A charity auction of stallion nominations held at Tattersalls on Sunday night in aid of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) raised just shy of £200,000 for British racing’s official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses.
The champagne reception and auction drew a large crowd to the sales ring at Tattersalls, Newmarket on the eve of the December Mares Sale. Television presenter Nick Luck compered the evening and the Chairman of Tattersalls, Edmond Mahony, conducted the auction.
The top lot was a nomination to Kingman, Juddmonte Farm’s four-time Gr.1 winning miler. Bidding reached £60,000 before the hammer fell to Joe Foley, who bought the nomination on behalf of Steve Parkin’s Branton Court Stud.
Other highlights included €40,000 paid for a nomination to Gleneagles, who stands at Coolmore and five lots donated by Cheveley Park.
Afterwards, Paul Roy, Chairman of RoR, said: “It’s been a wonderful evening. We are incredibly grateful to the studs who donated stallion nominations and to those who bought them, raising nearly £200,000 for the charity.
“ The income raised by the auction will support the ongoing expansion of the charity’s activities which continue to generate demand for former racehorses, enabling them to pursue a wide range of other equestrian activities after racing.
“Our thanks to Edmond Mahony and everyone at Tattersalls. There was to me an added poignancy and relevance that the auction was taking place in the famous Tattersalls sales ring, where so many dreams are bought. The event was raising money for the charity that ensures when, as more often than not happens, the horses and dreams sold in that ring do not go on to a subsequent career at stud, they are provided with the opportunity to enjoy and thrive in an alternative career.”
RoR and Tattersalls would like to thank the following for their generous donations, Amanda Skiffington, Cheveley Park Stud, Coolmore, Darley, Juddmonte Farms, Lanwades, The National Stud, Qatar Racing / Tweenhills, Shadwell and Whitsbury Manor Stud.
*This article is courtesy of Retraining of Racehorses
http://www.ror.org.uk/kingman-nomination-top-lot-tattersalls-charity-auction-raises-200000/