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Upperville Racing, the Craigslist-Built Horse-Racing Group

by Terrence O'Brien on September 15, 2010 at 08:40 AM

Craigslist Horse Racing Conglomerate
We're pretty confident in assuming that most of you, our dear readers, do not own racehorses. It's a tough and high-stakes industry that requires a significant investment of both time and money. Usually horses are owned by small groups of friends and colleagues who pool their funds to spread out the risk. Karl Nobert already had one partner, but was looking for others to help purchase a pair of two-year-old thoroughbreds, and form a small racing conglomerate. Without any acquaintances interested in the endeavor, Nobert turned to the place others usually go for "casual encounters" and used electronics -- Craigslist. The 35-year-old Virginian placed an ad on the free classified service looking for strangers to join him and his partner in the venture. Fifty responses and a few months of vigorous screening later, former Pentagon employee James Ortiz and retired Coast Guard officer Howard Shaw had joined Upperville Racing.

Nobert already owned two horses, but, without the aid eventually supplied by Ortiz and Shaw, he'd never been able to expand his operation. And without Nobert's know-how and established connections, the two Craigslist investors would never have been able to break into the business that has fascinated and enthralled them since they were children. And here you thought Craigslist was only useful for finding "adult" services and ditching your unwanted crap.

Tags: business, craigslist, HorseRacing, horses, sports, top

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