ANNA: I had communicate I had communications. Joe: That that's your that's your hit. ANNA: Well, I I it said I'm using a headset. Joe: And then what about for microphone? It says the same thing, communications. ANNA: Yes, I changed that to communications. Joe: Can you can you ch Okay. But then you have echo cancer if you ha ANNA: But I but I don't hear you in my ear. I hear you from out here. Joe: That's what I mean. So it's it's it went back to your computer. I think communications is your computer. It's not it's not the headphone. So so if you ANNA: ⁓ Okay, so let me let me go out and pick the other one. All right. I'm so sorry. Joe: Okay. Thanks. No problem, this happens. Okay, you're back. Okay. So ANNA: It's not picking headphones. It's not picking headphones. Okay. I did. I put yes, I'm using headphones and I don't know why it won't do that. Unless I have it in the wrong portal. But it's the only one that looks like it. Do you want to unplug it and see if she's finding something else? Let me see if I can. Yeah, okay. Let me go behind the computer. I'll be right back. I'm back to hearing me again. Okay, well at least ⁓ Come on now. Joe: Exactly headphones. Okay. Yeah. Can you can you do you want to unplug it and see if she's finding something else? Well let's unplug it and see. 'Cause I'm back to hearing me again. ANNA: It's well that's the only one I see. Let me look on the sides and see if I can find something there. No. ⁓ no. Yeah. That's the only plug I see for the microphone. And it's got a thing on it. Maybe I gotta push ⁓ maybe I push it in more? Can you hear me? Nope. I can still hear you on the outside. Joe: Yeah. Mate, let's try. in on the computer itself. ANNA: Are you s are you hearing that noise? Where it's up. are you still hearing the noises? Joe: Go ahead, say something else. no, right now I can't but I can hear myself. Go ahead. ANNA: ⁓ I think well right now I can't but I can hear myself. Mm-hmm. Go ahead. But it doesn't give me that echo. Joe: Like in a delay? It doesn't it doesn't give you the echo option? ANNA: me do it while I'm recording. A new recording track created. Okay. Because it ⁓ it's got it's got a you know an X through it. Can't change XL while recording. But it but it Yeah but I've done that three times now and it still won't let me do it when I get there's no question like that when I when I get in. Joe: Next book. Right. You're gonna have to like log out and then come back. Yeah. And it's Right. Right. ANNA: So I don't know where to find that. Joe: So yeah, it just has a little bit of a sound. ⁓ my issue is that then I let's see. ANNA: And this is no good because it's not working. Joe: ⁓ d does that have a button on it on the microphone? On that little piece, sometimes they have a button that turns on and off the microphone. Right there. ⁓ no, but maybe maybe that's what ch didn't change. You know like you know when you logged in with it and you thought that you had it, but maybe that's why. 'Cause maybe the microphone was off at that juncture. ANNA: Is that better? Yeah, I pushed one but it didn't do anything. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Joe: ⁓ so do you get to listen to yourself and test it out when you f log out? Okay. Do you wanna try it one more time and try it with the button to see if it does anything when you choose that? Let's try that as a la let's try that as a last time. ANNA: Okay. All right, we can try that. No, no problem, I don't mind. I'll be right back. Uh-huh. Joe: Good. Okay, thanks. Make it work. I really want it this to be ⁓ right now it seems like it, and I I do not hear myself. ANNA: Yeah, but I can hear you through the yep, not the micro not not my computer. Through through these this is where I hear you now. Joe: Through through the head headphone? ⁓ yes. Yeah, now it says headphones, yeah. ANNA: Yep. We did it. ⁓ Joe: Yeah. It it took an hour, but we got it. Better late than ever. ⁓ ANNA: Sometimes it happens that way with me. I'm sorry. I'm a little bit but I will learn. But I will learn. Joe: That's good. That's okay. All right, perfect. So all right. So you know what I'm gonna is let's start from I already w in one of these, what I did is I redid the intro again. I re-recorded it. So ANNA: Okay. ⁓ Hang on one second. Let me just do this now because now I'm really disherled. Let's see here. Better now. Joe: Yeah, I know. Let me say, let me say, let's say, let's say. Yeah, you definitely sound better. Thus far you do. So let's let's fingers cross. So I'm gonna put you back into this camera. ⁓ sure. No problem. ⁓ I think it you know, you should be fine with a fan, 'cause I don't think that was the issue. ANNA: Good. Awesome. All right, let me take a drink down all by moving with no fan. Okay. Well, I turned ⁓ off, so you know, it's okay. Well, if you I start to go, just ⁓ yeah, I ain't gonna help because nobody's gonna hear you yelling. Joe: All right. Well don't pass out on me. Anne, are you okay? All right, perfect. So I'm gonna start again from the beginning and then we'll go from there. ANNA: Are you alright? ⁓ 911. I'm in Tampa, but she's in Orlando. Check it out. Okay. Okay. Joe: So Anna, what pulled you into the world of horse racing and specifically the fractional ownership? ANNA: Well, the world of of