How Do I Purchase A Texas-Bred Thoroughbred And How Much Do They Cost?
The first step in owning and racing a Texas-bred Thoroughbred is the actual purchase of your horse. There are several ways in which you can purchase a Texas-bred Thoroughbred racehorse:
#1
At Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) auctions. TTA holds two auctions annually at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie; the Two-Year-Old in Training Sale in the spring and the Yearling Sale held in late summer. At the 2021 TTA Two-Year-Old in Training Sale, the auction purchase price for a Thoroughbred ranged from $2,700 to $240,000.
#2
Private purchase through an agent, trainer or breeder.
#3
Claiming a horse during a live race meet is another way to become a racehorse owner. The typical price to claim and own a Texas Thoroughbred ranges from $5,000 to $50,000. To claim a horse, first you must be licensed as an owner with the Texas Racing Commission. Next, select and hire a licensed trainer to represent you. The trainer will see the track’s stewards and gain their approval. Once this is in place, you will deposit money into the horsemen’s bookkeeper account, then you are set to claim a horse.
What are the Monthly Expenses of Owning
a Racehorse?
After you have purchased your horse, here are the typical primary expenses for the training and care of a racehorse:
Training
$65/85
per day
(Trainer fee includes feed, bedding, grooming, conditioning/training with exercise riders and on-track stabling during live racing)
Veterinarian
$200-$500
per month
Horse Shoeing
$150
per month
Vanning &
Transportation
$200
per month
Total estimated monthly expenses: $2,500 to $3,000
Note: When your horse is ready to race in Texas, it will be transported to Sam Houston Race Park or Lone Star Park where there is no cost for stabling and no cost to enter your horse into a race, other than a stakes race.