Buying a horse in the claiming races or at auction!

Many of our more established owners refuse to pick up a horse in the Sales Ring. While one can see the thinking behind it the thing is every horse was bought from here at one stage or another. However they maintain its makes more sense to either buy a horse who is running in a claiming race or pick one up at auction.



Why? well you can gauge how good the animal is due to its runs for it's previous stable. Some owners sell their better horses on purpose and get a preety penny for them. Its like buying an old run down cottage and turning it into a fine holiday home, you make it into a prized assett and then realise its value through the sale.

However some owners who perhaps enter their horses in the wrong races, over/under train them and do not give them the vitamins and other essentials needed for optimum performance can sell a fine horse without realising it themselves. I've seen this happen. A horse previously unheard of starts picking up the wins over different conditions.

Horses entered in claiming races will have a reserve price put on them. If you are first in and offer the reserve price then the horse is yours. Auctions are held at different stages throughout the month and obviously the highest bidder walks away with the beast! Always keep an eye out for horses from the top stables who end up in claiming races or at auction, chances are they have huge ability.

You can find out about which horses are coming up for claimers/auction by chatting with the other owners on the forum. Generally experienced owners are only too happy to help out newcomers so don't be shy. A dumb priest never got a parish!

By Graham Clifford

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