From Stud And Stable The Grocer Who Outbid The Multi-Millionaires

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 4

From Stud And Stable The Grocer Who Outbid The Multi-Millionaires

A grocery-chain owner from Norfolk, Virginia, made yearling sales history at Lexington, Kentucky, last month. He is Mr Wendell P. Rosso who, at the Keeneland Sales, paid $405,000 —the biggest price ever—for a filly by the European champion sire, Sea-Bird.

Mr Rosso could never match millions or knowledge of horses with Mr Charles Engelhard, the precious metals magnate, or financier, Mr Paul Mellon, the largest buyer for years. But he set the multi-millionaires back on their heels.

Mr Rosso, whom the American publication, “Newsweek,” describes as a freewheeling, hard-drink-ing novice who bets with both hands—as much as several thousand dollars a race—and loves racing, became an instant racing celebrity.

He had not previously spent more than SIO,OOO to secure a horse, and he planned his buying spree at Keeneland some weeks beforehand. He remembered watching Sea-Bird win the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in 1965 and decided to buy some yearlings by the young stallion.

The first three Sea-Bird colts to enter the ring were knocked down to Mr Rosso for a total of $197,000. His fourth purchase was the recordpriced filly. In his bid for this daughter of Sea-Bird and the prize mare, Libra. Mr Rosso had strong opposition The under-bidder, at $400,000, was Charles Engelhard.

“I Sell Bananus” Mr Rosso was so elated with his success that he exclaimed, “Imagine that He sells platinum, I sell Bananas —and I got the horse.” Although some experienced horsemen scoffed at the newcomer others surrounded him like vultures and besieged him with “advice.” Just before the Saratoga Sales a fortnight ago one trainer vacated his bedroom ■and slept on the living-room (floor so that he could put ■Mr Rosso up and counsel him during the sale. Those who deplored this trainer’s tactics probably wished they could get close enough to try some of their own on the big spender. But at Saratoga Mr Rosso kept his hands in his pockets and the buying was done by more established owners. Although no price ap-

proached the $405,000 paid by Mr Rosso the Saratoga Sale was also the scene of new records. Mrs Anne McDonnell Ford, the former wife of Henry Ford 11, paid $210,000 for a yearling by Sea-Bird from Sofarsogood to set a new Saratoga record for a colt. The under-bidder, at $200,000, was Mr Engelhard. The trainer, Elliott Burch, who was acting as agent for both Mr Mellon and Mr Engelhard, who apparently decided to join forces rather than engage in costly bidding duels, established another mark when he paid $225,000 for a Hail to Reason-Cosmah filly. Record Average Another dominant figure at the sales was Mr John R. Gaines, the vendor of seven

yearlings, including the toppriced filly and colt. His full consignment brought $600,000, a record average of $85,714. . The fascinating thing about yearling sales is that hardheaded businessmen, who

would not normally invest one dollar without making two, will speculate freely at unpredictable odds.

Statistically it is not a good gamble. The chance of an owner recouping his outlay on a yearling in the United States has been calculated as about one in 35. But buyers at Keeneland and Saratogo, the country’s two biggest sales, spent more than sl4 million on about 500 yearlings within a few weeks.