Lambeth-born owner and racing enthusiast Waud, 59, first discovered horse racing as a child when his parents took him to the races. His interest deepened at Harrow, where friends such as Adam Sangster, son of Derby-winning owner Robert Sangster, were more involved in the sport and enjoyed betting regularly.
Waud later moved to the United States to pursue a career in the Hollywood film industry, but his connection to racing continued. There, he bought into Society’s Chairman, a horse trained by Roger Attfield in Canada. The horse did not race until he was five but went on to achieve Group One placings and notably ran in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile at Churchill Downs against Goldikova. Waud remembers that race with frustration because the horse was trapped on the rail and unable to run freely.
After returning to Britain 14 years ago, Waud resumed attending races and reconnected with old friend Ed Seyfried, who was developing a multi-ownership syndicate business that later became Old Gold Racing. Waud became one of the company’s first investors and now serves as its chairman. Old Gold Racing has grown into a large ownership community, with around 30,000 owners involved in 40 jumpers-in-training.
Waud says the syndicate model has brought more people into racing by giving them a chance to own a share of a horse. He describes it as a rewarding experience that has given him great pleasure. He points to Apple Away’s victory in the Sefton Novice Hurdle at Aintree as a memorable example, saying the success delighted hundreds of owners at the track and made thousands of people happy overall.
