Our History
The History of Thoroughbred Investment Group.
The Thoroughbred Investment Group was started in December 1987 by Steve McPherson. McPherson was living in Portland, Oregon, where he grew up, when the stock market had crashed on the infamous “Black Monday”. After the dust had settled, McPherson decided there had to be a better way to invest than to have the stock market “Fat Cats” handle his money. So, along with Vic Carlson, a high school athletic director in Portland, McPherson bought his first horse.
The first top-caliber horse TIG ever recommended was Star Recruit in 1989. Star Recruit, owned by Dan Agnew, was purchased at the Barrett’s Two Year Old in Training Sale for $52,000, then went on to win $807,000 at the races. Throughout the early part of the 1990’s TIG won some and lost some, then in 1993 McPherson decided that the “real money” was in investing in the commercial end of thoroughbred racing instead of taking all the risk racing. Essentially, he believed there was a lot more money to be made in selling horses to people who race instead of racing the horses himself. So, he started flipping horses similar to how real estate people flip houses.
The rest is history.
Since 1995, TIG has averaged more than 30% Rate of Return on Investment and has had several top racehorses that have won at the highest level of the game.
In the last five years alone, McPherson purchased Lazy Daisy for $40,000, then sold her on an evaluation of $900,000. He bought the mare Expo Gold in foal to Danzing Candy for $15,000 at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Sale. Expo Gold turned out to be the Dam of Swiss Skydiver, the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes in 108 years.The end result is Expo Gold sold a year later, in 2020, for $950,000. TIG purchased Liam’s Pride for $300,000, then watched as the stunning colt won the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park. The colt was sold for $600,000 shortly after. TIG found Phast Pharoah, a son of American Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah, in Florida for $125,000. In his second start, Phast Pharoah ran one-tenth of a second off the track record at Santa Anita going 5 1⁄2 furlongs on the grass. A week later the horse was partnered out on an evaluation of $1,000,000.
Other greats that TIG has had a hand in purchasing include Big Macher, who was claimed for $20,000 for Tom Mansor of Cabo Tom Racing. Big Macher ended up winning $700,000 while running in the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders Cup. Additionally, TIG recommended that Mansor purchase Uncle Lino at public auction for $50,000 in 2014. Trainer Gary Sherlock pulled the trigger on behalf of Mansor. Uncle Lino went on the run in the Breeders Cup and is currently a top sire in Maryland.
Now, 30 years later McPherson and TIG do business with the Who’s Who of thoroughbred racing. Partners have included famous basketball coach Rick Pitino, the current coach at St. Johns; country music star Toby Keith; hockey star Erik Johnson who won the 2023 Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche; actress Bo Derek, and many, many more.
Most recently, TIG sold investment horses with Frank Taylor and Taylor Made Farm, one of the top consignors in the world. Additionally we sold Two Year Old in Training horses with Fast Horses, a consignment owned and operated by Larry Mejias in Ocala, Florida.
Currently, TIG has 49 horses owned by 27 different investors. The investment capital people invest in range from $25,000 to $800,000 and the portfolio is sitting right at about $8,000,000. Typically, each investment runs from 7-9 months, but there are times when horses sell faster. At the end of the day, TIG uses their expertise and experience to make people money, and in doing so our clients have a lot of fun.
info@tbredgroup.com