by Megan Kingsley

Created on: February 01, 2010

There are several ways to purchase a racehorse, one if which is through an auction.  You most likely won’t find your next star at a low-end auction, but many high-class horses change hands at a specialized thoroughbred auction such as Tattersalls or Keeneland.  It may behoove you to attend a sale or two with no intention of making a purchase just to familiarize yourself with the procedures and requirements.  Also decide if you will be purchasing the horse(s) on your own, or if you will be forming a partnership to buy your animals.

Consider what type of horse you are interested in buying.  The most prestigious sales are usually yearling sales, but there are choices out there.  Weanlings or yearlings are going to be less expensive, but you then find yourself investing a large amount of money in a young horse with no hope of return on that investment until the horse is old enough to begin his racing career.  Also bear in mind that a young horse will have a longer period in which to become injured or sick before he ever gets to the track.   Auctions featuring older horses may be less prestigious and you may pay a bit more for a proven horse, but you will also have a better idea of the horse’s abilities and soundness as well.   Be aware that the more prestigious the sale, the higher-priced the animals may be.

If you are not highly experienced regarding bloodlines, conformation, and horseracing in general, you’re going to need some help to maximize your chances of purchasing a successful runner.  Bloodstock Agents make a living buying horses for their clients; at the larger sales, most of the purchasers will be agents.  However, an agent can be expensive.  A less expensive option would be to ask the person who will be serving as the animal’s trainer to accompany you to the auction and make recommendations.  The trainer will have a better idea of what type of horse may do well at the level at which you intend to race, as well as assessing the animal’s conformation, temperament, and suitability as a racehorse.  Always make sure you have made arrangements with a veterinarian to assess the soundness of your potential purchase as well.  At the larger sales, each animal for auction will already have radiographs available for potential buyers to view and several veterinarians may be on-hand to give you their idea on the soundness of animal in question; at other

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