Purchase of a horse:
Horses can be purchased in many ways.

The most common methods are directly through a trainer, via bloodstock against, at auctions or Yearling Sales, advertisements in industry publications and Claiming Races.

As a guide:
Trainers – Often have horses or shares in horses that are available for purchase. Trainers are often a good guide as to the market worth and potential of a particular horse, however, it is a good idea to find out the pedigree and performance of a horse and seek independent advice.

Yearling sales – Yearlings at the 2005 Australian Pacing Gold Stakes had an average sale price of $10,500.

Advertisements – Sales advertisements are regularly posted on websites and in industry publications.

Claiming Races – are conducted on a regular basis and have minimum and maximum Claiming Prices attached to them. Claiming Races provide potential Owners with an immediate ‘start’ to the harness racing industry. These races have horses running in them that are for sale and the sale price is publicly advertised in the racebook and form guides. Horses in claiming races can carry a price anywhere between $2,000 and $20,000.

Training fees:
Trainers on this website have provided details on most aspects of their training including training fees. The average training fee is $30 per day.

Trainers also take a percentage of the stakemoney (prizemoney) earnt by the horse by finishing in the top four placing’s of a race.

Transportation, agistment, veterinarian, dentist and farrier (shoeing) fees are usually on top of training fees and vary in accordance with the individual requirements of the horse.