| Wednesday, July 08, 2026 | Contact: Gary Falter 859.224.2803 |
| OwnerView Webinar Panel Explores Racehorse Training Expenses | |
The 2026 Thoroughbred owner conference series continued with its fifth panel on July 7, focusing on the costs of owning a racehorse in training and interpreting trainer invoices. Hosted by Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, the session featured expert insights from Tracy Attfield (TLore), Emily Anderson (Dean Dorton Equine), and David Donk (New York-based trainer). The conference was hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and Dean Dorton Equine. This panel was sponsored by Centennial Farms and the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. A Q&A was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, and attendees were able to ask questions through a Q&A link. Panelists discussed annual expense ranges, day rates, veterinary fees, and best practices for owners to understand billing. The session also showcased sample invoices with explanations on what owners should expect and what questions they should be asking. “As an owner reviewing an invoice for the first time, if you do own less than 100%, really make sure your horse is being billed at the correct percentage,” Anderson added. Attfield emphasized how important it is to have detailed invoices. “The more detail they put on there, the owners seem happier about knowing exactly what the charge is for,” she said. “So, we try to break it down and give as much detail as possible.” From a trainer’s perspective, Donk mentioned that trainers don’t make money from a day rate, and a good business model should be based on commission. "Being a trainer wasn't meant to be wealthy,” he said. “You're making money on the success of your horses, and obviously, the better quality of horse you have, the better chance you have of that.” The replay of Tuesday’s Thoroughbred Owner Conference panel is available at bit.ly/OVVideos. Five additional Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panels are scheduled for 2026. The next session, “Aftercare: Know when to retire your Racehorse,” will be held August 25 at 2 p.m. ET. A full schedule can be found here: bit.ly/OVSchedule. There is no registration fee for the 2026 virtual conference series, but registration is required. For more information about the owner conference series, please visit ownerview.com/event/conference or contact Gary Falter at 859.224.2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com. OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing. | |