THE FUN OF OWNERSHIP
At the heart of it all is winning. Whether it’s collecting the winner’s share of a $1 million race or winning a county fair stakes, there are few things to match the thrill of standing in the winner’s circle with family and friends to have your picture taken alongside the horse you purchased and helped develop.
There’s an old adage that says, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” Perhaps that sums up why owning a harness horse is such a rewarding experience.
HOW MUCH AN OWNER EARNS
The purse is the prize money for each race that the horses and their owners compete for. Typically, the top five horses in a race earn the following percent of the purse:
50 percent to the winner
25 percent to second place
12 percent to third place
8 percent to fourth place
5 percent to fifth place
From the amount won by his or her horse, the owner also pays 5 percent to the trainer and 5 percent to the driver. For example, if your horse wins a $10,000 race the winning share of the earnings are $5,000, and 5 percent for the trainer and driver ($250) each will be deducted. The owner will be sent a check for $4,500.
