The English Thoroughbred became the largest breeder of champions in the world. Just for someone to introduce you to a mare, you are charged almost 700 thousand euros. He has almost a hundred champion children and also grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His name is Galileo, he is 22 years old, he has already dominated the horse racing tracks with victories in the most important events on the calendar, and despite being withdrawn from competitions, the price of this English Thoroughbred is estimated at 200 million euros. Today he is considered the emperor of reproduction.
Galileo was born in 1998 and was trained by Irish Aidan O’Brien. Since the beginning of this millennium, it has become a respected name in horse racing, with victories in different events such as the Epsom Derby, The King George VI, the Irish Derby or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He retired a few years ago after suffering his first defeat at the Breeder’s Cup Classic in Belmont Park, New York.
Today, away from major competitions, he lives in Coolmore Stud, Ireland, at the headquarters of the largest breeder of English Thoroughbred racing horses in the world. But it remains a gold mine, now as a breeder. The former champion horse is valued at more than 200 million euros, that is, and taking into account the values of the transfermarket website, more than Cristiano Ronaldo (60 million) and Lionel Messi (100 million) combined.
As one of the greatest champions in history, Galileo is highly sought after for breeding English Thoroughbred horses. As a curiosity, for example, in the 2019 Epsom Derby, there were 12 grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Galileo on the track. And champion children in events are almost a hundred.
According to the British press, 89 grand prix winners are the children of Galileo.
When he started in the breeding area in 2002, his owners charged more than 70 thousand euros for someone to introduce him to a mare. Five years later, that figure rose to almost 200 thousand euros. Today some say that the value reaches 700 thousand euros.