Venturing into racehorse ownership can be a daunting process, so we have some useful tips below to help demystify our exciting industry. If you've ever been interested in buying and racing a horse, but haven't known where to start, then the information here should help.
Where to start?
1. Find an Expert
Our advice is to identify an expert - usually an agent, trainer or syndicator - who you would like to help you find what you're looking for. It might be someone you have heard of, or known to you through friends, either way, we can assure you they will love to hear from you. Some useful places to start are:
- Choosing a Trainer - New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing discusses factors which you may like to consider when making your choice of trainer.
2. Consider Your Budget
Then you should give consideration to your budget. There is a full spectrum of horses for every budget, big or small, so start with an idea of how much you can afford, taking into consideration the purchase price, insurance, training fees, vet bills, etc. Your expert will give you an idea of what you can expect to pay in costs for a year, or you can have a look at this guide.
3. What Type of Ownership?
Give some thought to the kind of ownership you would prefer:
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Outright Ownership: Buying 100% of a horse to own on your own means the riches and trophies don't need to be shared with anyone! But it also means footing 100% of the bills.
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Shared Ownership: Sharing the ownership in a horse can mean sharing the fun as much as sharing the expenses. You might already have some friends or family that would be keen to jump in with you, but even if you don't, you can let your expert know that your preference is to just take a share in a horse and they will happily try to put a small group together for you. Partnerships can be from one to 10 people, but the Rules of Racing require that any ownership groups of more than four people require a 'Racing Manager'.
- Syndication: A great way to share the risk and reward is by getting involved in a syndicate of owners. You might get a chance to race a horse that you couldn't afford to own outright, plus it's a great way to meet people who share a common passion. The minimum number of people for a syndicta eis five, but there is no maximum. One of the benefits is having a Syndicate Manager who has a reponsibility to keep everyone informed.
4. Get Armed with Information!
The more information you have the sooner you'll be ready for action. There are lots of handy guides to buying and racing horses - we have a couple here:
- An Investment That Really Gallops - An introduction written by journalist and Trackside presenter Aidan Rodley on buying your first horse.
- How to Buy a Horse from Karaka - Your guide to purchasing a horse from New Zealand Bloodstock and what you need to know.
- Decoding The Jargon - The thoroughbred industry has its own jargon that can prove daunting to even the most experienced industry person. Get a handle on the most commonly used words.
- New Zealand Racing FAQs - Got a few simple racing questions that you need answered?
5. Pick up the Phone
Start the ball rolling by getting in touch with your chosen expert or coming out to Karaka to soak it all in. If you want to go it alone, call in to our saleday office and they will take you through the buying process step-by-step. If in doubt, give any of our bloodstock agents a call and they will answer all your questions.
6. Have Fun!
These results come from a range of budgets and eras and are possible when you race a horse so good luck and have fun!
|
NAME |
YEAR OF SALE |
PRICE |
PRIZEMONEY |
ACHIEVEMENTS |
|---|
|
PHAR LAP |
1928 |
160 Guineas |
£66,738 |
Won 37 of 51 race, greatest NZ horse of all time |
|
TULLOCH |
1953 |
750 Guineas |
£100,000 |
Won 36 of 53 races, & a stake earning record of its time |
|
KIWI |
1979 |
$1,000 |
$549,839 |
13-time winner, the only horse to win G1 Wellington Cup & Melbourne Cup double |
|
BONECRUSHER |
1984 |
$3,250 |
$2.6m+ |
9 Group 1 wins, 1st horse to win over $1m in prizemoney |
|
DARCI BRAHMA |
2004 |
$1,100,000 |
$1.2m+ |
5 Group 1 wins, NZ Champion 2Y) & 3YO, now a stallion |
|
MUFHASA |
2006 |
$50,000 |
$2.7m+ |
8 Group 1 wins, former NZ Horse of the Year |
|
SO YOU THINK |
2008 |
$110,000 |
$8.4 m+ |
8 Group 1 wins, World Champion Middle Distance Horse in 2010, 50% share acquired for $30m+ |
