Last week's Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale generated a turnover of 126,516,000 guineas, just shy of last year's 127,226,000, despite 11 per cent fewer horses being offered. The three-day auction saw Sheikh Mohammed spend 26,910,000 guineas on 25 purchases, accounting for one of every five guineas spent. The Coolmore partnership also participated actively, with the two operations responsible for four of the five colts in Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
Book 1 an Outlier
The eye-watering sums may prompt politicians to question why racing is petitioning against further tax cuts to the betting industry that will impact the sport's finances. However, Book 1 is a complete outlier and gives no guide to racing's health, despite the impressive numbers.
The upcoming Book 2, 3 and 4 sales over the next five days will show where the sport truly stands. Those figures will bear no resemblance to last week's, and plenty of yearlings will return to their breeders unsold.
Gambling Commission Seeks Chief Executive
The Gambling Commission is recruiting a new chief executive, offering a salary of £190,000 a year. The successful candidate must address challenges including "the threat from illegal gambling". This is ironic, given that the commission's affordability checks—designed to protect problem gamblers—have done more to grow betting's black market than anyone else.
While a "strong track record of senior leadership within a large and complex organisation" is required, previous experience in the gambling sector is not.
Monster Gamble at Multiple Tracks
Four horses trained by Cormac Farrell in Co Wexford—Calm The Jets and Honouramongthieves at Southwell, Molly Des Bruyeres at Chepstow, and The Gloves Are Off at Hexham—all went off as well-backed favourites on Saturday. The bookies were spared a payout as the first two finished well beaten, while the second pair came home in second.
The gambles prompted the British Horseracing Authority's integrity team to ask connections about "their expectations for today". Sledgehammer, who left Farrell to join Adrian Keatley, won at Hexham after being backed from 14-1 to 15-8 favourite.
