Racing Is No Longer Just for Men
January 3rd, 2005by Chad Summers
The First Wives Club Inspires a New Genre of Owners
Paramount Studios Photo
The First Wives Club says, “No boys allowed.”
The Meriam-Webster dictionary defines a syndicate as: “An association of persons officially authorized to undertake a duty or negotiate business.” That technical definition aside, Carol Lingenfelter, racing manager of Thoroughbred racing’s newest syndicate, The First Wives Club, thinks there may be a better way to describe it.
“Syndicates are just fun,” Lingenfelter said. “I’d rather have a good time with multiple partners sharing in the excitement and thrills of racing, instead of owning a horse by myself, and being in the winners’ circle alone.”
The First Wives Club syndicate currently owns just one horse, but that one became a winner in her first try and their story is no wives tale.
Lingenfelter, and her two friends of more than 15 years, Kathi Cordoza and Sandy Tavares watched the movie titled The First Wives Club starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler. All three of the gals saw a little of each other portrayed by the characters in the movie and decided to start a racing syndicate with that same name and just two rules. First, no men allowed, and second, each member must be divorced at least one time. (Multiple divorces, current boyfriends or new husbands are fine so long as that first divorce is under the belt.)
These discussions and plans lingered for three years before Lingenfelter co-bred a filly by Mr. Procrastinator who later would be aptly named, A Lil’ Alimony. She sold a percentage of the filly to Cordoza and Tavares and when word of the new syndicate got out, friends Rhonda Simpson and Kathy Packett quickly bought in as well. The First Wives Club became a reality.
“I’m a straight-shooter,” Lingenfelter told them. “If you have some money and want to have a great time, then go for it and join in. But there is no guarantee we will make money on this.”
The filly was sent to trainer Greg Gilchrist and after training well at his home base of Golden Gate Fields, the syndicate and Gilchrist decided that opening day of the Golden Gate fall meeting would be the perfect place for not one but two debuts. A Lil’ Alimony’s first career start and the first, but certainly not the last time people would see fives witches with their brooms on the back of a jockey’s silks. Both began with a bang, as the two-year-old filly found the winners’ circle in a very professional debut.
“I have known Carol for some time now,” Gilchrist said. “I love training for them and couldn’t have been happier for them. I’m just waiting for the Ex-husband racing syndicate to form and the two syndicates to compete in a race against another.”
Lingenfelter first got involved with Thoroughbreds when she was a young girl. Her stepfather owned some claiming horses with the late trainer Malcolm Anderson. Even to this day she recalls walking down the shed rows of Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields.
“I loved it. I knew right there that was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Lingenfelter remembers. “Now in syndicates, I see how great these can be. You don’t need a large sum of money to get started in one. It is a great chance to learn the business, and let’s be honest, many people have always dreamed of owning any percentage of a horse. I think syndicates will be helpful for the sport as well. With just our partners, they are telling their friends, who are then sharing it with their families, and now all these people who normally don’t watch racing are hooked to the satellite to see our silks and root for our horse.”
In addition to running the syndicate, Lingenfelter operates Poplar Meadows Farm in Sanger, California. There are over 40 horses there, ranging from broodmares, weanlings, horses in training, and those recovering from injuries.
Lingenfelter does not own many of the horses, but makes certain to always have a few broodmares and race horses of her own there. One of those horses currently on the farm is A Lil’ Alimony, who is getting a well deserved rest after her maiden score at Golden Gate. In 60 days she will return to training and from there the adventures of The First Wives Club will continue.
“We have received some calls from new prospective clients, but we told them they have to wait until the next horse we have,” Lingenfelter said. “One thing we know for sure is we always want to have something going. Either racing or in the wings, getting ready to run. We speak to Greg about once a week, and look forward to A Lil’ Alimony’s return to the races.”
Keep an eye on The First Wives Club; they’ll be brewing up a lot of winners in the near future.
