Quick Guide to ownership:
Many of us have dreamt of owning a racehorse, yet we don’t realise just how achievable that dream can be! Use this guide to help you uncover the exciting world of racehorse ownership and start living your dream.
Where do I start? There are several forms of ownership, to suit your budget and involvement in the game of thoroughbred racing:
There are many benefits of owning your own racehorse, from naming your horse, to choosing jockey silks, not to mention the thrill and prospect of winning.
Prizemoney
Jockeys Silks
Naming rights
Behind the Scenes Access
When you become a racehorse owner, you are opening the doors to racing’s elite. Imagine rubbing shoulders in the mounting enclosure with Gai Waterhouse, or walking alongside champion jockeys like Hugh Bowman. Having your horse race, gives you that backstage access to racing royalty, and hopefully may propel you into the spotlight if your horse wins!
Ticketing & Race Day Privileges
After all the careful work in choosing the horse, and the patient time and preparation it takes to train the horse, you will no doubt want to be trackside to watch your investment launch around the track.
As an owner you are privileged with tickets to the racecourse when your horse is running, including tickets to the Member’s Enclosure and Winning Enclosure. This access will ensure you are standing with your trainer as the last words of advice are given to the jockey, moments before he or she is whisked up on your horse. You can then watch the race in the members stand for a great view, or stand by the rails in the enclosure, as close to the action as you can get.
If you are lucky enough to win the race, you will get your picture taken with the horse, receive the trophy in a presentation (if applicable for bigger races) and then you and the horse’s connections are invited to the Winning Owners room to celebrate in style.
Becoming a racehorse owner requires a sound judgement of investment. Your level of investment will affect what percentage share you can afford to purchase, and the location of where your horse will be trained.
How much do you want to spend on monthly outgoings?
The table below is based on expenses per month averaged over 12 months, including all the typical costs, excluding major nominations and any surgery:
Registration refers to the official naming of a horse for racing or breeding purposes and is carried out by the Registrar of Racehorses. Horses that are unnamed must be registered with the Registrar of Racehorses before they can be entered into official trials or races. Application to Register a Racehorse
If you have chosen to form a syndicate with your family and friends, you will need to register this first with Racing NSW before you can lodge a registration or transfer of ownership form. A manager will need to be chosen to represent the syndicate, and all members must be over the age of 18. The Application to Register a Syndicate
is completed and returned to Racing NSW.
If your horse is already tried and named, or if you are looking to lease a racehorse, you can find relevant Transfer of Ownership and Lease of a Racehorse forms here. If you need a hand looking for a horse available for lease, try our Racing NSW Racehorses Lease Forum
New South Wales is the birthplace of thoroughbred racing in Australia. Since the first race in Hyde Park over 200 years ago, the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry has continued to thrive. NSW is the home of the world’s richest race for 2YOs – the Golden Slipper, the largest breeding ground in the Southern Hemisphere in the Hunter Valley, and employs more than 50,000 people. Why would you race anywhere else!
NSW Incentive scheme - BOBS
The Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme (BOBS) is a NSW incentive scheme designed to reward owners for racing horses in NSW by providing ADDITIONAL prize money to owners. In the 2014/15 season, over $12 million of BOBS bonuses were awarded.
Progeny of BOBS stallions standing in NSW are eligible for the scheme, and are paid up by their owner. BOBS horses are then able to win BOBS bonuses in all races in NSW with the exception of Group and Listed races.
BOBS Extra is an initiative started in 2010 which supports owners who have greater expenses when they race older staying types of four years and over.
The aim of BOBS Extra is to improve the quality of middle distance and staying races in NSW, to preserve the racing careers of thoroughbreds and to reward the patience of owners and breeders with slower maturing horses.
BOBS Double-Up is an innovative incentive to reward owners and encourage participants to reinvest BOBS earnings back into the racing industry. With BOBS Double-Up, owners can elect to take DOUBLE their earnings in the form of a voucher which can be used towards the purchase of an unraced BOBS eligible yearling.
NSW Publications
Racing NSW publishes a monthly magazine which is a hub of information for industry participants as well as enthusiasts. Each edition is full of stories from the tracks around NSW, as well as listing practical information such as every licensed trainer and jockey in NSW with their contact details.
If you are serious about becoming a racehorse owner, then you should think about what your horse will do after its career on the racetrack comes to an end.
Team Thoroughbred NSW
Team Thoroughbred NSW is the heart of Racing NSW’s commitment to the Thoroughbred horse in every stage of its life, especially retirement.
It was launched as the NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust in 2011 before being rebranded as Team Thoroughbred NSW in 2019 with the aim of creating a single brand for all Racing NSW’s equine welfare programs and services.
Team Thoroughbred NSW's focus is providing care and retraining for ex-racehorses and Thoroughbreds which didn’t make the track, so they can be suitably rehomed. We celebrate the successes of these horses in their new careers and shine a light on the benefits of choosing a Thoroughbred for your next equestrian, polo, companion or pleasure horse.
TTNSW is a not-for-profit one-stop-shop for information, resources and support.
For further information visit www.teamthoroughbred.com.au
If you think racehorse ownership is right for you or maybe you want to know a bit more before you make a decision, refer to 'The Next Steps'. This guide will give you some important steps before purchasing you racehorse, such as including a sound investment plan, picking the right team, and selecting the right type of horse for you.