How Much an Owner Makes
The purse is the prize money for each race that the horses and their owners compete for. Typically,
the top five horses in a race earn the following percent :
50 percent to the winner
25 percent to second place
12 percent to third place
8 percent to fourth place
5 percent to fifth place
So if a race has a $10000 purse the winner gets $5000 (50%) second gets $2500 (25%), 3rd gets $1200 (12%), fourth gets $800 (8%) and fifth gets $500 (5%). Winning a race during a month will pay the bills for the month. Even getting a few 3rds or fourths can be profitable. Out of these amounts, the track will automatically deduct the 5% driver fee, the 5% trainer fee and the the starting fee, and the owner will receive a check for the net balance.