horse racing has always been a fascination for me and I've always loved it. I grew up in rural New York on ⁓ where I was surrounded by farms of horses, cows, cook goats, all of that. So that that part of it was always the Kentucky Derby was very prevalent back in the day and growing up. So I watched it and then when I became ⁓ an adult, I s continued to. And in two thousand eighteen, Kentucky Derby they showed an advertisement about my race horse. And that really ⁓ and I heard the advertisement that, you know, everyday fans can become part of it. I mean, who wouldn't want to? And but I still was a little skeptical and I kinda stayed away until two thousand twenty three where I came in and saw Caesar Gray and I who became Caesar Gray and I wanted him and I just didn't have the money even then to buy into him. And when I did, I went back to buy him, he was gone off the buy page. So ⁓ my heart broke and I kinda left and I came back a year later and just looked And there was a horse named Caldera and I fell in love with him and that has started the whole story of where I started in my racehorse and it's just been an amazing ride for two years and it hasn't stopped yet. Joe: Interesting. ⁓ I there's so many things that you threw out at us there that I'm gonna be asking you some questions and and I wanna figure that those out together. ⁓ but you know it it's it's a complicated business for the most of us who are on the outside. ⁓ how did you get to it? Did you just walk in somewhere? Did you did you meet other people? How how did that work out for you? ANNA: Sure. Well, it was really simple to get into once I knew about it, because they do have their website up there. And you just go in and go to the buy page and there is a whatever horses they have that are offering. And when I walked in there, Caldera was the only horse they were offering. And they were offering him for eighty-one dollars a share. So I hit buy and I became part of the world ⁓ with that one share. But, you know, in in the two years that I've been there, I now stand at twenty-eight horses in my stable and I've had more. that I've left and I've added more. ⁓ it's just been an epic ride the whole way through and what they what MR well I call it MRH it's my racehorse but everybody that's familiar with them call it MRH and what they give us as owners is beyond amazing and the opportunities they provide us to become part of the world is is ⁓ I there's no words to describe it, from my standpoint, ⁓ with the adventures and the stories and the friendships that the community has made. ⁓ I I got into it thinking I was buying a horse. And what c what came out of that is I found a home. So I I I feel that why Shared Tracks was a perfect book name was because we all share the same tracks, the same racetracks and and even if we're not there physically We're still there. I love it. Joe: it so now is is that a club or is that a online system or just a community online or in person? How does how is that? ANNA: Well, it's both. ⁓ you can it's not a club. It's just that I felt the people in the community in my racehorse became somewhere that I feel at home with. And ⁓ we've done a lot of things together, farm visits and races. And yes, sometimes it's at the rail physically on the track, sometimes it's at the farms, physically at the farms. But mostly ⁓ my racehorse puts up a personal Facebook pages for each horse and we communicate there and talk back and forth. And you know, of course there's debates and thoughts and opinions that go through them. and we just enjoy the horse together and it's just been an amazing ride that they it's even out there in existence and I just needed to get that out there that it does exist for people. Joe: Sure. And I want to get back to that, but you know, at what point did you say I have to write a book about ANNA: not within the first year, ⁓ because that was slow for me, but once I started hitting into in into ⁓ and I'm talking about twenty-four, into twenty-five, ⁓ probably March, April, I just thought that this is just too good to keep to myself or even to just the people that are here. I mean, we need to let people know. that this is exists because you know you hear all the time that the horse racing industry is dying and it's not. It's absolutely not if we all come together and and we can bring the resources to keep it alive and to keep the horses racing and give them what they're born to do, which is run. ⁓ and that's that's my goal is to help them continue to do that for many, many years. Joe: Now, who is your book written for? A seasoned person or or a newcomer just like myself? ANNA: It it's written for both, ⁓ because you know, some people experience things differently. Even though you're looking at the same thing, you can walk away from it with different thoughts about it or different perspectives on it. And not that anyone is right or wrong. It's just your experience within it is what's gonna determine your story. This just happens to be mine and I've brought in community members to share theirs. Joe: Sure. So most people we look at these races and we're thinking there's this like super rich people that have all these amazing horses running so they can make millions of dollars. And you know, I I just go there, have