Checking in with Share The Delight

Share the Delight at Tioga Downs

Recently, I was wondering what happened to one of my favorite horses, Share The Delight.  Share The Delight (STD) a foal of 2005 by Bettors Delight and Angel's Share had a lifetime mark of 1:48.4 over the mile track at the age of four, with lifetime earnings of a what now would be considered a modest $540,952.  His most notable race was a third place finish to Art Official, who defeated Somebeachsomewhere in the Meadowlands Pace back in 2008.  

After his three year old season, he admittedly didn't transition into a top free for aller and after a very brief five year old campaign, he went to a mixed sale.  He was purchased late in 2010 by Brian Davies who exported him to Brywins Stud in Brecon, County of Powys, in Wales; his racing career was over.

Being curious to how well he has been received as a stallion overseas, I managed to track him down being advertised on the website of the Wales and Border Counties Racing Association (WBCRA).  You may wish to check out the site for curiosity sake.

Anyway, as a result of an inquiry as to STD's popularity, I received the following response from a Ms. Thomas:  

Share The Delight has come to the end of his third year standing at stud in Wales, and has seen a respectable number of mares taken to him. Brian Davies has 12/13 mares of his own and there has been much interest from mare owners in the immediate vicinity of the Brywins stud, plus he is available for stud by A.I. [Note: listed for shipment to 'UK @ Scotland']

His oldest progeny will be entering their second year in the new year, which will hopefully see some of them on the racetrack. Brian Davies hasn't staked the stallion, so the progeny are not entitled to run in some of the 2YO races next year (Little Welsh Dragon, Sire Stakes, Breeders Crown) however some owners may still supplement their horses prior to the races (an option for all bar the Sire Stakes). There are a number of other 2YO races held all over the UK and Ireland though, as well as normal handicap races.

On a final note, I took part in a tipster competition during the most recent racing season and somehow managed to win, and the prize is an A.I. service for Share The Delight. I have the perfect mare for him, as he is throwing stocky, powerful horses without much height but plenty of strength, and the mare I have lined up is tall, athletic and very fine boned. I'm very much looking forward to 2014 to put her in foal to him!

Ms. Thomas was kind enough to send some photos of STD's yearlings so here they are:

Lot 7 -  Grade A 1 with colt foal on right.

Lot 16 - Yearling colt out of a MASTER SCOOT mare, bred by BRYWINS STUD

Lot 17 - Yearling filly out of a LAAG mare, bred by BRYWINS STUD

Lot 33 - Yearling colt out of a DRAGON AGAIN mare, bred by BRYWINS STUD

Lot 34 - Yearling filly out of a WHITE HEAT mare, bred by BRYWINS STUD

Yearling colt out of a British bred mare, bred by L PRICE (Mid Wales)

Yearling colt out of a British bred mare, jogging at the hard track at Amman Valley (September 2013)

The debut of the first crop of yearlings by Share The Delight appears to be a mixed bag with the colts selling well and the fillies being somewhat discounted (remember, he was exported before standing stud in the States).  To get an idea as to what prices are typical at this sale, you may check this link.

 Anyway, here are the sale results for the Share The Delights from the Brywins Stud consignment this year.  As for the price he fetched, Ms. Thomas noted "... I can tell you that Brian [Davies]  had a much more successful year at the sales this year than he has in the past (with Gothic Dream yearlings)".  


Lot 7 - GRADE A 1 (Laag x Fancy Nancy x Nihilator) sold with colt foal by SHARE THE DELIGHT - £1100
Lot 8 - BRYWINS LUCKY SIX (White Heat x Jomocha Six x Colt FortySix) sold with filly foal by SHARE THE DELIGHT - £650
Lot 16 - BRYWINS STARSHIP (S-T-D x Brywins Starlight x Master Scoot) - £1600
Lot 17 - BRYWINS LINDY (S-T-D x Brywins Laagesse x Laag) - £900
Lot 33 - BRYWINS MAYHEM  (S-T-D x Maple Hanover x Dragon Again) - £3200
Lot 34 - BRYWINS LWCUS ETO (S-T-D x Brywins Lucky x White Heat) - £700
Lot 35 - BRYWINS JEZABEL (S-T-D x Brywins Jamocha x Master Scoot) - £1100 Not Sold
Lot 51 - BRYWINS GOSSIP (S-T-D x Grade A 1 x Laag) - £750
Lot 52 - BRYWINS MONET (S-T-D x Art Connection x Artsplace) - £1350

As for me, I will be interested in seeing how the Share The Delights do in Wales, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as they begin their freshmen year of racing.  We will check back during the summer of 2014 to see how they are doing on the track as two year olds.