Pandemic restrictions inspire group of racing lovers to co-own horse

When a local group of horse and racing lovers found themselves shut out of the races due to the pandemic, they came up with a plan to get back inside and be able to stay there. They simply bought their own horse.

Two-year-old Vallelujah is New York-bred and New York-born. She’s owned by a group of 18 people.

Vallelujah’s original owner and breeder helped make it happen.

"When I was last year visiting one of my Phillies, I was walking by the East Avenue photographers every day outside the fence, and they always wanted to get inside the fence," said Vallelujah’s original owner and breeder Carolyn Karlson. "They decided well if we had a horse we could go inside the fence. So I said well I may be interested in selling half of mine."

Now, a group of mostly strangers formed a bond and fulfilled their dream of sitting track side.