my hot dog, have a drink, and just watch somebody else get really rich. but here comes this new term, the fractional horse racing ownership. ⁓ what is it? Can you explain that to us a little more? ANNA: Mm-hmm. Sure. ⁓ of course there are people who can make money in it because they have money to invest in a horse. ⁓ millions of dollars. As we just saw this year, one sell for 10.5 million zadan. But ⁓ there For the fractional ownership, you're getting a portion of a percent. You're not even getting one percent. They offer a portion of a percent. And it's normally any it can range from 0.01 to 0.0175. it depending on the price of the horse, the cost of everything that they are ⁓ you know estimating on the offering they come up with a a share price and you get that percentage of it once you buy one and then if you buy more of course you'll have more percentage of that horse same same concept just different different math where you own the horse Joe: Sure. So now how does it work? So but but so so everyone owns it collectively. ⁓ so what happens with the cost, the decision making, who makes all of that, and and then ultimately profits, which is what everybody wants. ANNA: Mm-hmm. Right, absolutely. I mean that's part of a business. You want the profit. ⁓ which ⁓ some horses have them profitable, like ⁓ Steve's the gray. I know I hear a lot of people saying they made a lot of money off of him. I again am not one of those owners, but ⁓ it the actual breakdown is always given to you on the offering page of where the cost is and where it goes to. They always have a what they call a reserve account, which is part of that share money gets put into an account and that. Is the account that takes care of the horse, and they usually estimate it for two years. So you're you have some racing, and hopefully in within those two years, the horse does win money so that you do get some payout. With micro shares specifically, the payout is based on ⁓ placing in a race, which of course is every race that. goes that way, but you get a percentage of whatever's left over after the cost. And they do give you a breakdown of what those costs are in their website before a race. So you know exactly what's happening and how much you'll get if the horse runs and places first, second or third. If they don't make those places, all that money that they do make in that race from it goes back into the reserves. And you'll get paid out if they win first, second, third in the next race or whatever. Joe: So now is there a time, ⁓ so when the the horse is born, up to what age can they sell these factional shares? ANNA: We don't they normally don't buy horses that are just born. They usually buy them when they're two. And they go to the two year old sales, ⁓ in Ocala, Florida and ⁓ Saratoga and ⁓ Keeneland, they go to all the sales and look for the horses to to offer us. And they make their decisions on what they buy there based on their blood stock agents, which are the people who look at the confirmation, the pedigree, the walk. They're there physically ⁓ evaluating the horse. So they make their decisions based on those bad advice and we don't we don't do that. So we just take the offering and they give it to us and if you buy you buy and if you don't you don't. Joe: So now I buy a share, I'm a fractional owner of this one specific horse. How long am I an owner of this horse? ANNA: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. until it leaves the MRH barn. Once it leaves the MRH barn, like through a claim race or through a retirement, ⁓ then then it's no longer yours. But until that point it is. So it could be years of a journey with a horse. Joe: Okay. So it could be a couple of years or it could be what is the maximum number ⁓ or average number of years? ANNA: Well, it it depends on the horse if how long they're gonna race and how long ⁓ a trainer feels they can race. And these these decisions for the career is ⁓ solely based on ⁓ my racehorse's decisions. It has nothing to do with you. ⁓ they take they do listen to us in the Facebook rooms. ⁓ if things are going on, I will say that 'cause that came directly from Michael Burns himself, that he does listen to us out there in in those rooms. So ⁓ even though they make the decision they do hear what we have to say and that you can't get from Pepsi. Joe: So what's Michael Varin's role? ANNA: He's the he's the owner. He's the owner of My Race Horse. He's the the one that created My Race Horse. ⁓ it was his dream sitting in California with a napkin on a d on a table with his family and telling them what he wanted to do. And they climbed on board and they all moved to Kentucky and here we are. Eight years later. It's it's been amazing and he's very, very ⁓ Michael, I love Michael Beerens. He's an amazing man, ⁓ very interesting man, and I would love I have spoken to him for about an hour by himself in a at Gulfstream Park, and that was an amazing time for me to hear how he thought and what his dreams were and it it was it was an amazing moment. Mm-hmm. Joe: Wow. Yeah, create So creating a community. That's what he did. ANNA: A ⁓ he did and and what what came from that is the community built up something for themselves as well, which is what I talk about when I say where shared tracks