Guide
How much does it cost to own a racehorse?
Keeping a racehorse in training in Britain cost an average of £22,595 a year on the Flat and £16,325 over jumps when the Racehorse Owners Association last surveyed it, in 2015. That is on top of the price of the horse. A share or a racing club membership costs far less: on Horsebox today, from £34 a month for a share and £80 a year for a racing club.
| Route | How you pay | From, on Horsebox today |
|---|---|---|
| Own a horse outright | The price of the horse, then training and racing bills | Not sold on Horsebox |
| Owned share in a syndicate | A price for the share, usually then a monthly fee | £99, then £40 a month |
| Leased share in a syndicate | A monthly or one-off price for a fixed term | £34 a month |
| Racing club membership | A membership fee | £80 a year |
Owning a racehorse outright
You pay for the horse, then for everything it needs: training, vet, farrier, transport, race entries and the jockey. The Racehorse Owners Association’s last survey of those costs, in 2015, found an average of £22,595 a year on the Flat and £16,325 over jumps. No newer survey has been published.
The sport’s own fees for 2026 include:
- £168a year for a registered owner who has had a runner in the past year
- £29.17handling fee for each race entry
- £173.54for the jockey each time the horse runs on the Flat, or £235.90over jumps
Sources: Racehorse Owners Association, costs of ownership; British Horseracing Authority, owners' fees.
A share or a membership instead
You do not have to own a horse outright. You can buy a share through a syndicate, or join a racing club. The syndicate or club sets one price for you.
| Route | Prices on Horsebox today |
|---|---|
| Racing club membership5 clubs | £50 to £100 a month3 clubs £80 a year1 club £99, one payment1 club |
| Leased share5 horses | £34 to £190 a month4 horses £3,250, one payment1 horse |
| Owned share14 horses | £99 to £4,975 for the share, then £40 to £324 a month12 horses £1,450 to £2,450, one payment2 horses |
Read from 24 open listings today.
How prices are shown on Horsebox
Each listing shows one price, in the way that listing is paid for.
- a monthA monthly price. Some can be paid yearly instead, shown as “or” the yearly price.
- then … a monthA price for the share, then a monthly fee.
- one paymentOne payment and nothing more to pay. The listing may show the date it runs until.
At checkout you see the cost breakdown and the total before you sign.
What the price covers
Each syndicate or club sets its own price and says what it covers. Under the British Horseracing Authority’s codes of conduct, its agreement must set out the costs, whether they are fixed or can change, and how any prize money is treated. Read it before you pay.
Source: British Horseracing Authority, shared ownership regulation.
Will I get money back?
Treat what you pay as money spent. Buying through Horsebox is for enjoyment, and no financial return is guaranteed. A syndicate’s agreement says how prize money is shared. A racing club’s terms say whether members share it at all.
Keep looking
Questions
How much does it cost to have a share in a racehorse?
On Horsebox today a share starts at £34 a month. A racing club membership starts at £80 a year.
Are there monthly fees?
Often. A listing priced as a share price "then" a monthly amount has one. A listing marked "one payment" has none.
Are there hidden charges?
The agreement must set out the costs and say whether they are fixed or can change. You see the total due at checkout before you sign.
How much does it cost to keep a racehorse in training?
The Racehorse Owners Association's last survey, in 2015, found an average of £22,595 a year on the Flat and £16,325 over jumps.
Is owning a racehorse profitable?
Do not count on it. No financial return is guaranteed. The British Horseracing Authority says that in the vast majority of cases owners recover only a small percentage of their costs over a year.