About

Welcome to SAf Racehorse

At SAf Racehorse, I will be compiling a record of top three performances by South African bred racehorses at Part 1 Group/Graded level around the world (outside of South Africa). Here you will be able to see just how well they have performed on the international stage.

Consider the average prices of top tier thoroughbreds around the world. You will pay about 2.5 times more in New Zealand than in South Africa, 5 times more in Australia and the United Kingdom, and 6.5 times more in the USA. For bargain basement prices like these, you can purchase the likes of Jay Peg (cost $19,000 as a yearling) who went on to win the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free in the UAE on World Cup night, as well as the Gr1 Singapore Airlines International Cup. His total career earnings was in the region of R40 million rand (about $4m at current exchange rates).

A popular approach by some of the rich and famous is to buy South African thoroughbreds and race them locally. Those that make the grade on the local circuit are then exported, usually via Dubai, to take on the world.

It costs a mere $500 to $700 per month to keep a thoroughbred in full training over here. Current prize money on offer will see the owner of a maiden winner pocket around $4,000 but it is the lure of racing for the big money in Dubai the attracts most buyers right now.