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Rolling In It: Most Profitable Racehorse

Published

5 years ago

February 26, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Leading race horses earned £126,093 on average per minute in 2020
Top 20 earning thoroughbreds took just 11.05 minutes to surpass the £1 million-mark last year
Arrogate remains the all-time leading earner with £12,718,498.00 prize money, or £635,924.90 per minute
2020’s top 20 horses passed the £1million-barrier 65.42% quicker than sport’s top earning athletes
Authentic picked up £402,623.08 for every 60 seconds raced last year, more than Cristiano Ronaldo (£18,782.16) and Lionel Messi (£19,926.51)

Horse racing’s class of 2020 pocketed £126,093.67 per minute of action, a new study into the value of racehorses has revealed.

The top 20 earning racehorses last year took 11.05 minutes of racing, on average, to break the £1 million-barrier, 59.56% quicker than global sports’ top earning athletes, across the same 12-month period.

However American great Arrogate still tops the all-time charts, having banked £1 million for every 1.57 minutes raced.

Exactly half of last year’s leading thoroughbreds pocketed six-figure sums for a mere 60 seconds’ work, according to OLBG’s Most Profitable Racehorse report.

Arrogate, bought by Juddmonte Farm for a meagre £408,000.00, landed three of the planet’s richest races within the space of four months, amassing as yet insurmountable career earnings of £12,718,498.00; £462,490.84 per minute on the dirt. The Breeders’ Cup Classic netted his camp £2.24 million, the Pegasus World Cup £5.69m and the Dubai World Cup £4.88m.

The Bob Baffert-trained phenom won on seven occasions in total, earning more than his keep in just 20 minutes.

That ‘time to £1 million’ figure dropped to 5.66 minutes, when you assess the financial vitals of the top 20 earning racehorses of all time. This elite group earned an aggregated £160,446,327.70 across collective careers comprising 229 starts, and a win percentage of 52, to boot.

The stats for the class of 2020 are quite remarkable too, with a combined 69 wins from 117 starts; landing each of their respective owners a sizable share of £23,847,336.32.

There are some exceptionally wealthy racehorses out there, or there would be if they got to keep the cash.

Recently retired Authentic, the sport’s top earner in 2020, added a further £402,623.08 to his owners’ coffers for every single minute he ran.

Winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, setting a new track record at Keeneland in the latter, he took home a cool £5,234,100.00, in just seven starts and recently began his stud career in central Kentucky, having retired last November.

That comes against the backdrop of prize purses for the top 10 most expensive horse races on the planet surpassing the £50 million-mark for the first time in 2020, the collective fund up 28.74% year-on-year.

Disappointingly, but understandably due to the pandemic, the cumulative total prize money available for the 489 races staged across the world last year finished at £322,187,199.00, down 19.09% from 2019 (£398,218,061.00), with the available funds in Europe taking the biggest hit, falling by a jaw-dropping 58.82% year-on-year.

Across the rest of the sporting world, Cristiano Ronaldo, who plys his trade in Serie A for Juventus, cleared £76,650,000.00 through salary, bonuses and endorsements in 2020, banking £18,782.16 per minute in the 2019-20 season, 60.08% less than 18th-ranked horse Mr Freeze (£34,911.89).

Footballers Messi (£19,926.51) Neymar (£29,218.36), Basketball’s Le Bron James (£27,774.14) and F1’s Lewis Hamilton (£26,384.38) also failed to trouble Mr Freeze, purchased in 2016 for £54,750, in the earnings per minute stakes, based on 2020 income.

Tyson Fury meanwhile was the most lucrative earner. Despite fighting just once last year he averaged £2,117,557.25 per minute – 248% more than the next highest earner which was Irish racehorse Tarnawa, who also only competed once.

Commenting on the findings, OLBG’s Richard Moffat said: “We’ve always known about the huge sums of money involved in racing horses, both on the betting exchanges and the business side of it too, but to see the figures in black and white and compare what racehorses earned versus sport stars really does make you sit up and take notice.

“It’s the fine margins between winning and losing, and the colossal financial incentives on offer, that add to the drama and intrigue of the sport. It also gives you a feel for why major bloodstock operations such as Godolphin, Zayat, Juddmonte, to name but a few, exist and take the creation of future leading thoroughbreds so seriously.

“When you microanalyse it to the point where Authentic earned £402,623.08 for every 60 seconds’ work in 2020, the lucrativeness of the sport is plain to see.”

Belatra Games

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

from-‘mummyverse’-to-crash-games:-belatra-reviews-a-landmark-2025

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

BMM Testlabs

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

‘chaos-and-soul’:-ebaka-games-plots-global-expansion-after-viral-launch

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

ARC

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

racing-meets-nightlife:-sbk-backs-arc’s-new-‘friday-night-live’-series

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: