Horse racing is often referred to as the โSport of Kingsโ, after it became popular with British royalty and aristocrats hundreds of years ago. Today, many elite horse race owners are richer than Kings, as the requirements for owning and training a top level horse necessitate an amount of money that most of us can only dream of.
In February, the Worldโs Richest Race, the Saudi Cup, saw the worldโs finest thoroughbreds, trainers, and jockeys, descend on King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. The 2024, 5th edition of the Saudi Cup, saw Senor Buscador claim a surprise victory and take home the $20 million on offer to the winner.
Richest Horse Races in the World:
- Saudi Cup – $20 million
- Dubai World Cup – $12 million
- The Everest – $10 million
- The Golden Eagle – $6.5 million
- Breeders’ Cup Classic – $6 million
- Dubai Sheema Classic – $6 million
- Arima Kinen – $5.9 million
- Japan Cup – $5.9 million
- Melbourne Cup – $5 million
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – $5 million
With more and more high-profile horse races around the world and record-breaking purses on offer, competition amongst owners is fiercer than ever. But who are these mega rich owners and how did they make their fortune?
Wertheimer Brothers
Alain and Gerhard Wertheimer are best known as the owners of the French fashion giant Chanel. Estimates put their wealth at an incredible ยฃ19billion. They inherited their wealth, including the horse racing business, from their father.
The horses are based out of La Presle Farm or Wertheimer Farm, in the US. The stables biggest success so far came with Goldikova, who became the only horse to ever win a Breeders’ Cup event three times, following victories in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2008, 2009, and 2010.ย
Barry Schwartz
The Calvin Klein co-founder Barry K. Schwartz, has long been a fan of Thoroughbred racing. The businessman famously turned a $10,000 investment in 1968 into the multibillion-dollar organisation that is Calvin Klein.
The Jockey Club member bought his first horse in 1978 and became a member of the board of trustees of the New York Racing Association from 1994 to 2004. He also served as chairman of the board of trustees and CEO of NYRA from 2000 to 2004.
A successful owner, Schwartz owns the 700-acre Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, New York. This May, he will be hoping he has a Kentucky Derby winner in the shape of El Grande O, a horse he bred himself.
El Grande O has an excellent chance too, with A.P. Indy, Take Charge Lady, and Unbridledโs Song in his pedigree, and remains a popular choice in the latest horse betting for the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
With an estimated wealth of ยฃ14bn, Sheikh Mohammed owns the famous and hugely successful, Godolphin stable. Since it was founded in 1992, the owner has recorded over 5,000 winners worldwide.
In 2022, Sheikh Mohammed made a rare appearance in public at the Tattersalls horse sales in Newmarket, England. He paid ยฃ2.94 million for the son of Frankel, a then record price for a yearling.ย However, his most famous and successful horse was Dubai Millenium. He won nine of his ten races, including the Dubai World Cup in 2000.ย
Most expensive race horses in the world
- Fusaichi Pegasus โ $70 million (2000)
- Justify โ $60 million (2018)
- Shareef Dancer โ $40 million (1983)
- The Green Monkey – $16m (2006)
- Seattle Dancer – $15 million (1985)ย
JP McManus
The famous Irishman is one of Ireland’s leading thoroughbred stud owners, and boasts over 70 winners at the Cheltenham Festival. That includes five victories at the 2024 Cheltenham Racing Festival, which saw him claim the Champion Owner title. McManus also won the Grand National in 2010 with Donโt Push It. With an estimated net worth of ยฃ2 billion, the businessman and renowned gambler, owns the Jackdaws Castle facility in the Cotswolds, England, home of top trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
John Magnierย
Like McManus, John Magnier is another of Ireland’s leading thoroughbred owners, with many regarding him as one of the most influential people in horse racing and breeding in the world.
Estimates put his considerable wealth in the region of ยฃ2 billion, largely thanks to a business portfolio that includes Barchester Healthcare, Mitchells & Butlers, and Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland.
However, his highly successful Coolmore Stud breeding operation is estimated to be worth an incredible ยฃ4bn on its own. The business is headquartered in County Tipperary, Ireland, although a number of other stud farms are part of its extensive worldwide network, including branches in Versailles, Kentucky, and New South Wales, Australia.