became a home. Because we the community could do did that. And that's something Michael couldn't do. He could offer the opportunities, he can open the gate, but he can't build the community himself. That's something the community needs to do and we've done that. And it's it's been an epic ride. The whole thing, the racing, the family community, the I've met so many wonderful people. people who share a lot with me and and allowed me to share it in the book with everybody else. So that's just been it's just been there are no words to describe the past two years that I could ever cover other than blessed because God has been amazing to me in this whole thing. And I feel like I've come home, come alive. My passion for life is back and it's just been something I never imagined. I never thought I'd have and I do. Joe: Wonderful. ⁓ so now you're amplifying this message to a lot of people and people such as myself are learning about it. What do you think that you keep seeing? What's the commonality that you see that sh has shocked a lot of people? Like I didn't know this, I didn't know that. What what what has been that common message? ANNA: Thank you. That this really is attainable, that this really is something out there that can be had by everybody. It's not something that is cherry-picked for people who we thought was on the inside of the industry. Anybody from any walk of life, any any career, ⁓ any age can walk in, well, of course, 18 and up, but ⁓ can walk in and become part of it by buying one share. One. Joe: So okay, so that brings me to a question. ⁓ and I won't hold you to any numbers or anything like that specifically, but a share is a share hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. ANNA: It's fine. It's fine. Okay. So a a a normal share is something you probably under a hundred dollars. ⁓ and I've seen it range from seventies to you know, the nineties. The other ones can go into the hundreds, but you know, these are choices that you can make for yourself. It's not something you have to do. ⁓ and then they've come up with in the last two years that I know of, they've come up with another ⁓ concept where they offer more fractional ⁓ percentages for more money for a share. I've seen twelve hundred dollars. I've seen more than that, but that's not something I can get. It's called experimental squared. ⁓ I'm sorry, it's called edge racing. And they they take care of that and they do put it up on the My Race Horse ⁓ website to buy and if you want to be a buyer, there are less owners in it, which is something that people have asked for. So they've done that. And I know Michael because I've been asking since we started, ⁓ well, since I started with Michael, that are they gonna do anything international? Now they are international with ⁓ the UK and Australia right now. They have branches there. But I what I'm looking for is America to be able to combine with them and come away being able to own my racehorses in England or in Australia and become part of that as well. And he's been working on that, but again, there's a lot of red tape he's got to get through. So we're being patient on that end. And hopefully he can do it. Joe: I'm sh I'm sure. now horse racing has his own language. What are those common terms that newbies like myself need to learn? ANNA: Mm. Okay. Now when I first got in, there was a lot I didn't know too. So don't first and foremost, for the new people coming in, do not be afraid to ask questions. There are a lot of people there that help you understand what you're looking at, what you're seeing. And the more you become involved in it, the deeper you can get it where you can help others as well. ⁓ The most common that I hear, of course, is sire and dam. And most people know that. But if somebody's coming in and don't know anything about horses or they just love horses but don't know anything about them that way, ⁓ the dam is of the mother of the horse and the sire is the father of the horse. ⁓ for for racing specifically, there are things called gates, wires. ⁓ of course the gate is where they come and and stand in to to race from, and the wire is the finish line. That's it. So if the if the horse runs what they say gate to wire, they started out first from the gate and then crossed the finish line first with never giving up the lead during the race. So that was something I learned as on on my first debut. My horse did that from gate to wire. He won that way and I had no idea. So that was so cool. And then of course like just the other day I learned what dogs meant because they were like, ⁓ the dogs are out. And I was like, I'm thinking who brought dogs to a racetrack to for workouts? And what it is, it's actual stuff on the track. Like I the the rail on the track so that they have a certain lane to to work out in. And I was she's like, you don't need sound. That's that's not what a dog is. And I was I was like, ⁓ well thank you, you know, because even two years later I'm learning. I mean, I don't think you don't learn something new every day in this industry ever. And just when you think you know, it's it changes. So you just roll with it. Joe: Yeah. Sure. So sometimes I'm watching these races and I in I hear them mention the Triple Crown. Then that's a big thing. And then you