VALUE OF RACEHORSES IN ENGLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 January 1948, Page 7

VALUE OF RACEHORSES IN ENGLAND

LONDON, Dec. 31. Thoroughbred horses in Britain were never a more valuable commodity than today. Racing is helping exports, thanks to a world-wide demand, chiefly from America and the Argentine, and the finest strains were eagerly sought by a host of buyers from abroad at the annual December bloodstock sales at Newmarket, where over 1000 lots included prime young horses now in training, but of considerable prospective value as staiions. The famous firm of Tattersail have never conducted a bigger sale in their 180 years’ history. The total turnover for thoroughbreds touched the £l,OOO, 000 mark, and much of the money came from overseas, with consequent benefit to the British Exchequer. Such transactions will ease the dollar situation a little and justify the Government approval of racing as a useful industry, employing labour in a profitable manner, apart from providing relaxation as a sport. The Board of Trade figures show a striking advance in a year’s receipts for the export of bloodstock. The total for stallions, mares and geldings for a full pre-war trading year topped £750,00 and 3251 animals were sold. Last year's figures were over £3,000,000 for 5557 horses, most of which were from thoroughbred breeding stock. The wealthy Gaekwar of Baroda’s stables provided a notable selection at the December sales. This distinguished natron of British racing caused a sensation by paying the record sum of 28,000 guineas two years ago for the brother of the 1945 Derby winner, Dante. My Babu, from the same stable, leads the two-year-olds.