THE original sale at Builth Wells in Wales folded some six years ago and the sale at Mick Welling’s York Raceway has survived as the sole dedicated auction of Standardbred horses in the British Isles.
A few sales have been attempted in Ireland with poor uptake.
The fact remains that there are more commercial breeders in the UK and possibly a bigger pool of buyers. That much said, the Irish buyers are always active at York. Most of the yearlings are offered with a Coggins Test done, to facilitate transport to Ireland.
The 2026 sale will take place before racing on Saturday, October 10th.
The catalogue contains 11 by Henry Hill, eight by Wild Bill, six Tom Hills, four offspring of See and Ski, four Art Professors and two by the remarkable Sweet Lou amongst others. The huge increase in prize money for the Irish Harness Racing Association Juvenile Series, helped by the Department Of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine/ Horse Sport Ireland, and the hefty sums on offer for the Vincent Delaney Memorial Weekend have breathed life into GB and Irish yearling prices. The record stands at £75,000 (Oakwood Carmelita, 2021). The 2023 sales-topper Oakwood Louis rounded off a successful 2026 season by winning the prestigious Welsh Classic at Tregaron. He cost Jim Harrop £30,000 as a yearling.
More professional
As the Irish and British scenes get more professional, some buyers will venture to Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), where Catch My Halo Hanover and Martinez The Knife were bought for the John Richardson barn in 2025.
Oakwood Hill Farm have no yearlings to offer for 2026. They previously sold at York, Mullingar and through a US-based online sale. The home of Foreclosure also offers straws from Sweet Lou and Always B Miki. Stud owner Derek Delaney recently announced another coup, in that the Offaly operation have teamed up with Hanover Shoe Farms of Pennsylvania to provide straws (for 2027) from Stay Hungry p, 1.47,3 ($1,303,709) and the sire of recent sensation Ayroplane amongst others.
Obviously, the Irish-bred Stay Hungry crop will not be yearlings until 2029, so for the meantime, let’s concentrate on the here and the now.
Coalford Superior (f) A full-sister to the Mc Aleer's Coalford Annabelle p, 1.54.5h '\ Sarah Thomas Photography
Ahead of the sale
AT time of writing, our experts can only judge the lots on paper. Readers will know that there is no substitute for looking a horse in the eye, and to see him stand and walk. However, based on pedigree alone, the following horsemen had this to say:
John Smart, Scottish-based prominent bookie, and sale organiser: “Ayr Harmony should top the sale. The dam threw stakes winners Ayr Ambition and Ayr Corleone and Ayr Dave, who recently paced 1.49 in the US.
“Ayr Of The Dog is by Bulldog Hanover out of a Captain Treacherous mare and this cross produced the Little Brown Jug winner, Redland Rocket Man a fortnight ago.
“Of Irish interest is the first colt by the IHRA-backed stallion Tattoo Artist out of Huw Evans’ proven mare Baby Rosa.”
Gregor Menzies, Scottish driver, and trainer: “I like the maternal line of Coalford Supernova. She is by Henry Hill, a good sire and from the family of Louisville and Louisiana.”
Calvin Broughan, Dublin-based driver and trainer: “I think Ayr Of The Dog will be the standout.”
Huw Evans, Welsh breeder and racing promoter: “Coalford Superior is a full-sister to Coalford Top Guy and Coalford Annabelle. Forgeside Rockin M is from a family full of winners. My own Tattoo Artist colt is a perfect specimen, so I am hoping for the best.”
Alex Maw, Sunderland-based breeder of the Coalford prefix horses: “We are hopeful about Coalford Superior, her sister paced 1.55.4 in Britain and her brother won $100,000 in the States.”
The business model is ‘buy pure US-bred (or second generation US) campaign at two, three and four in GB and Ireland. Sell to race in USA at five, if good enough. If only it was that simple. ‘Caveat Emptor’ as the Romans said.