they you hear Kentucky Derby, which is very popular. I think most people have heard Kentucky Derby. ⁓ Prickness and and the Belmont. ⁓ so what are these races and how does that and what is a triple crown? ANNA: Mm. Amen. Mm-hmm. Yes. Correct. The Triple Crown is a horse has to win three races, one right after the other. It would be the Kentucky Derby first, which is the first ⁓ w ⁓ weekend in May, and then they have to win the Preakness, which is more towards June, the beginning of June, and then the Belmont, they have to win ⁓ and that's more towards the end of June. ⁓ in fact it was just last weekend. Yeah, I think it was the Belmont was just last weekend. So if that horse wins all three of them, that's called the triple crown. ⁓ and there's no official trophy for a triple crown. Just having all three of those trophies on your shelf is you're the triple crown winner. ⁓ which of course we all know Secretariat he was a triple crown winner. ⁓ and then I justify was I think our last triple crown winner where he won all three races. So ⁓ he's definitely somebody like a horse that is is out there in the breeding shed and ⁓ making a splash. So ⁓ I do have a Justified baby and I'm so excited. But ⁓ he's not he's not in the training yet. He's getting ready to ship to Sapphi Joseph Jr. this week as a matter of fact. So that's gonna be fun. Joe: So what is the likelihood that now his baby is going to be a winner just like the ANNA: Well well, you know, i i being his sire it's a very good chance, but there's always no guarantee because some some of the the babies do get what their their pedigree gives them. ⁓ some babies might have it, but they just don't wanna race. I mean, y you're you're looking at life. You're not looking at, you know, a a product. You're looking at a life and it's a different form of investment. So when you get into it, you need to think about that. because there's there's no cookie cutter ⁓ you know, idea in it. Every one of them is different, but that's the excitement of it all is that you watch, you learn, and each one of them can show you something different. ⁓ as long as you're willing to watch and pay attention and learn. They'll they'll tell you. Joe: Yeah. So keep ANNA: They'll tell you. The horses will tell you. Joe: Can you walk us through the age and the eligibility rules and why are three-year-old horses so significant in racing? ANNA: Honestly, ⁓ I'm ⁓ th that is definitely the three year old question. I don't on I don't know. It's just always been that way. ⁓ that's been the the rule. But as far as the rules go, you that is the only year that they can contend in it, which is when they're three. And what's funny, ⁓ what's funny is that you need to know that every horse turns turns their next age on January 1st of that year. So it doesn't matter whether they were born in April or born in February or born in whatever month, January 1st, they become whatever year they're gonna be in that that year. So if he was three. going into twenty five, he's four and twenty six January first. It's there's no there's no wait up for their birthday determining age. They just do. ⁓ so it is a yeah, so it is the three year olds that are able are eligible and they have to have accumulated points. Joe: ⁓ wow. ANNA: And the Kentucky Derby assigns points to certain races leading up to it. And if they can they ⁓ accumulate 40 or more, they have a chance to be in the gate on that day. And there are 20 horses running that day that can be in the gate, and they do two international ⁓ gates, so there's really only 18. So can you imagine only 18 three-year-old horses get to make it there and how hard it is for that to happen? In fact, Caldera was on it, he was on the Derby Trail in 25. So I I had a horse already on that derby trail. There were things that happened. ⁓ so he he was not he didn't make it to the gate, but he had points on the board, so I was a happy girl. And so but that is the the whole thing. It's points and your age and it's the horse's performance that gets you there. So there's no buy-in. You you do it's a horse. Joe: Okay. So so is that what makes some of these horses be the elite ones that make it to these elite races ⁓ possible? and and what is the process to get there? ANNA: Yeah, that is true. That ⁓ gosh, it's patience, it's care, it's the trainers, it's because every one of them are different and you just don't know until you know and and they'll tell you, I'm ready to go here, I'm not ready to do this, or even if they tell you they're ready on that day they may not be. I mean, Calder is a perfect example. He was built. for these races. He was built. And when I first saw him, I s all I saw was triple crown. That's the dream that came in my head. And I even got to meet him at the farm and tell him, you go for that triple crown. And he looked at me like, okay. But and he did. I mean he was on the trail. So that in itself was so much excitement. ⁓ and again life came at him. So and he had a really bad step coming out of the gate at the Louisiana Derby, which was a points race and he came in eighth. Joe: ⁓ huh. ANNA: But he was still two forces ahead of the whole the whole field. So ⁓ he tried. But the coach went and put him into the bathhouse row, which would have got him into an