Sports and Media
What is the Most Expensive Sport?
Himani Verma
Contributor
Equestrian sports are widely regarded as the most expensive due to their unique demands, including horse care, training, equipment, and competition costs. However, equestrianism is not alone in this category. Other sports such as Formula 1 racing, golf, tennis, and polo also rank high in terms of expenses.
Sports have always been a platform for competition, skill, and entertainment. However, some sports require substantial financial resources to participate, making them exclusive and often inaccessible to a large segment of society.
These expensive sports often need special equipment, top-level training, and frequent travel, making them exclusive and out of reach for many athletes. Among these, equestrian sports are one of the most costly because of the high expenses involved in taking care of horses, training, and competing.
However, equestrianism is not the only sport that comes with a high price. Formula 1 racing, sailing, golf, tennis, and polo also require a huge financial commitment. Costs include equipment, coaching, travel, and the money needed to run a team or event.
This article explores why these sports are so costly, with a particular focus on equestrianism, and examines the broader implications of high-cost sports.
Equestrianism
Equestrianism commonly known as horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world, with its history going back to ancient Greece and Rome. It has always been linked to nobility, tradition, and fashion. The sport became more organised and professional in the 18th century in England and France. By the 20th century, it had grown into a global event, with major races like The Grand National and The Kentucky Derby attracting attention from around the world.
Horse racing requires a lot of money to buy, train, and care for racehorses. Breeding champion racehorses is also very expensive. It involves careful planning and costly processes to produce the best-performing horses.
The thoroughbred is the fastest and most expensive horse breed. Some of the most famous racehorses, like Secretariat and American Pharoah, are thoroughbreds, adding to the breed’s reputation. In the United States, around 20,000 thoroughbred foals are born each year, but only 20 of them—just 0.001%—will get the chance to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
Big races, such as the Dubai World Cup, offer massive prize money, with the Dubai World Cup alone having a prize purse of $12 million. Some racing teams, like Godolphin, operate across multiple continents, showing how much money and effort it takes to compete at the highest level. The sport has a huge economic impact, requiring significant investment and resources to succeed.
1. Horse purchase and ownership: Owning a horse for competitive equestrian sports requires a large financial commitment.
Initial cost: The price of a horse depends on factors such as breed, age, training, and family history. A basic horse for casual riding may cost a few thousand dollars, but a well-trained horse that can compete in international events can range from $63,000 to $1.3 million.
Ongoing costs: Owning a horse comes with continuous expenses, including:
- - Boarding and stabling: The cost of keeping a horse in a stable depends on the location and quality of the facility. Prices range from $380 to $2,500 per month.
- - Feeding: Horses require proper nutrition, including special feed and supplements, to stay healthy and perform well.
- - Healthcare: Regular check-ups, vaccinations, dental care, and hoof care (provided by a farrier) are necessary. If a horse becomes injured or sick, treatment can be extremely expensive.
2. Training: Both the rider and the horse must train consistently to succeed in equestrian sports.
- - Rider training: Many riders hire professional trainers to improve their skills. Training sessions can cost over $63 per hour, depending on the trainer’s experience and reputation.
- - Horse training: Horses also need special training routines based on their competition category. Experienced handlers and trainers are required to prepare them properly.
3. Equipment: Good-quality equipment is essential in equestrian sports. Riders need:
- - Saddles, bridles, and stirrups, which can each cost thousands of dollars
- - Riding gear, including helmets, boots, jackets, and breeches, designed for safety and performance
- - Maintenance tools, such as grooming kits, blankets, and transportation equipment
Other expensive sports
While equestrianism often takes the lead as the most expensive sport, other sports also come with substantial financial demands.
1. Formula 1 Racing
Formula 1 is the highest level of car racing and the most expensive sport in the world because of its huge financial demands and exclusive nature. Young drivers begin training as early as five or six years old, moving up through different racing levels in the hope of securing one of the 20 limited spots in Formula 1. The sport has a strict structure, allowing only 10 teams to compete. If a new team wants to enter, it must buy an existing team, as simply having enough money is not enough to qualify.
Cities such as Abu Dhabi and Singapore spend billions of dollars to host Formula 1 races, while luxury brands like Rolex and Richard Mille compete for sponsorship deals with famous drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The sport is not just about racing—it also attracts high-profile celebrities, including Jay-Z and Beyoncé, adding to its glamorous appeal.
Formula 1 introduced a $145 million budget cap to control spending, but in the past, teams spent as much as $500 million per year. A large part of this money goes into developing engines and new technology. Hosting fees for races can cost over $30 million, and additional costs are needed to set up each race. The circuits themselves are also extremely expensive to build. For example, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina racetrack cost more than $1.32 billion to construct.
