Jasmine Birtles
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How to Invest in Horse Racing in the UK 2025
Ruby Layram
14th Jul 2025
Ever thought about putting your money behind something a bit more exciting than the usual stocks and shares? Well, what if we told you there’s a way to invest in horses, and we don’t mean betting on them at Cheltenham.
Horse racing isn’t just for those with binoculars and fancy hats. From owning a piece of a racehorse to investing in the wider industry through shares, there are ways to tap into this fast-paced world without stepping foot on a racecourse (unless you want to, of course). Here’s how you can invest in horse racing as a UK investor in 2025.
Invest in Horse Racing Stocks
If you’d like to dip your toes in without buying horses themselves (more on this later!), investing in publicly traded companies connected to horse racing could be the easier and safer route.
There aren’t many UK-listed companies purely focused on horse racing, but there are a few global options and companies with strong ties to the industry. Good examples include betting companies like Flutter Entertainment (which owns Paddy Power and Betfair), or media groups that broadcast racing events, such as Sky or Racing TV’s parent firms.
You can also look at firms that own and operate racecourses, like Arena Racing Company (though it’s private) or invest through funds that include gambling and sports media companies.
This approach works much like any other stock investment. You buy shares, and if the company does well (e.g., from increased betting revenue or event attendance), the share price and dividends might follow suit.
Pros:
You can invest via your usual investment account or ISA. It’s hands-off, regulated, and you can spread your risk by choosing broader funds or ETFs.
Cons:
These stocks often go hand-in-hand with the broader gambling sector, which can be volatile and controversial. It’s also hard to find pure-play horse racing businesses listed on the stock market, so you’re often investing in companies with mixed interests.
Investing in Racehorses
Now for the more direct way of investing in horse racing.
If you really fancy getting close to the action, you could actually invest in a racehorse, or at least part of one. And no, you don’t need to be a millionaire. Thanks to racehorse syndicates and fractional ownership platforms, you can own a small share in a horse for a few hundred quid.
There are syndicates across the UK that let you co-own a racehorse with a group of other investors. You pay a fee (often annually), and in return, you get a share of any winnings, access to race days, stable visits, and sometimes a little cut of any resale value if the horse is sold.
It’s part hobby, part investment, and a great talking point at dinner parties.
Pros:
It’s exciting, unique, and gives you a real taste of the racing world. If your horse wins big, you could see a decent return. Some owners have even made six figures from talented horses.
Cons:
It’s very risky. Most racehorses don’t make much money, and there are a lot of costs involved, training, care, vet bills, travel. Many investors do it for the fun, not the profit, and you should too unless you’re ready for some serious ups and downs.
So, Is Horse Racing a Good Investment?
That depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re after steady returns, this probably isn’t your ideal asset class. But if you’ve got a bit of risk appetite, a love of sport, and you’re looking to diversify your portfolio in a way that’s a bit more exciting than the FTSE 100, then horse racing could offer something a little different.
Just remember, with racehorses, like any investment, the golden rule still applies: never invest more than you can afford to lose.
As with any type of investing, you capital is at risk. To learn more about investing, do sign up to our fortnightly MoneyMagpie Investing Newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice.
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