HOW MUCH AN OWNER MAKES

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.

On a typical racing program, between 80 and 100 horses will be entered, with 55 of them sharing purse money. Even without winning a race, it’s likely you will share in at least a portion of the evening’s purse money.



Also, while stakes payments and starting fees must be paid in advance by owners for some races, “overnight” races require no entrance fees. Don’t forget there are other revenue streams for your stable: If a horse you bought improves, he or she becomes more valuable—and that means the possibility of selling at a profit. Or, if you decide to invest in breeding stock and raise yearlings you might turn a profit when you sell your youngsters, either privately or at auction.