Sticking a price on a horse is a difficult thing to do. We can all agree owning a horse is not cheap. The cost of buying horses however, is where the great economic disparity lies. Last month the largest auction of thoroughbred yearlings took place at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington, KY. Here, backbone and bankroll are put to the test and measured by the drop of a hammer — “SOLD!”
Six figures? Seven, eight? You bet. In the spirit of equine economics, let’s take a quick look at the most expensive horses ever sold across the equestrian world.
Thoroughbred Colt
$16,000,000
The Green Monkey
Forestry—Magical Masquerade
(2005—
Sold in 2006 to Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor.
Career earnings: $10,440 in 6 starts.
Currently standing stud in Ocala for a $5,000 fee while prancing around to elevator music, perfectly oblivious to the fact he is one of the biggest ‘busts’ in history.
Thoroughbred Yearling
$13,100,000
Seattle Dancer
Nijinsky—My Charmer
(1984—2007)
Purchased at the 1985 Keeneland Yearling Sale by Stavros Niarchos, Susan Magnier, Robert Sangster, Vincent O’Brien, Daniel Schwartz.
Career earnings: £111,303
A half to Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, he enjoyed some success on the track in Europe before being retired to stud. He was a fairly successful stallion though nothing near what was expected.
Thoroughbred Stallion
$70,000,000
Fusaichi Pegasus
Mr. Prospector—Angel Fever
(1997—
Purchased as a yearling for $4 million, big things were expected out of this son of Mr. Prospector and he did not disappoint, winning the 2000 Kentucky Derby. Soon after, news broke the colt had been sold to Ireland’s Coolmore group for a price believed to be in the ballpark of $70 million. Seventy. Million. His initial stud fee in 2001 was $150,000, which has steadily decreased over the years. He’s currently standing at Ashford Stud in Kentucky for a fee of $7,500. While he has sired multiple Grade I winners, his stallion career hasn’t come close to matching his final sale price, but what’s a few bucks between friends?
Dressage
$21,000,000
Totilas
(2000—
The jet-black Dutch Warmblood completely changed the game in dressage, becoming the first horse to score over a 90 in competition and going on to sweep the World Games in 2010 with then-rider Edward Gal. After the 2010 WEG games, Totilas was sold to German Paul Schockemohle. The exact sale price has not been made public but many “in the know” conclude the stallion went for around $21 million.
Show Jumping
$15,000,000
Palloubet d’Halong
(2003—
Jan Tops, the Dutch Olympic Gold Medalist and current coach of the Qatar Show Jumping Team, bought this 11 year-old Selle Francais gelding last year from for Team Qatar. What Qatar wants, Qatar gets…
