Owners benefit from soaring prizemoney and declining foal crop
Exponential increases in prize money and steadily declining foal crops are creating major opportunities in racehorse ownership.
“There’s never been a better time to own a racehorse, with soaring prizemoney and reduced competition as a result of falling breeding rates.”
— Michael Ward, Founder & Director —In the past eight years returns to owners and participants in the NSW racing industry have increased by 107% to $407 million, while total prizemoney nationwide has jumped by around 45 percent in the past five years.
According to Aushorse, the marketing body of the Australian thoroughbred industry, there were 104 races in 2024 that were each worth $1 million or greater – the equivalent of one $1 million-plus race every 3.5 days.
At the same time, the number of horses being bred has continued to fall for the past 15 years. The decline in NSW over this period has been a significant 14% to 2022/23. The reduction in the foal rate and subsequent horse registrations has coincided with the ongoing sale and export of Australian horses, often ones of metropolitan potential, to Asia, which has further reduced the local pool of quality horses.
These changes in the industry dynamics have seen more horses from the declining pool enticed to race for larger purses. For example, in 2017/18 32.5% of starters within NSW raced for metropolitan and provincial prizemoney, whereas in 2023/24 this proportion increased to 36.1%. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
“All of this means that the current cohort of racehorse owners have much better odds of pocketing some of this record prizemoney,” says Michael. “Racehorse syndication is an affordable and accessible way for enthusiasts to secure a stake in a racehorse and experience the thrill of a lifetime. To do so in an age of increasing prizemoney just enhances the financial prospects for those eager to participate.”
