How to Become a Racehorse Owner

Horse racing is a popular sport and can be very lucrative for horse owners. Although the process of becoming a racehorse owner is not difficult, it is expensive and requires a large investment of time as well. Following the proper licensing procedures and hiring the necessary personnel to assist in training your horse are the main tasks involved in purchasing a racehorse. Once you have completed these steps, you can sit back and enjoy watching your horse at the track and hopefully win a few races.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse
  • Stable
  • Trainer
  • Jockey
  • License
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide what type of horse you want to buy. If you are buying a horse as a hobby and want to enter local races only, you can purchase a good-quality horse by looking in your local classified ads or by going to stables and posting a notice that you want to purchase a horse. If, however, you have dreams of winning the Triple Crown, you need to purchase a thoroughbred horse, with the cost usually starting at around $25,000.

    • 2

      Find a horse to purchase. Thoroughbreds are most easily purchased at "purchasing races." Every horse at these races is for sale. You can also find a thoroughbred through online ads or by visiting stables and notifying them that you are in the market for a horse. If you have no previous experience with horses, it is advisable to hire a horse broker who can find you a good-quality horse. If you don't want a thoroughbred, check local classified ads.

    • 3

      Prior to purchasing a horse, have it examined by a veterinarian who works with horses.

    • 4

      Find a stable for your horse. Unless you have a stable on your property, you need to find somewhere to house your horse. Find out how much of the daily grooming, if any, is included in the cost. You may be required to do the grooming and mucking of stalls yourself.

    • 5

      Purchase the necessary equipment. In addition to saddles, reins, food, hay and other basic horse supplies, you will need to purchase a trailer to transport your horse.

    • 6

      Find a trainer for your horse. A horse trainer is as important as the horse itself. Make sure you check qualifications and references and ensure that the individual has a training license. To find a horse trainer, post an ad in magazines, newspapers or horse websites. You can also post the position at stables, racetracks and horse training facilities.

    • 7

      Find a jockey for your horse. Sometimes your trainer will also be a jockey, but this is rare. You will need to find someone who can invest the time to travel with your horse and ride in races. You can find a jockey the same way you find a trainer---by posting an ad in magazines, newspapers or horse websites.

    • 8

      Get a racing license from the racing commission in the state in which you reside. In some states, racing licenses are issued by the Department of Agriculture. You can also obtain a single national racing license that is good in 24 states (see Resources section).

    • 9

      Register your horse with the Jockey Club (see References section). This is where you will obtain your racing colors. These colors are worn by the horse and jockey to distinguish them from other horses and riders.

    • 10

      Familiarize yourself with laws regarding training and animal treatment. This is important because stables and horse racers are regulated like any other business and are checked regularly for abusive treatment of animals.

    • 11

      Begin racing your racehorse.