We will present an overview of the 15 most expensive horses ever sold, each renowned for their unique racing achievements, bloodlines, or show-jumping abilities.
1. Fusaichi Pegasus ($70 million)
Fusaichi Pegasus, a Thoroughbred, set the record for the most expensive
horse ever sold when Coolmore Stud purchased him for $70 million in 2000. He
won the Kentucky Derby in the same year and had career earnings of $1.9
million. His reputation as a sire further boosted his value.
2. Shareef Dancer ($40 million)
This Thoroughbred was sold for $40 million in 1983 to Sheikh Maktoum bin
Rashid Al Maktoum. Sired by the legendary Northern Dancer, Shareef Dancer had a
brief but successful racing career, winning the Irish Derby and the King Edward
VII Stakes.
3. Moorlands Totilas (Totilas) ($21 million)
Known as one of the greatest dressage horses in history, Totilas was sold in
2010 to Paul Schockemöhle for around $21 million. Totilas was the first horse
to score over 90 points in a dressage competition, making him a highly coveted
competitor and breeding stallion.
4. Annihilator ($19 million)
Annihilator, a prized pacer with a strong pedigree, was sold for $19
million. His lineage includes Niatross, a celebrated harness racing champion,
making Annihilator a sought-after horse for his potential as a sire and
competitor.
5. The Green Monkey ($16 million)
The Green Monkey, sold for $16 million in 2006 at a public auction, was a
Thoroughbred with high expectations due to his prestigious lineage.
Unfortunately, he had an underwhelming career, failing to win any of his races.
He remains one of the most expensive racehorse purchases in history.
6. Palloubet d'Halong ($15 million)
Unlike most horses on this list, Palloubet d'Halong was a show-jumping
horse. He was sold for $15 million to Jan Tops in 2013. His success in various
show-jumping competitions, such as the Longines Global Champions Tour, helped
solidify his value.
7. Seattle Dancer ($13.1 million)
Seattle Dancer made headlines in 1985 when he became the most expensive
yearling ever sold at auction for $13.1 million. Though his racing career was
modest, he went on to sire several successful offspring.
8. Meydan City ($11.7 million)
This Thoroughbred, purchased for $11.7 million by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, had high hopes for his racing career. However, like The Green
Monkey, his performance did not live up to his price tag.
9. Snaafi Dancer ($10.2 million)
Snaafi Dancer was the first horse to be sold for over $10 million. However,
his racing career never took off, as he failed to qualify for competitive races
and had little success as a sire.
10. Jalil ($9.7 million)
Jalil, purchased for $9.7 million, had a more successful racing career than
some of the other high-priced horses on this list, earning $327,000 during his
time on the track. His value came from his strong pedigree, which made him
attractive as a future sire.
11. Plavius – $9.2 million
Purchased for $9.2 million by Sheikh Mohammed, this Thoroughbred didn’t make
an impact in major races, but his bloodline made him a highly coveted
investment
12. Lord Sinclair – $7.5 million
This dressage horse was sold for $7.5 million due to his exceptional
performance in the arena. His grace and precision in competition made him a
high-demand stallion for breeders.
13. Pine Chip – $4 million
A famous Standardbred pacer, Pine Chip was sold for $4 million due to his
success in harness racing. He earned millions during his career and was
regarded as a top sire.
14. Justify – Valued at $75 million (for breeding rights)
Justify became only the second horse in history to win the Triple Crown
without losing a single race. His breeding rights were sold for a staggering
$75 million, though no formal sale price was recorded for the horse itself.
15. Frankel – Valued at $100 million
Frankel, an unbeaten racehorse with 14 wins from 14 starts, is one of the
most valuable racehorses in history. While there has been no formal sale, his
stud fees and valuation could exceed $100 million.
No comments: