Investing
In Australia

Scroll Down

Rich Rewards

The experience of racing a horse in Australia is unique. It all comes down to our impressive prize money, which sees us host a million-dollar race every 3.3 days; the quality of racing, demonstrated by Australia hosting more of the highest-rated Group One races on average over the last five years than any other country; and the engagement with the sport, which includes more than 130,000 people having ownership in racehorses.

Why invest in Australia?

Unequalled Returns

Our prize money leads the world. Australia hosts a race worth a million dollars or more every three days, with average prizemoney per race over $54,000. There is also an additional $105 million on offer through auction houses and state bonus schemes, and overall prize money has risen by 86% in the past ten years – by far the biggest increase of any major racing jurisdiction.

Racing Excellence

The quality of racing in Australia is unsurpassed – and this isn’t just the Aushorse view. Each season the world’s handicappers gather to rate the top 100 Group One races, and over the past five years, Australia has on average hosted more of these races than any other jurisdiction.

Bloodstock Value

Buying yearlings is never a cheap exercise, but buyers in Australia pay less on average at yearling sales than in America, Europe and the UK while gaining greater access to future stakes winners and Group 1 winners.

Despite the lower initial cost, residual value remains high in Australia. For example, over the past decade, the average price of stakes-winning fillies and mares at breeding stock sales has soared an astonishing 91%.

Additionally, demand and competition for stallion prospects remain strong, with their values having surged over the past decade.

Elite Performers

Buyers can have confidence in the product. With most major breeders in Australia offering their stock for sale, there is an opportunity to access the best families in the stud book.

This is reflected in the number of Group One-winners in the last three seasons that were available to buy as yearlings, which at 62% is higher than other jurisdictions. Recent Australian-bred Royal Ascot champions Asfoora, Nature Strip, Merchant Navy and Black Caviar were all offered at public auction as yearlings, as were champions such as Winx, Imperatriz and Hong Kong superstars Voyage Bubble and Golden Sixty.

A Sport Embraced

Racing has been a key character in Australia’s story for more than two centuries. Across this island nation – in every state and territory – racing and breeding leave a large footprint. How else could a population of just 27.5 million support the world’s second largest thoroughbred industry?

Driving the industry are two key pillars: wagering and ownership. When it comes to wagering, Australians bet more per capita on racing than those in any other country, while there are more than 130,000 people here who have at least one share in a racehorse, equating to one in every 201.

This high level of ownership means our trainers lead the world in communication, enabling owners to be part of the horse’s journey no matter how far away they are. This is reflected in the ever-increasing number of owners based overseas.

2023 Everest winner Think About It has earned over $12 million in prizemoney

When it comes to major races, and major prize money, Australia is second to none. In 2026 there will be 109 races worth $1 million or greater – that’s the equivalent of one race every 3.3 days. This number has soared in the past decade, up from 21 in 2013.

The average race value in Australia is over $54,000, a hefty figure when one considers the large rural racing circuit that gives all owners a good chance to recoup their expenses.

In fact, last racing season, one in every 40 horses competing on Australian racecourses amassed career earnings in excess of $500,000.

On top of the prize money, there are also significant bonus schemes that reward owners. These include more than $70 million in state breeding schemes as well as lucrative race series run by the two major sales companies: Inglis and Magic Millions. Taken together, such schemes add over $105,000,000 to owner returns.

Winner of the 2022 Manikato Stakes Bella Nipotina has amassed nearly $11 million in prizemoney

2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pride of Jenni has career earnings of close to $9 million

Australia is enjoying a golden age when it comes to the thoroughbred industry. We have a great funding model that gives owners a real chance to get a return on their investment and the sport has tremendous backing across society.

Aushorse Investor’s Guide