undercard race on that day. But ⁓ yeah, that race was interesting and we won't talk about it because I have feelings on that. So But ⁓ he did. Yeah. Joe: Ha ha. So now they turn four, they can't come back to these races. ANNA: Right, he can't come back and I lost you. Joe: Is that right? ANNA: You froze on me. ⁓ no. Joe: Hold on cause I can't hear you. You seem to have pause. Seem a little frozen right now. ANNA: ⁓ no. It's me, not you. I I now I can hear you. I had yeah, my internet does that every once in a while, I'm sorry. Joe: I don't know if you can hear me, but I don't see you. Okay, you're back. All right. So let's l I'll ask the question again. So sure. Tell me when you're ready. Okay. All right. ⁓ yes, but you're doing well. Very good. ⁓ you're welcome. ANNA: I am in one second. Okay, now I'm ready. I've talked a lot, so go ahead. Thank you. Thank you. Joe: So what happens now? ⁓ now the horses turn four. Are they not able to go back to these races? ANNA: They are not. They're not that once once that three year old year is is done for them, then their their chances at that are over. But there are other big G1 and that's graded one stake it stake races that they can run in and the breeder's cup that they can run in no matter age is not in ⁓ a requirement in the breeders cup as long as they're eligible to run. And that's another thing people need to learn in the in the racing industry is that every race has a condition book and that condition the the writers of the races give you what they'll expect And if your horse doesn't make any of those conditions, they can't be in the race. ⁓ and then when they close, they decide who's gonna be in it, and then they let you know that your horse has made it. So ⁓ that's how that works when they get set up for a race. So usually the trainers wouldn't enter a horse into something they don't have conditions to meet. and ⁓ it goes from there, but they have to in order to move up in the ranks they have to meet the conditions to be able to get there. And the last step for them is the grade grade one stakes, ⁓ which is like the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont, the Preakness. Those are grade one stakes. And ⁓ once you win those, you're the champion. Joe: So so how much would you say yearly it costs to maintain one of these horses? ANNA: well I honestly I haven't kept those numbers, but it's it's pretty it's pretty expensive because I've had both where I've had racing and I've had others that had to take more time. And ⁓ you know, we've had negative reserves. So You know, the and here's the best thing about my race horse is that you pay that for that share one time. One time. They don't come back and ask for any more money from you if that happens and your reserves go negative. That's that gets flushed out through the reserve account. Whereas if the horse wins a race, comes back and wins a race, that whole all that money goes into their reserves instead of any of it being paid out to you. That's the only way you get payouts on these horses is if their reserves are met and there's leftover after the jockey fees, after the trainer. fees after the track fees after the transportation fees which they give you on a list before the race what they are so you'll know exactly what your payout is. In fact two of them I have not gotten a payout even though they raced ⁓ because there were training ⁓ there was a reserve issues with their their money not that they didn't have any they just didn't have full reserves and that's fine with me I mean I mean I'd even kick in more money if I had to but but they don't ask for that ever. They don't ever ask for that. Joe: What would you estimate is the maximum number of races that a horse a three year old horse can do in one year? ANNA: ⁓ Well, from what I've seen in the industry, they normally race them anywhere from one to two months at a time. The only demanding one is the triple crown, which is three races in in that month and a half, ⁓ or two month ⁓ period. So, ⁓ that is taxing on horses at this point, they think. ⁓ a lot of people in the industry do. ⁓ but and that's why some of the trainers have elected to skip the preakness and go for the Belmont, which is why we're not getting triple crown winning. In the last few years. But again, that's a choice that the trainer makes. It has it has nothing to do with what a horse can do because obviously others have won, and that is the tradition, the schedule. So, ⁓ I mean, what's gonna happen with that? I don't know if they will change it, but I'm what I'm on the f I'm on the side of no, don't change tradition, and I because that's one thing about my racehorse, and I think the industry had a big misconception that we were gonna come in and take it over. I don't want to kill tradition, I want to follow. tradition. I want to be part of that history, part of that tradition, and I have no issue with what's there already. I just want to be part of it. Joe: Sure. Now, what do you hope that your book does for the sport and for the new owners that are coming in? ANNA: What I hope for the new owners, first of all, is Is that they understand that this story that I've written can be theirs. Now I can't guarantee anything in life, nobody can, but they have a chance to have a story