The Crazy Cost of Owning A Kentucky Derby-Worthy Thoroughbred

felicitation ! It ’s your 25th birthday and your trust store has finally kick in .

No ? You have n’t got one ? Well , no matter . I ’m certain you just sell your inauguration for a high eight figure halt .

Nope ? You ’re starting to make this a little hard . Maybe you just found a mint Honus Wagner T206 baseball card in your noggin ?

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Buying a thoroughbred

According to Forbes , the average initial investment funds for a pedigree racehorse is $ 30,000 . This might not seem so bad , but each buck is usually purchased between four mate . So , if you ’re bet to keep all the resplendency for yourself , it ’ll be you somewhere in the region of $ 120,000 .

Finding a place for it

While keeping a gymnastic horse at lea can be a relatively cheap proposition ( about $ 100 / month ) , a top - class stable like those where Derby horses live can be the same as a studio apartment in Louisville . And if your horse is living in $ 500 / month gibe , you ’d well negociate a deal where hay is admit .

Hiring a Derby-worthy trainer

The most of import part of incur your horse Derby - quick is getting a earthly concern - class flight simulator . For a few hours of physical exertion each day with your next friend , such a trainer might file $ 120 – but if you need to monopolize his fourth dimension lead up to the Derby , it ’ll cost exponentially more .

Paying your jockey

If and when your sawhorse in reality wins , do n’t forget about the gentleman or char who actually made that winner potential on the track – jockeys typically receive 10 % of an possessor ’s win .

Feeding and shoeing the horse

Usually included as part of the lump sum owners pay a stable by the year , keep on a Derby horse roof , shod , and well fed for the year will operate you upwards of $ 45,000 .

The vet

According to the Back in the Saddle Project , doubly - yearly visits from the horse doctor will run $ 200 each , plus the price of two $ 55 farm calls – even vet do n’t make gratuitous family outcry .

Grand total : Around $ 170,000 a year ! May the odds be ever in your favour .