Horse racing is a sport with rich traditions that is popular in many countries all over the globe. Aside from watching some of the best jockeys, people also like the sport because they can keep track of different horses. Speaking of the devil, some of the most expensive horses in the world often take part in races, which means you can admire their beauty and dexterity.
Determining the value of a given horse is complex and depends on many factors. Usually, a horse is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it, but there are several names that are on another level. Not many people know about the world of ultra-expensive horses, so let’s go through some of the things you may want to know.
Fusaichi Pegasus – $70M
When talking about the most expensive horse races you can watch in action, Fusaichi Pegasus takes the first place. He holds the record for being the most expensive horse ever sold because someone paid $70M for him in 2000.
The horse became famous following his impressive results at the 200 Kentucky Derby. After that, the horse also performed well at the Dubai World Cup and the Irish Derby. Aside from his remarkable speed and endurance, the horse had massive potential as a sire.
Considering his success, it’s no surprise that the horse was highly sought-after for breeding. Many other horses in his lineage became Grade 1 winners over the years. Fusaichi Pegasus stopped competing in 2020 and lived until May 23, 2023. Unfortunately, his owners had to put him down because of his old age.
Justify – $60M
The second spot on the list for the most expensive horse is Justify. Horse racing fans from South Africa and other parts of the world have heard this name multiple times because Justify is a legend. He is the second horse in the world to win the Triple Crown, and the most impressive part is that he has not lost a race.
What’s impressive about Justify is that the horse made its racing debut in 2018. Based on a post from the New York Times, his “breeding rights” were sold to someone who paid $60M. Furthermore, there was a $25M bonus if the horse secured the Triple Crown, and as mentioned, he achieved that.
Speaking of the Triple Crown, Justify dominated in the following races:
- Belmont Stakes
- Preakness Stakes
- Kentucky Derby
Shareef Dancer – $40M
As of now, Shareef Dancer is the third most expensive horse in the world because he was sold for $40M. Even though the amount is significantly lower than the one for Justify and Fusaichi Pegasus, Shareef Dancer’s transaction happened in 1983, which was more than 42 years ago, making it really impressive.
While Shareef Dancer was active, he achieved several big victories. Perhaps most people will remember him for his dominant success at the Irish Derby because this is what put him on the map.
Annihilator – $19M
Aside from his awesome name, Annihilator was definitely an interesting horse that sparked controversy. The $19M that someone paid for him makes him among the most expensive horses ever, but the interesting part is that he did not live up to the expectations. Throughout his career, Annihilator only generated around $3,000 in prize winnings, which is a lot less than the other horses mentioned so far.
An interesting fact about Annihilator is that he has an impressive lineage. A lot of people expected him to perform very well, considering the fact that he is the son of Niatross, but this was not the case. The horse had a promising start, but he failed to achieve any good results.
The Green Monkey – $16M
Coming in at number 5, we have The Green Monkey. What’s interesting is that this incredible animal is actually the world’s most expensive Thoroughbred to sell at an auction. The event took place in 2006 when the horse was just two years old, and Demi O’Byrne bought it for $16M. What’s interesting about this person also had two other legendary horses – Secretariat and Northern Dancer.
The bad news is that The Green Monkey did not achieve the results people expected it to. Similar to Annihilator, this horse did not perform that well and won close to $10K in prize funds. To make matters worse, the horse had to deal with a lot of injuries that also led to an early retirement.
Unfortunately, the horse passed away in 2018 when he was 14 years old.
Palloubet d’Halong – $15M
This is probably one of the world’s most popular horses when it comes to jumping. Palloubet d’Halong won many big events over the years, including options like La Coruna. He also became famous for riding alongside Janika Springer.
Palloubet d’Halong is one of the most expensive horses ever because he was sold for a jaw-dropping $15M. He has an impressive lineage and achieved great results, so Jan Tops pulled the trigger in 2013 and paid $15M.
Why are some horses so expensive?
Considering that some of the world’s most expensive horses cost millions, a lot of people may wonder what makes these gorgeous animals so expensive. Well, there are many factors that buyers take into consideration, such as:
- The horse’s pedigree – Before spending millions, potential buyers have to check the horse’s pedigree. All of the names you have seen so far have descendants of top-tier horses that won countless rewards.
- The performance – Needless to say, horses that perform better will be more expensive than those that don’t.
- Health – Obviously, every horse that sells for millions of dollars needs to be healthy. Those who have had injuries or are prone to them are usually not as desirable as the rest.
- The specific horse breed – It goes without saying, but some horse breeds are much more popular and cost more than others. People always take that into account before spending millions of dollars.
