Racehorse ownership consultancy: an expert at your side

Silk Road Bloodstock · Advice for first-time and international owners

Owning a racehorse should be one of the great pleasures of your life. It becomes one when the decisions at the start are right: the budget, the country, the trainer and the type of horse. We help you make them, before you spend anything on a horse.

What we help you decide

1. Your goal. A runner at a great meeting, a horse for the Gulf winter, a filly to start a family line, or simply the joy of a day at the races.
2. Your real budget. The purchase price plus a year of running costs, so there are no surprises. Cost calculator.
3. Where to race. Britain, Ireland, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Hong Kong each suit different horses and owners. See the owner's calendar.
4. The trainer. A shortlist of licensed trainers who fit your horse, location and style, with their fees explained.
5. How to own. Alone, with family or with friends. Read sole ownership or partnership.
6. The paperwork. Owner registration, racing colours, VAT where relevant, and insurance.
7. The exit. Selling, retiring or breeding. Planned from the start, not in a hurry.

Running costs: what owners should expect

• Training fees are the biggest cost. Each trainer sets their own, and what is included varies, so always ask which extras (farrier, vet, physio, gallop fees) are on top.
• In Newmarket, owners also pay a gallop fee of £165 + VAT per horse per month (2025 rate).
• In Britain, the jockey's riding fee is £173.54 per Flat ride from 1 January 2026, plus small insurance and VAT items.
• In Ireland, a recent press survey put training fees at about €45–€70 per day.
• Plus race entries, transport, insurance and vet bills.

Sources: Racehorse Owners Association, Jockey Club Estates, The Irish Field (2023). We confirm current fees with each trainer in writing.

How it works

• A first conversation on WhatsApp, by phone or in person in Dubai. No cost and no pressure.
• A written plan with your goal, budget, recommended country, trainer shortlist and timeline.
• Then your choice: we can buy the horse for you (5% fee, minimum US$5,000), manage it (from US$2,000 per horse per month) and move it, or you can take the plan and go your own way.

Racing is never certain, and we never present a racehorse as a way to make money. We help you own one wisely and enjoy it.

Also: Racehorse management · Racehorse transport · Protecting a big purchase