Videos | Partners In Thoroughbreds

Brand New Partnership – Upperville Racing

Upperville Racing was created in December 2009. They are a locally based and managed thoroughbred racing partnership. What started out with a great little filly in September with a friend from work has grown into a partnership of 3 horses and multiple participants. Their objective is to continue growing with more horses and partners and over time, to create a locally (and hopefully nationally) recognized racing syndicate. With that goal in mind, they set out with the mission to create a reasonably priced ownership opportunity for new and experienced owners, and to energize the sport while ensuring the health and dignity of their athletes.

The horses will be boarded and trained by Donald Yovanovich (“Donnie”) of Initiator Stables in Middleburg, Virginia. Donnie has a racing / steeplechase barn adjacent to the Middleburg Training Track. They picked Donnie based on his non-conventional approach to training — he is an old school horseman, in addition to simply keeping the horses in their stalls and breezing them at the track, he turns them out daily even while in training so they can be “horses”. He swims them at the Middleburg Swim Center, and hunts and exercises them cross country. They really believe that the more horses can be horses, the healthier and stronger they will be for racing.

One of the things they say they like about Donnie is that he has a pretty extensive riding past. He started out doing hunters in PA, was friends and rode with George Morris and Michael Matz, and qualified for the MacClays multiple times. During grad school, he worked as an exercise rider and got to work with some pretty prominent racehorse trainers. He worked as a jockey (also won Gold Cup) and apprenticed with a number of trainers. From there, he went out on his own and started training both flat and steeplechase horses. He still trains both (one of his horses won the first race at Gold Cup this year). Another great potential future resource for them is Donie’s wife Robin — in the early ’80′s, she was the Partner Coordinator for Catoctin I and II; the Firestone family’s two racing syndicates that gave us Genuine Risk in 1980.

Their plan is to run the horses locally for now and to focus on the following race tracks: Charles Town, Laurel, Pimlico, Colonial Downs and Delaware, with an occasional trips to Philly, Penn National or Monmouth depending on the horse.

The partnership’s # 1 Priority is the health and safety of their athletes. For that reason, they selected Donnie and his 100+ acre facility in Middleburg, VA to be their trainer. Additionally, the Partnership has implemented what they refer to as the “College Savings” Program for their horses. Under the program, 10% of all earnings go into a specially designated savings account intended for the retraining and eventual placement of their runners once they are retired from racing. Possible “second career” options for their horses include becoming steeplechase horses, hunter / jumpers in the show ring, or fox hunters.

The partnership’s stables currently includes 3 horses — one 4-year old Virginia bred filly and two 3-year old California breds. Their tentative plan is to double the number of horses and they are actively seeking new partners to help them achieve that goal. Ideas for their next group of horses include going with older known quantities such as allowance horses or prospecting for 2 year olds. Partners will have a say and the ultimate decision on the pathway they pursue.

In addition to just racing, the tentative plan is to also offer social events for the partners at various times throughout the year. For example, this past weekend, they held an “official workout” and lunch for current partners. Also, they are planning to reserve space at the Virginia Gold Cup Spring Races for the partnership.

For more information contact Karl Nobert of Upperville Racing for full details or with any questions. He can be reached at 215.582.1755 or By Email.