Periodical
JUNE
2025
Karen Reeves
The most exciting days of our lives
owner EXPERIENCE
My mother and I first became involved with Highclere Racing after attending a yearling parade. We were so impressed with the quality of the horses on show, the professionalism of the Highclere team, and the buzz from the owners that a syndicate was duly joined. I became my mother’s plus one, and our racing journey started. That was over ten years ago, and the experiences that have subsequently followed have been beyond our wildest dreams.
During this time, we have had the thrill of watching our Highclere horses be raced, placed, and win in some of the most prestigious races and glamorous racetracks across the UK, France, Ireland, Hong Kong and America.
2022 saw the unforgettable moment of cheering Cachet to victory in the 1000 Guineas. Cachet was a one-of-a-kind horse who further consolidated this victory by an impressive second in the French Guineas at Longchamp. We had achieved the pinnacle of the racing dream, a Classic winner! Yet we could not have predicted the continued success that we would have with our Highclere horses succeeding Cachet.
Cachet 1000 Guineas win 2022
Believing followed, an incredibly impressive filly who shared many of the qualities of Cachet but also displayed a unique zeal, which ultimately saw her winning a total of six races across her Highclere career, among them the Sapphire stakes in Curragh.
At the end of 2022, my mother fell in love with Soprano at the Yearling parade. Another George Boughey trained syndicate. After some racing successes, it was announced that Soprano would be running in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2024. The owners and Highclere team gathered on the day for the renowned Highclere champagne picnic, before heading off to the parade ring. What a privilege to be standing on that patch of grass in the middle, looking out at the parading horses and the vast crowd.
The race started, Soprano broke and eventually seemed to settle, we held our breath. She started to gain on the runners in front of her, and we were willing her on as she gradually reeled in the horses in front of her before securing the win. The Highclere contingent erupted and hats went flying as we leapt for joy in celebration. What a race, what a venue, nothing can compare to the electric atmosphere and beautiful surroundings of Royal Ascot. We now owned a share in a Royal Ascot winner. Another horse another dream fulfilled; we could scarcely believe it.
Soprano lands the Sandringham Stakes Royal Ascot 2024
Karen Reeve and her Mother Mary Saunders amongst the winning owners Merchant Royal Ascot 2025
Believing winning the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2) 2024
Merchant storms to victory in the King George V Royal Ascot 2025
Yet this year we were back at the Royal meeting, this time with entries for three of our Highclere syndicate horses. Three days, three horses, three outfits, three glorious Highclere picnics. Tensions mounted again in hope, but not in expectation. When our colt, Merchant, romped to victory in The King George V stakes, and our Syndicate filly, Awaken, came in second in the Albany, you could not have made it up. What a thrill, what luck!
Our Highclere horses have given us some of the most exciting days of our life, the racing victories made only sweeter by some of the inevitable lows. We have had the honour of sharing our experiences with the wonderful, eclectic mix of syndicate owners with whom great friendships have been cemented. My mother and myself have often been joined by my beautiful daughter Olivia, three generations celebrating and making memories together. What a privilege it has been, long may it continue. Our successes have been a bonus, but the real thrill has been the journey.
3rd generation Olivia (Karen’s daughter) enjoying the picnic this year
Karen Reeves