just like this because my racehorse sets itself up where these opportunities are available to every single owner. Now, whether you take advantage of those opportunities or not, that's up to you. But it's there and you can attain it, you can have it, and you can do whatever you want in your life with it. I chose to write a book with it because I just felt that that. message needed to be out there, ⁓ especially for horse people. ⁓ and anybody really. I mean they don't even have to be horse people like you. I don't know if you are or not, but you were interested in it. So, you know, ⁓ just everyday people who just are interested in horse racing might enjoy it as well and have a great time. So ⁓ that's what my goal was to do with this particular book was to make sure everybody understood that the gate is open and they can walk on it. Where and maybe I'm sorry. And maybe end up feeling like they're home like I do. Joe: Sure. Yeah, I think it's gonna change the sport dramatically because I think that now everyone can feel that they can connect and become part of this community that you always thought that was only s reserved for the elites. And here you are that you can join and and and be part of it. And how cool is that that you can watch your own horse race. ⁓ it's not just putting a bet for that one time, but it's yours. ANNA: I do too. Correct. Right. I mean It's yours. I ⁓ and one thing I've learned don't ever bet on MRH horses because you'll never make any money there. Unless it's one of the real big ones, because a lot of people bet on them. And you know, hey, look, I made a lot of money, maybe not with CD Gray racing, for me, but because of his racing, I made a lot of money for that that ⁓ peak freakness win and the PA win. So ⁓ yeah, it was a pretty nice payday. Joe: Yeah. ANNA: Bought some more horses for me. Joe: That's great. ⁓ ANNA: He funded those. Mm-hmm. And and another thing ⁓ is that I may have missed out the opportunity on his racing, but I am in on his breeding through my racehorse and I have I'm part of two broodmare bands. ⁓ both who are hosting him as a sire along with Straight No Chaser. ⁓ so that's been an interesting ride and that's coming up in the new book because Now we're finally getting somewhere with it happening. Because this one is from falling on the ground, from pregnancy to falling on the ground. So it takes a little bit of time to write about, you know, because watching a pregnancy is watching a pregnancy. So Joe: Sure, sure. So so that's interesting. So we're already thinking about the next book. ANNA: ⁓ we're already writing the next book. They've already brought me amazing stories to put in there and it's just trying to get them all down. and I try to do it in chronological order for people so that I don't like throw people ahead of time because they're not telling me the story until they tell me the story. And so that's the way I wrote the first book, and that's the way I'm gonna write the second book, is as a story happens, they get written. Now where they get written is is up to the horse. You know, whether it's in my stable or if it's in a winner's circle. ⁓ and so far I have two winners already. year so the fact that picture behind me right here this is a winner that's my winner picker picture i'm sorry my winter picture from caldera's ⁓ race in april where i was at gulf stream and i'm in the picture in the winner circle picture but the only thing that actually made it is my book in that picture it's just standing right outside the end so i have another one ⁓ with me and nick warres who was his his jockey that day in the winner's circle with the book so that people see yellow Joe: Yes. Yeah. ANNA: Yes, that really is me. You just can't see me. Love it. The title of my book is ⁓ Share A Tracks, The Future of Thoroughbred Horse Ownership. Joe: Yeah. So Anna, what's the title of your book? Excellent. Where can people find the book and and where they c can they connect with you and continue this conversation? ANNA: ⁓ they can connect with me as far as buying the book on Amazon is is great a great place to go, which is also globally they can connect as well. ⁓ and I also am on Barnes and Noble. ⁓ I'm on Strands, ⁓ I'm on Powell. I'm on I'm on independent bookstores as well. I have a list on my Facebook, which is Anna my first name and then not Najam but N-A-J. ⁓ and they can connect with me on Facebook and talk to me that way if that's what they like to do. ⁓ I also have an author site. ⁓ and just if you Google it you'll see Anna Najam Google Anna Anna underscore Najam underscore author and that is what my author site is. And they can they can find links in there to Amazon and all the distribution sites that I have right now as far as international and stuff like that. Joe: Anna, thank you so much for joining us, for opening the door to a world that so many people have wondered about. Great having you on. ANNA: It was great being here. Thank you so much for the opportunity, Joe. Joe: You're welcome. Thanks everyone for listening. If this episode inspired you, share it with someone who needs it. And don't forget to follow the Glovisor Podcast for more conversations in leadership, communication, resilience, business growth, and personal development. Till the next time.