Horse Racing has been referred to as The Sport of Kings
since, practically, its inception. The common fan, largely, operates under the
assumption that it takes a king’s wealth to be involved with horse racing – at
least from the ownership side. But that
has become a misnomer. In the past few
years, thanks to the introduction of the large thoroughbred partnership groups,
the common man or woman has been afforded the chance to be a part owner of
these beautiful equine athletes.
There is a downside to this democratization of thoroughbred
ownership. With most large corporations or partnerships, it seems as if the
common share holder or partner just becomes another number. Drawing Away Stables, however, is showing that a successful consortium doesn’t have to be
run that way.
A New York based partnership group, Drawing Away Stables is
taking the NYRA circuit by storm.
Drawing Away was founded in March of 2008 by Edward Boden and Robert
Markus along with trainer David Jacobson. Drawing Away is a relatively new
partnership, but they’re quickly showing how smart people along with hard work,
integrity, and passion can succeed in this sport.
One word comes to mind when I think of Drawing Away
Stables - heart. Their collective heart
is simply overwhelming – and they do not hesitate to open it to others in the
racing community. I was first blessed with the pleasure of experiencing this
group through tragedy. On September 26th
of this past year I lost my best friend Tim “Tiznow” Reynolds – whom I’ve
written about several times in this space before - an incredible, passionate
horse racing fan. Drawing Away heard of
this tragedy and even though they didn’t personally know Tim, they were so
affected by his passing that they ran their beautiful grey gelding Ever A Friend in his honor at Belmont Park.
After this tragedy I
instantly befriended managing partner Robert Hachemeister Jr. (left) I was blown away by the type of person he is.
Having not known Tim or myself prior to this tragedy, he still found it in his
heart to donate funds from Ever a Friend’s subsequent races to Tim’s family - a
gesture that will never go forgotten.
Drawing Away Stables is filled with wonderful people, but
their story doesn’t stop at just goodness. They are an intelligent bunch of
passionate horse racing fans and, oh yes, they win! Since the founding of
Drawing Away, which was a little over 4 years ago, they have won well over a
100 races, just an incredible stat!
How do they do it? Drawing Away doesn’t mislead their
partners into thinking they’re going to get rich or win the Triple Crown. They
have obtainable goals. The care and safety of the horse come first along with
serving the partners. Mainly a claiming
group, their success is based off of smart claims along with giving top class
care for their racing stock.
This was most evident in their claim of Mabou - a jumper who
was one of just hand full of jumping horses that have been claimed in the past
ten years. David Jacobson saw something in this gelding and Drawing Away
claimed him for $30,000. Just one start later Mabou found himself running in
the prestigious grade I New York Turf Writers Cup at historic Saratoga race
track. Mabou struggled over the first jump, finding himself in last in the
beginning stages of the race. Mabou made a menacing move on the final turn and
showed a ferocious turn of foot after the last jump to, well, draw away (pardon
the pun) and win the New York Turf Writers Cup by nearly 6 lengths. From a
$30,000 claimer into a grade I winner. It was a claim even Al Swearengen would
be proud of.
You won’t find the stalls of Drawing Away Stables filled
with grade I winners like Mabou, but you will find them filled with hard
knocking claimers that give their owners everything they have. Horses like Show
Trial, Saginaw, Copy My Swagger, Tazered, and the aforementioned Ever A Friend.
These horses have all run under the stable’s beautiful blue and orange silks.
The main goal of this group is not to win those most grade
I’s in a year, (although I’m sure they wouldn’t object to it) but, rather, to
win the owners title at each track they race at. They came tantalizingly close
during the Inner Track meet at Aqueduct this year. Drawing Away led the owners’
race until the final day before losing by a single race. Drawing Away Stables trainer David Jacobson
is the reigning champion as top trainer at Aqueduct Race Track. Jacobson has an
incredible eye for spotting horses and is responsible for the success of claims
such as Mabou and Copy My Swagger.
Another word that resonates with Drawing Away is
family. They are a family in every
definition of the word. Sandy Levine (top), or as many denizens of Aqueduct know him,
“The Governor,” is a man that loves his family. He loves to educate fans on
every aspect of the sport. He’s been around horse racing all of his life. The
“Gov” can be seen trackside handicapping with his friends and family and is
known as one of the sharpest handicappers around. I can’t tell you how many
stories I’ve heard of the “Gov” picking winners for friends and new horse
players. Sandy is a managing partner of Drawing Away Stables and unlike some owners
he keeps everything in perspective.
Sandy’s favorite Drawing Away horse was a hard knocking claimer named
Show Trial - a throw-back to the glory days. That runner was durable and full
of heart.
The Drawing Away family is filled with purely good people.
Eddie Robins (below) runs the Drawing Away Facebook page and is the stable’s
photographer. He cares about the community. Every time a DAS horse is entered,
Eddie donates to a different charity.
With people like Eddie, Sandy, and Robert it’s easy to see why
so many people enjoy being a part of this stable. Not only does Eddie give back to the
community, the whole stable does. They’ve hosted kids from the Special Olympics
and have donated to several different charities. This is what this sport is
about and it’s wonderful to see great people, doing great things succeed in a
sport where you are not inherited success.
Jockey David Cohen (right) has become a huge part of this family,
riding most if not all horses entered by Drawing Away. Cohen has found a home
in New York and a home with Drawing Away Stables. Cohen has had a great deal of success he
currently has 57 wins in 2012 and is in the top 5 in the leading rider
standings at Aqueduct.
This Saturday Drawing Away Stables will be sending out Copy
My Swagger into the grade III Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. Copy My Swagger is
a horse that personifies the Drawing Away spirit. Swag doesn’t boast the regal
pedigree of a champion. He wasn’t paraded in the sales ring at Keeneland. He
was claimed by Drawing Away Stables for $25,000 in a race in which he would
break his maiden. Quickly Swag blossomed
under the care of David Jacobson. In his second race under the silks of Drawing
Away 
Swag crushed a Starter Allowance field. The chestnut gelding by Easing
Along is coming off an impressive 2nd place performance in the Broad Brush
stakes. “Swag” took it to the field from
the word go, setting all the fractions before getting run down late in the last
few dire strides.
If you’re interested in horse ownership, have realistic
goals, and want to be part of a great horse racing family. I highly suggest you
consider becoming a part of the Drawing Away family. I’ve seen what this family
can do when they put their mind to something, the sky is the limit. In the end,
you’ll find yourself in the winner’s circle and these people and these horses
will “Draw Away” with your heart.
In
Honor of Tim (Tiznow) Reynolds, you changed all of are lives for the
better and you'll be with us always. Donations can be made to the Timothy (Tiznow) Reynolds Memorial Fund. A memorial fund for his daughter, Lauren Reynolds.