Sponsorship deals are a major source of income for Formula 1, making up nearly half of the sport’s total revenue. This highlights the enormous financial scale of this elite motorsport.
2. Golf
Golf has long been seen as a sport for wealthy people because of its high costs and its reputation as a game for business professionals. It is a sport that requires patience and precision, and it can take a lot of time to play. A 9-hole game can last for several hours, while a full 18-hole game can take half a day to complete. Because of the slow pace, players have time to talk while riding in golf carts or walking to the next hole. This has made golf a popular setting for business discussions, with many important deals and agreements taking place during a game.
Becoming a member of an exclusive golf club can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year. Besides membership fees, players also spend a lot of money on high-quality golf equipment, including clubs and balls, as well as special clothing and accessories. Non-members also have to pay green fees to play at well-known courses, and many players invest in professional coaching to improve their skills.
The exclusivity of top golf clubs, along with the sport’s strong links to business networking and elite social events, has helped to maintain golf’s reputation as a sport mainly for the rich.
4. Polo
Polo, often called the "sport of kings," has a rich history spanning over 2,000 years, originating in Central Asia. Initially a training game for cavalry units, it evolved into a prestigious sport associated with nobility and royalty. Today, polo is synonymous with wealth and exclusivity, with major tournaments like the Cartier Queen’s Cup attracting elite participants and sponsors such as Hermès and Bentley. In the UAE, the Dubai Polo Gold Cup, established in 2009 by businessman Mohammed al-Habtoor, stands as the region's premier polo event.
5. Tennis
Tennis is often viewed as a sport of elegance and prestige, traditionally linked to private country clubs and high-profile individuals. Unlike team sports, tennis players operate as independent contractors, bearing all expenses themselves. The U.S. Tennis Association estimates that players may spend approximately $143,000 per season on equipment, training, and support teams.
These costs encompass coaching fees, tournament entry charges, global travel, accommodation, physiotherapy, nutritionists, and agent commissions. Top-ranked players might expend up to millions annually to maintain their competitive edge. Despite these expenses, tennis players are among the highest-paid athletes, benefiting from substantial prize money and lucrative sponsorships.
Major tournaments like Wimbledon, which attracted around 7.5 million TV viewers and 500,000 attendees in 2022, showcase the sport's global appeal.
6. Yacht
Yacht racing is a sport that combines skill, style, and determination, with major events taking place in key yachting locations around the world. Prestigious competitions like the America's Cup, which began in 1851, and global races such as the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race, held every few years, captivate sailing fans. Significant sponsorships from luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton and Omega, highlight the sport's economic significance and high-profile appeal.
Participating in yacht racing involves considerable expenses. Racing yachts can cost from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Additional costs include sails, rigging, navigation equipment, crew salaries, training, travel, and entry fees. The logistics add further complexity and expense, requiring global transportation, maintenance, and management of the boats with high-tech equipment and skilled personnel.
Sponsorship plays a crucial role in supporting yacht racing teams. For example, a brand might need a sponsorship budget of around $2.5 million to back a yacht racing team. However, sponsorship often covers only a portion of the total costs, with team owners and investors contributing significantly to fund the campaigns.
Despite the high costs, yacht racing continues to attract participants and audiences worldwide, drawn by the sport's rich history, the thrill of competition, and the prestige associated with major sailing events.
Why Are These Sports So Expensive?
The high costs associated with these sports can be attributed to several factors:
1. Specialised equipment: Many sports require custom-made or high-quality equipment that is expensive to produce and maintain.
2. Training and coaching: Elite-level training involves hiring experienced professionals, which comes with significant costs.
3. Travel and accommodation: International competitions often necessitate extensive travel and lodging for athletes and their teams.
4. Maintenance: Sports like equestrianism and sailing involve the upkeep of animals or complex machinery, creating ongoing expenses.
5. Exclusivity: Limited access to facilities or resources makes some sports inherently exclusive and expensive.
Final thoughts
While equestrian sports are often seen as the most expensive, they are not the only ones that require a large financial commitment. Formula 1, sailing, golf, tennis, and several other sports also need significant funding, making them available mostly to people with great wealth or strong sponsorship support. The high costs of these sports show how important financial planning and sponsorship are in helping talented athletes compete and succeed at the highest levels.
Knowing how much these sports cost can help young athletes and their families make well-informed choices about following their dreams. By looking for funding opportunities and carefully managing expenses, it is possible to handle the financial challenges of these costly sports and still achieve success.
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