Tattersalls has closed its Ascot Sales’ venue and moved this year’s two remaining auctions to its Newmarket headquarters.
Popular as a venue for buying and selling horses at affordable prices, Ascot has for decades under Botterills, Brightwells and then Tattersalls been a location for trading point-to-pointers and for owners and trainers involved in the sport to buy a hurdler or chaser. The closure will be seen as a negative by some, particularly those living in the West Country who will have further to travel, but the move to Newmarket will suit others.
In a statement two days after staging Tuesday’s June Sale at Ascot, Tattersalls said its Ascot July Sale and Ascot November Sale will be relocated to the Tattersalls Park Paddocks sales complex in Newmarket and will take place on the current advertised dates of Tuesday, July 18 and Thursday, November 9.
Yorkshire-based owner/trainer Fiona Needham, who at Ascot on Tuesday bought a three-year-old gelded store for £5,000, said of the venue’s closure: “From Tattersalls point of view it makes sense to move to Newmarket where they have all the facilities. It’s probably easier for us to get to Newmarket, but not so easy for those in the West Country.
“It shouldn’t make a lot of difference providing they offer the same type of sale, particularly for point-to-pointers. We want a mixed sale with less expensive horses on offer. Cheaper horses often sell well in that type of sale, whereas they would get lost in a better sale.
“As Ascot on Tuesday there was a yard of Godolphin horses – no matter how much money you have you can still end up with a slightly lower-class horse.”
Yorkshire-based Fiona Needham: 'We want a mixed sale with less expensive horses on offer'
Ian Chanin, who trains in Devon, said: “It’s disappointing for everyone based on this side of the country. It will make buying and selling horses of a certain value more difficult.
“We have Cheltenham sales, but they are for the very best horses in the top bracket, not the average horse, the fun horse. At Ascot on Tuesday I noticed a few point-to-point people buying horses. Ascot going is not a help to point-to-pointing, but perhaps there’s a gap for someone to start a new sale.”
Dorset-based trainer Chris Barber, who bought and sold at Ascot on Tuesday, said: “It was a surprise to hear they are shutting Ascot. It’s not a bad decision by Tattersalls because it will suit some people, but being based in Dorset I’m biased.
“Ascot suited us. I won’t be travelling up to Newmarket to sell one horse for £2,000 – I’m more likely to sell it privately, although [bloodstock agent] Ed Bailey will probably go and will be looking out for anything we might need. As long as they have the right type of horses I will still support it in that way.”
Chris Barber, who bought and sold at Ascot on Tuesday: 'It was a surprise to hear they are shutting Ascot' (picture: Debbie Burt)
Commenting on the decision Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “We have enjoyed our seven-year association with Ascot Sales and would like to thank all the loyal vendors and purchasers who have contributed to some memorable moments in that time, as well as the support team at Ascot Racecourse. We will continue to serve this sector of the market with mixed sales at our Park Paddocks base in Newmarket in addition to the market leading mixed and online sales which we already stage throughout the year.
“Just as with the Tattersalls sales at Ascot, the relocated sales will continue to cater for all categories, both Flat and National Hunt, with the added advantage that we can also accept mares in foal and foals, which was not an option at Ascot. Vendors and purchasers will also benefit from the outstanding facilities at Park Paddocks and the lowest commission rate in Europe.”
Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony, whose company is moving its Ascot sales to Newmarket