Britain is the home of two of the world’s most internationally renowned thoroughbred sales companies, Tattersalls (established in 1766) and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales.

The quality, value and choice these companies offer is unrivalled and thoroughbreds from these auctions regularly excel on the world stage – as the Notable Purchases section will show you. Sales types include those for yearlings, race-ready two-year-olds, horses in training, foals, broodmares and fillies.

• The Yearling Sales are held in late August through to October in the Northern Hemisphere. Un-raced horses that are one year old are sold through the ring. They are then trained to accept a saddle and bridle, this is called “breaking in” or “starting” and then go into training where they begin their racing career and will possibly run as two-year old on the flat depending on their precocity.
• Horses in Training Sales are held throughout the year by Tattersalls and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. Horses in training sales are a useful source of proven raced horses and quite frequently jumpers.
• The Breeze-Up Sales is a sale of two-year olds, held in the spring in the Northern Hemisphere, who are galloped for purchasers to view before the sale. Graduates from these sales will possibly begin their career running on the flat as two year olds.
• National Hunt Breeze-Up Sale is similar to the Breeze-Ups but entrants for this sale are horses specifically bred to jump and aged three and four years old.
• Jumping Sales - Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Spring Sale is a premier sale of horses especially bred for jumping. The majority of the horses sold are called “stores” (a three or four year old untried horse).
• Breeding Sales – Entrants for these sales are fillies (female horse four years or under) Broodmare’s and foals.

To find out about notable horses sold at auction, for differing prices, click here

Buying bloodstock privately is also popular in Britain and through this means many countries have strengthened their stallion ranks.

Competition in British racing is intense with the influence of the leading Arab families and the likes of John Magnier and the Niarchos family. Because of this British racing is generally regarded as the best in the world and this leads to strong demand for British horses in training to be sold overseas to race. Viva Pataca (GB), who won the Hong Kong Derby in 2006, was bought in this fashion.