view raw text
] J ] ] . [ J 1 . : | 1 | | j i j I i ! | | 1 | I | I j j 1 I , ! 1 : | ! 1 | I i ] | ! 1 ; , I j I j ■ ■ i i • ! I I ; i J . NEWMARKET YEARLING SALES1; ~ — ? !. Fewer Lots Sold But Average Price Is Highest Since Year 1929. . ♦ Results of First July Sales of Stimulating; Character Indicating as They Do the Solidity of English Home Market. -■ •*- By ITHURIEL. LONDON, England.— The great improvement and the cheerful business conditions prevailing in the country were sufficiently encouraging to lead one to assume that the prices likely to be realized at the Newmarket first July sales would certainly show considerable advance upon those recorded in the immediate past years. Of course it is still unfortunately true that the general state of affairs in many other countries is still doubtful. Therefore to an exclusive extent last week the remarkable strength of the market was purely British in character. The result obtained must have been a marked encouragement for our bloodstock breeders and a distinct tonic for the breeders of bloodstock in other parts of the j World. Particularly in Ireland, France and the United States. Last week any young animal of individuality and successful lineage instantly made a wide appeal so there were many would-be buyers. Clearly there was a refreshing revival of animation in the market. This I consider is likely to be progressive. I pointed out a year ago that if and when breeders in other countries and in the Do- | minions were once again -free to come into j the bloodstock market endeavoring to make ; additions to their studs we may expect to see a notable increase in the demand fori thoroughbreds. The figures below show the solidity of the "home" market. I cannot i trace that any of the yearlings sold werei secured for export. Therefore the results; must be of a most stimulating character. Here is an analysis of the Newmarket first July sales so far as they relate to i yearlings: I Sold. • Yield. Aver. Price. Colts 45 27.945 Gs. 621 Gs. Fillies ........ 34 16.019 Gs. 471 Gs. Geldings 1 155 Gs. 155 Gs. Totals 80 44,110 Gs. 551 Gs. Note: A British guinea at the present, rate of exchange is about . The first fact which emerges from these figures is that on the whole our breeders were perhaps paying attention to quality rather than quantity for the number of yearlings sold is the lowest recorded since the war. On the other hand the average price is the highest since 1929. Indeed it has been exceeded only four times since the war: That was in 1919, 1920, 1928 and 1929. Just by way of comparison with results for the past few seasons: In 1933 there were 105 lots sold for an average price of 254% guineas. In-1932 the number sold was 122 lots and the average 213 guineas. In 1931 the figures were 140 lots sold for an average of 286% guineas. In 1930 when the evil ef-1 fects of the economic blizsard were begin-I ning to have a withering effect upon in-I dustry generally, the figures were 147 lot3 sold for an average price of 367 guineas-. To some extent our breeders are relatively even better off than some time ago, since there has in many instances been a reduc- tion in stud fees. One outstanding result was the price of 2,200 guineas paid for a fine colt by the young sire one of his first offspring Theystis, whose fee was twenty-five guineas. Last week we had prices like 6,100 guineas, 4,800 guineas, 3.500 guineas, 3,200 guineas and 3,000 guineas. We have to go back beyond 1930 to find . higher prices. In that year at the first July sales the top price paid was 4,200 guineas for a colt which subsequently became the Cesarewitch winner Seminole. In, 1931, Sublime Prince, by Colorado, brought 2,400 guineas, and Delicia, by Tetratema, was sold for 2,200 guineas. A year afterwards the top price was 2,000 guineas, secured for colts by Friar Marcus and Son-in-Law Valerius. Last year two lots only reached 1,000 guineas , and upwards, the top price being 1,500 guineas paid for a colt from the National Stud. Referring to the offering from that fa-j mous establishment in County Kildare, nine j lots sold for 11,955 guineas, which is almost j 1,330 guineas average. Once there is a re-1 duction in the offerings, but the average1 this year is over three times as much as was received for sixteen lots in 1933, while a year earlier thirteen lots sold for 340 guineas average. It looks as though a good many of the old worn out mares have been eliminated or their produce was not considered sufficiently attractive to send to Newmarket. A glance at the ages of the mares, revealed in the sale catalog, shows that most of them have "all their life before them." Naturally some of the highest priced lots were somewhat criticized as individuals. When would this be impossible? Still the price they realized is a clear indication that there was strong competition for these animals and that alone accounts for the fine prices they brought under the hammer. During the week our special commissioner commented upon the individuals as they passed through the ring. My duty is to record the financial aspect of that sale. From the results obtained our breeders may be thoroughly heartened. Naturally for a few years there is likely to be a restricted number of yearlings offered, for I feel sure during the past two years about one thou-! sand mares, mostly oldish, indifferent and unsuccessful producers have been put out of the stud. In France breeders appear to be very discouraged. Still, as the number of foals born was reduced from 2350 in 1930 to about 1,500 in 1934, those which find their way into the public sales should be in demand, though the auction sale tax of thirteen per cent is a great burden hampering successful sales and limitating against buy- ers from other countries coming to French auction sales of bloodstock and thus helping to improve the market. It seems to me that until this tax is reduced to the normal five per cent obtaining In England, the United States and Australia, French breeders will be compelled to look for private buyers and thus considerably prejudice their open market.
