Malvern Ex-racehorse Sale - How it Went

I've been looking at the results for the Brightwell's sale of ex-racehorses, held at Malvern on 20^th May. It was billed as being the first UK auction sale dedicated entirely to ex-racehorses. The venture was supported and publicized by Retraining of Racehorses, and with great facilities on the salesground for prospective buyers to try out the horses before bidding (not available at most bloodstock sales), it had all the ingredients of being a great success. I couldn't go myself, (and anyway didn't want any temptation dangling in front of me!) but I was certainly curious as to how it went.

Now, having looked at the reports, I think it was definitely a bit 'mixed'.

A few quick facts :

It was not, it turned out, a whole sale just for ex-racers. It was a normal, mixed, performance horse sale, with a separate section for ex-racehorses.

30 ex-racehorses were entered.

12 were sold ( 40 %)

Lowest price £ 600

Highest Price £1100

This top lot, a 6-year-old homebred brown gelding called Barton Blount, went to leading event rider Jeanette Brakewell, to go eventing. The horse had just one run on the racecourse, coming eighth of nine in a bumper ( National Hunt Flat race.) He'll surely do much better in his new career !

The first lot of the section was Volito, who was sold to Sian Morse for £600. A 9-year-old chestnut gelding, Volito raced 57 times on the Flat and All Weather, winning four and being placed several times to earn over £30,000 prizemoney. Sian was delighted with her purchase. “I spotted him in the catalogue and as soon as I saw him I wanted him. I'm hoping eventually to get him doing some open level competing, whether it's in showjumping, cross-country, or showing, depending on him.”

Another horse, Revupclover, was sold for £950 to Rachel Roberts to start a new career in the showring. Hopefully this 8-year-old grey gelding is far more beautiful than he was speedy because, despite trying his hand at several races hurdling and point-to-pointing, he never got anywhere in any of them! Where one door closes....

The buyers seem to have been a diverse crowd – understandably, since it was in fact a mixed sale - with people from all horse disciplines there. So, people not usually interested in ex-racehorses will have seen them displayed and, hopefully, have been suitably impressed.

Racing trainers supported the occasion too. Jane Evans, wife of local trainer James, who sent a horse to the sale, said: “ It's a good idea. It gives an outlet for ex-racehorses who are capable of doing another job. Let's hope it continues.”

Di Arbuthnot, of ROR, said : “ Racing did its bit by providing horses for the sport horse market. Going forward we need to do more with the auctioneers to make sure buyers are there in greater force. But we are pleased with how it went for the first time.”

And if Di's comments there sound a little disappointed to you – they do to me, too. And to be honest, I'm not surprised. It seems to me that this sale did not quite live up to its promise.

For a start, the stats aren't brilliant.

Only 30 horses entered. If you were seriously looking for a particular type of ex-racer to do a specific job, there wouldn't have been much choice there.

On the other hand, perhaps it's as well there were so few, because only 12 sold – that's only 40%, a much lower clearance rate than is usual at bloodstock sales. And that was even with the advance publicity, and the excellent pre-sale trial facilities, which should have boosted sales.

In fact, from a vendor's point of view it was pretty grim. Even the horses that sold did not make high prices. (Other horses in the 'mixed' section of the sale fetched considerably more.) Once the catalogue entry fee (£96) had been deducted, plus the commission to the auctioneers ( 6% plus VAT), and the transport costs to the sale, those who sold for £600 or so would not have much left to take home!

It's a shame, and I hope it doesn't put people off. Because the concept is a good one. It just needs more ooomph! Apparently ROR is planning more sales, and hope to attract more horse entries and more potential buyers attending. I'll vote for that.