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ENGLISH PRICES FALL OFF r Big Reduction in Yearling Sales Figures as Compared to Last Year. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. LONDON, England, October C. At the first Oc-toler Kales last year 144 yearlings realized a sum of 31,725, which was an average price of ,997. Last week 109 yearlings were disposed of at Newmarket. They yielded 209,900, which is an average, price of ,925. There is no gainsaying these totals and averages. They only confirm the story of the Doncaster sales. The depreciation is just about the same, or 37 per cent. These two sales furnish conclusive evidence of the drop in bloodstock values during the past few months. On the first day the animals offered were on the whole of poor quality. Where they were good individuals there were prohibitive reserves. The result was that out of fifty-six lots submitted that day only eleven found buyers, and the total was ,995. It is a long time since Messrs. Tattersall had so melancholy an experience and had to work so.. hard to induce onlookers to make bids. It was better on the Wednesday when forty-eight out of fifty-nine lots changed ownership, mainly because a larger portion of these yearlings were sold without reserve. It is too much to say that the results of the sale last week occasioned great surprise. Breeders were prepared to find a weak market, but they har.dly anticipated the slump which prevailed. However, many of the unsold animals were subsequently leased for their racing careers by men who would have bought had money been more plentiful. FALL OF PRICE BALANCE SOUGHT. Many breeders seem to assume that the period of depreciation through which we are passing is only of temporary character. I cannot take this optimistic view. Bloodstock values have been far too high in this country since the war, and with prices on a lower scale there is a much better chance for export business, particularly when the exchanges are less ruinous. Without the foreign demand the English market soon breaks. Natiirally there is a great outcry among the section of breeders for the reduction of sire fees and the matter is to be thoroughly discussed at the general meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which will be held during the December sales week. Some owners of stallions do not seem able to read the signs of the times; for a young bqrse, which shall be nameless, is advertised to start service next season at a fee of 1,500 for each marc, and subscriptions must be booked for three years. The general feeling seems to be that as far as high-class sires are concerned owners should be prepared to make some concession in the case of barren marcs by returning a percentage of the fee. On the other hand, many stallion owners are now advertising that approved mares will be served on the terms of "No foal no fee." Such a concession will be greatly appreciated and should be of practical service to owners of mares. . There were no big transactions at the first October sales. The only foreign money in the market was that in the possession of J.H. Crawford, who has recently come to this country from India, where he was successful. He will act as private trainer to Mr. M. Goculdas, for whom Crawford was buying yearlings last week. The fillies were purchased with the eventual purpose of being mated with Caligula, the St. Leger winner of 1920, which is . to arrive in this country from India in about a weeks time. He will make his first season in 1922. NEWMARKET SALES BEST PRICES. The chief prices at Newmarket last week were as follows: Bay colt, by Polymelus Willia; J. H. Crawford : ....,000 Chestnut filly, by The Tctrareh Lycliorida; .T. H. Crawford 8,500 Bay colt, by Sunstar Flowing Cup; .7. H. Crawford 7,500 Bay colt, by Polymelus or Pommern Dcmer- ara; Sir II. Cunliffe-Owcn 7,500 Chestnut colt, by The Tetrarch Dark Beauty; II. S. Persso 7,250 Brown; colt, by Hapsburg Yokohama; A. Knowles . 0,000 Chestnut colt, by Corcyra Shakedown; R. Marsh 5,750 Chestnut filly, by Golden Sun Blundella; Marshall Field 5,000 The day after Mr. Marshall Field bought the Golden Sun filly his great mare Golden Corn, with odds of 9 to 1 laid on her, ran away with the Rous Memorial Stakes at Newmarket; the race was worth ,000. Most people are now comparing Golden Corn with Pretty Polly, which is high praise, indeed. She is entered iii the One Thousand Guineas and Oaks, next year, and if she is good enough to win cither or both of these races Mr. Marshall Field will come in for showers of congratulations. Golden Corn is, of course, a great advertisement for her sire. Golden Sun.
