Messara sounds Alarm: ‘only 10% of winners break even’

Prominent breeder, owner and racing figure John Messara has called for an overhaul of racehorse ownership, claiming not enough people are making money or breaking even from their involvement.

Messara – who owns breeding powerhouse Arrowfield – said that he believes only ten percent of owners actually break even from owning a horse.

Messara – who was once chairman of Racing NSW and owns superstar Autumn Glow – said change is needed to make ownership a more attractive proposition.

‘’I don't think enough people are breaking even as owners,’’ Messara told SEN Track's Gareth Hall.

‘’I think we've got to have a good look at the cost structure of ownership, and we've got to find ways and means to make people get to make the racing and owning horses more sustainable.’’

Messara said that racing bosses need to help address trainer’s costs, as well as prize money allocations.

‘’That may mean looking at distribution of prize money in a slightly different way. It may mean attacking costs or supporting trainers and owners in some way with their cost structure,’’ he said.

‘’I think we need to look at it because, on my calculations, only about ten percent of owners are breaking even or ten percent of horses are breaking even not owners horses are breaking even per annum in Australia.

‘’While it's a sport and while it's a hobby and we're all prepared to pay for a hobby, I think that's just a little bit too tough.’’