Being an Owner: How does it pay?

[Cowan]

How can owning a racehorse ever be a profitable venture? With Trainers fees at about £15k-£20k a year, plus god knows what else in one-off fees, transport, entries, etc. Horses in the lower classes couldn't hope to return that in prize money. Take a look at what would be a more valuable race. A Class 4 Handicap with 18 runners, which cost £32 to enter. 1st £4,204.85 2nd £1,251.25 3rd £625.30 4th £312.65 Our Class 4 horse would have to win a race like this 4 times a season which is very unlikely. Perhaps it could win a big race like this, two races with less opposition, and a couple of places, in the one season. And that would be a very good season. Most horses will eventually get caught by the handicapper and have a barren season. Also the prize money the horse wins isn't all going to the owner. The Trainer and Jockey will take their cuts. So how much of the original amount is the Owner left with? 70%? Now that's an example at Class 4. Class 5 races are worth about 2k and Class 6 about 1k. Is it simply the case that racing at these levels is supported by Owners who love the game, and want to keep injecting cash to support it?

[3 legs and a wheel]

Re: Being an Owner: How does it pay? Suppose the owner gets a nod and a wink from the trainer. The owner put his dosh on his horse and collects at good odds. Nothing in the rules to say an owner can't do this. Suppose that the owner gets a shake of the head from the trainer. The owner lays his dosh aginst the horse winning and collects at low odds. Plenty in the rules that says owners can't do this legally. Suppose the owner does this through a third-party and doesn't get caught. Now owning a horse pays.