Enviable prize-money and ownership levels in Australia laid bare by Aushorse 2025 Investor’s Guide

Aushorse has released its 2025 Investor’s Guide ahead of the upcoming yearling sales season, which will have some major jurisdictions casting envious glances towards Australia's racing and breeding industries. 

The guide, released annually by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s marketing body, trumpets the fact there will be more races worth A$1 million (£502,000/€605,000) staged in Australia next year than across the United States and Europe combined.

In addition, more than 140,000 people – which equates to one in every 191 Australians – are reported to own a share in a racehorse, making the country a world-leader in ownership penetration.

“The industry in Australia is in a strong position with the firm foundations of a great funding model and deep support from across society, which is borne out in the number of people here who want to be involved in ownership,” said Tom Reilly, chief executive of Aushorse.

There will be 105 races worth A$1m or more in 2025, while the guide also points out that the returns to owners are very competitive, with the average race value in Australia standing at A$53,797 (£27,019/€32,570).

Such prize-money levels meant that one in every 43 horses competing in the last racing season had amassed earnings in excess of A$500,000, with one in every 132 having earned more than seven figures in prize-money.

Despite the riches on offer, it is however still cheaper to buy a yearling in Australia than in either Europe or North America, with the purchase price of the most expensive colts and fillies significantly lower than in those markets.

According to the guide, over the past three years the average cost of the top 50 colts at Australian yearling sales was US$793,560, compared with $1,151,225 in the US and $1,006,681 in Europe. For fillies, the average across the top 50 was US$684,603, compared with $853,525 in the US and $911,386 in Europe.

“I get a lot of people asking me about the Investor’s Guide, and already in the past month there have been prominent investors from Europe and America asking for the stats as they look at their investment plans for 2025,” said Reilly. 

“The guide is also very popular with trainers and syndicators here, and is a great tool for them when engaging their clients.”

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