LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Authentic won the Kentucky Derby this year, it wasn't just a victory for Bob Baffert and John Valazquez. It was also a victory for 5,314 others across the country who are partial owners of the Derby champion. Nina Ledkovsky is one of them.

"I mean, you should have seen the scene. I was over at my mom's house and we watched and dressed up and everything," Ledkovsky said. "We cried like we own him outright." 

So, how could so many people have a stake in this thoroughbred? They all bought micro shares of the horse through MyRaceHorse.com. The company's founder and CEO Michael Behrens said it was the first-of-its-kind when it launched in June 2019.

"We developed a website called MyRaceHorse.com. We buy really high quality, well-bred horses and we allow them to be invested in by the public for as little as $60," Behrens said.

Horse ownership is an expensive business, but Behrens said his goal is to make it affordable for all. Since there are so many owners, if you only have one share, you probably won't make much off this Kentucky Derby win. For Dawn Smith, however, it's not about the money.

“I may only own a couple hairs on his rump, but it is official. I am a Kentucky Derby-winning horse owner,” Smith said.

Behrens said owners do get some inside access like video calls with the trainers and updates on how practices have been going. 

"It's a fun thing. You feel like you are part of it," Ledkovsky said.

This is a new concept, so this was the first time the company was able to have a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Authentic was the only one but came out with the win. Behrens called it a storybook ending.

Now, the owners are turning attention to the Breeders' Cup. Many were planning to come to Lexington to watch Authentic race in person at Keeneland later this year, but that will now run without spectators. Some of the owners still plan to make the trip to watch their horse together.