I've
been looking at the results for the Brightwell's sale of
ex-racehorses, held at Malvern on 20th
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.
