Buying & Costs

What horses cost now, leasing, auctions and avoiding bad buys.

15 articles

Fasig-Tipton November Sale 2026 Results: $5M Ways and Means Tops

The November Sale ran on Nov. 2, two days after the Breeders' Cup, and passed $100 million again. Here are the results, what happened to Shisospicy, and how to read a mixed-sale catalog.

Updated Nov 3, 20267 min read

What Is a Horses in Training Sale? Tattersalls' 750,000-Guinea Week
At Newmarket this week, racehorses with real race records sold to buyers aiming them at Saudi Arabia, Australia and Hong Kong. Here's how this kind of auction works and how to read a lot like a pro.
Oct 29, 20267 min read
Keeneland Championship Sale 2026: Breeders' Cup Shares and Castleton
Two nights before the Breeders' Cup, Keeneland auctions slices of 10 contenders, breeding rights to three sires and, for the first time, an entire farm. Here's what's on offer and how fractional ownership works.
Oct 28, 20266 min read
How to Import a Horse From Mexico to the US: Santa Teresa Reopens
USDA scheduled horse imports by land to restart at one New Mexico port after the screwworm shutdown. Here is the step-by-step process, from the Mexican vet to the US quarantine barn.
Oct 26, 20267 min read
Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale 2026: $800K Tops, Typical Prices
An Uncle Mo filly and an Into Mischief colt share the top price in Lexington, but the number that matters for most buyers is the $35,000 median. Here's how to read the results and budget for a racing prospect.
Oct 21, 20266 min read
Why Are Horses Sold in Guineas? Tattersalls' Old Currency Explained
A Lope De Vega colt made 650,000 guineas in a record Book 2 session at Newmarket. Here is what a guinea is, who keeps the extra 5%, and how to turn any sale headline into pounds, dollars or euros.
Oct 14, 20267 min read
What Is Pinhooking? A $260,000 Dornoch Weanling Explains the Bet
A first-crop Dornoch colt tied the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale record on Oct. 12. Here's how the weanling-to-yearling resale game works, and why it's far riskier than the headlines suggest.
Oct 13, 20266 min read
What Is a Breeze-Up Sale? How Buyers Judge Young Racehorses at Full Gallop
Magic Millions sells its Gold Coast Horses in Training catalogue on Oct 12, 2026, after weeks of timed gallops. Here's how a breeze-up auction works, what smart buyers actually watch and why some horsemen want to put the stopwatch away.
Oct 12, 20267 min read
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Tattersalls October Yearling Sale: Godolphin's 4.6M-Guinea Record
A Night Of Thunder colt sold for 4,600,000 guineas on opening day in Newmarket. Here is what that number really means, who does what at a yearling auction, and how it stacks up against Keeneland.
Oct 7, 20266 min read
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Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2026: $536.7M Record Explained
Twelve sessions, 2,856 yearlings and a $3.7 million Into Mischief colt: the biggest Thoroughbred auction ever, plus a plain-English guide to books, hip numbers, buybacks and why pedigree sets the price.
Sep 27, 20266 min read
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Best Horse for Beginners: Why an Older Schoolmaster Beats a Pretty Young Horse
Why "green on green" ends in bruises, the age and breeds that suit a first-time owner, which stable vices cost you later and the red flags to check before you pay.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
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The Cost of Owning a Horse Per Month in 2026: A Line-by-Line Budget
Buying the horse is the small number. Here's what board, hay, farrier, vet care, insurance and a real emergency fund add up to every month.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
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How to Adopt a Horse: Rescue Fees, Mustang Events and Real Costs
Rescue adoption fees range from $0 to $5,000, and a BLM mustang starts at $125. Here's how each path works, what BLM requires and why the fee is the cheapest part.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
Half Lease, Full Lease or Buy? The Smartest Way to Get Your First Horse
Lesson horse, half lease, full lease, care lease or your own horse: riding days, shared bills, contract must-haves and a five-question family quiz.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
Horse Pre-Purchase Exam Cost in 2026: What Vets Check, When to X-Ray
A basic vetting now costs far more than old guides say, and more X-rays aren't always better. Here's what the vet checks, what the findings mean and how to protect yourself before you pay.
Sep 23, 20269 min read

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