The Expenses
Thoroughbred ownership can be costly. The expenses can add up rapidly and there's no certainty of income or profit. Therefore, it's important to manage your own expectations so there are no unanticipated and uncomfortable surprises. Every horse in training at the racetrack will incur monthly bills from the trainer, the vet, and the blacksmith. There may also be a bill for vanning if your horse needs to move from one racetrack to another or to/from a farm. These expenses will vary from racetrack to racetrack and from trainer to trainer. Generally speaking the higher profile the racing circuit, the more lucrative the purses, the more successful the trainer the higher the costs. On a major circuit such as New York, Kentucky, or Southern California you can expect trainers to charge anywhere from $85 to $135 per day, vet bills to be $600 to $1400 per month, and blacksmith to be from $175 to $195 per month.