Owning a Thoroughbred or two seemed like a good idea to Shawn Farmer.

 The idea didn't fly with his wife, Tiffany.
Farmer quipped, "When I suggested buying a racehorse, I thought she might kill me."

Farmer's third full year of successful horse ownership softened his wife's response.

Farmer reported, "Tiffany's happy with owning horses. She likes having her picture taken in the winner's circle."

A plumber during the day, Farmer and his wife live in Bowie near the Oklahoma border. Before that notion struck to buy a horse, Farmer thought plumbing would be his only line of work. Teaming with trainer J.R. Caldwell has changed that outlook.
 
In his first full year of ownership, 2021, Farmer's horses earned nearly $500,000. In 2022, earnings jumped to more than $600,000.

The camera click of winner's circle photos are heard more often.

"J.R. makes the decisions about which horses to enter in which races,"
said Farmer. "I keep my mouth shut."

Farmer, who calls his outfit Farmers Fillies Racing, has a handful of nominees prepping for Sam Houston Race Park's Texas Champions Day. The March 25 program features seven $100,000 races.

Farmer's nominees include Algebra, who could go in either the Star of Texas or the Spirit of Texas. Algebra is slowly gaining strength while recovering from colic.
 
Another Farmer runner, QB Dak, could enter the Spirit of Texas. Like his namesake, Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott, QB Dak has been a disappointment.
 
"As a Cowboys’ fan," Farmer said, "I agree with that."

Farmer's seasoned warrior Lethal Move is nominated for the Star of Texas.

Despite being an 8-year-old, the Seattle Slew grandson earned about
$7,400 per start in 2022.

Like that of many racing newcomers, Farmer's focus has been on claiming the right horses. Caldwell tries to pinpoint horses of promise, then improve them.

"We're in the claiming game right now," Farmer said. "We don't know where we'll wind up."

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