5 Horse-Themed Superyachts for Derby Day

Today marks the 150^th running of the Kentucky Derby, among the most prestigious horse races globally. Interestingly, over the years more than one horse owner has also been a yacht owner. Similarly, more than one yacht has had the same name as a prize-winning horse. Here are several horse-themed superyachts and the stories behind them.

Ten years ago, the now-defunct Devonport Yachts delivered this long-delayed 164-footer (50-meter). Her contract signing took place in the 1990s, for a yacht that would set a new speed record. Specifically, the goal was 70 knots. However, Alamshar never achieved that speed. Instead, she is capable of 45 knots, which is still abundantly swift for her size. The shipyard and the owner, the Aga Khan, acknowledged the dramatic difference at delivery, each saying technical challenges occurred. As for her horse connection, Alamshar bears the name of an Irish thoroughbred. that raced in the early 2000s. He, too, belongs to the Aga Khan and is retired from racing, though active as a stud.

In horse racing, “Grade 1” refers in multiple countries to elite-level thoroughbred and standardbred races. In yachting, Grade 1, complete with a striking horse head logo, is a posh charter yacht. The 142-footer (43-meter) dates to 1995 but, of course, has undergone regular upgrades throughout the years, as you can see in the video above. Sportiness seems to be a big theme aboard, considering the megayacht has abundant fishing gear and diving gear, along with a center console tender. You can vacation aboard this summer in the Bahamas at a base rate of $130,000 per week.

At 176 feet (53.5 meters), Hurricane Run splashed at Feadship in 2009 for Michael Tabor, a well-known race-horse owner. He just so happened to have a horse by the same name. Interestingly, he also has a horse in today’s Kentucky Derby, a race yet another prized horse of his won in 2005. Specifically, it was Thunder Gulch, a name that graced (you guessed it) a yacht, too. The yacht Thunder Gulch was an Amels from 1999. Hurricane Run and Thunder Gulch are just two of his horse-themed superyachts over the yeras. A third was a 164-foot (50-meter) Feadship that he christened High Chaparral in 2004.

Horizon Yachts delivered Knot a Horse just five years ago. She’s one of many deliveries in its FD80 series, with an LOA of 80’5” (24.54 meters). Though the owners’ reasons for naming her the way they did are unknown, there’s an interesting connection to the Super Bowl. The yacht offered day charters in Sarasota, Florida during the week of Super Bowl LV in nearby Tampa in 2021.

The smallest of the yachts on this list, Wild Horses is a renowned racing sloop. She’s “just” 76 feet (23.16 meters) but the list of regattas she has entered is a mile long. She’s as fast as she is beautiful to see, further entirely constructed of wood in 1998 at Brooklin Boat Yard in Maine. She’s still in the hands of her original owner, the commercial real estate businessman and avid racer Donald Tofias. Tofias has her listed for sale, however, for just under $1 million.