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Band of Brothers
How five Brown football players became horse racing king pins
It’s been quite a ride for Class of ’15 members Eric Armagost, Dan Giovacchini, Reiley Higgins, Patrick O’Neill, and Alex Quoyeser. As co-minority owners of horse-racing phenom Hot Rod Charlie, a friendship initially forged on the gridiron has turned these former teammates into the most talked-about business partnership of the season.
“We certainly have a different story than most owners,” says O’Neill. “But our hidden agenda is to show people you don’t have to be retired or a gazillionaire. You can be of our generation and be a part of this sport of kings and queens.”
The five came to Brown as football recruits, landing on campus just in time for the grueling pre-season “two-a-days.” They spent nearly every waking moment together: lifting weights at the OMAC, running drills, and studying film. At year’s end they set their sights on another goal, successfully pledging Theta Delta Chi.
In his free time, O’Neill was glued to his phone watching TVG, a popular horse racing app. Both his uncles were in the business; one trained two Kentucky Derby winners. But it wasn’t until after the group’s 2015 graduation that the idea of collectively owning a horse took on serious consideration. In 2018, Boat Racing LLC (named for a fraternity drinking game) was formed and each chipped in the…
