William Inglis and Son Pty Ltd is Australia's largest [1] and oldest [2] bloodstock auctioneer. The business was founded by William Inglis in 1867, and is still owned by the Inglis family, with family members actively engaged in the running of the business. [3] By the 1940s, William Inglis and Son was acknowledged as a prominent auction firm, not just in bloodstock, but in general livestock auctions at the then Sydney saleyards in the suburb of Homebush [4] However, as this article claims, by this stage William Inglis and Son Pty Ltd was most notable for its "world famous Sydney Yearling Sales", held at its Newmarket facility at Randwick Racecourse. In 2015 William Inglis and Son Pty Ltd sold its main premises at Randwick for development. [5] Inglis have stated that they intend to move their operations to a larger site at Warwick Farm Racecourse in 2018.
In 2016, Olivia Inglis, the 17-year-old daughter of the firm's Deputy Chairman and executive, Arthur Inglis, was killed in an equestrian accident. [6] Many significant figures in the equine industry offered their condolences.
Inglis' future base 'Newmarket' at Young Street in Randwick, first hosted a yearling sale on May 1, 1867. William Inglis, a son of Scottish migrant Thomas Inglis, acquired the family's original property in Pitt Street, Sydney in 1880 to sell work horses under William Inglis & Son, before moving into Thoroughbreds.
In 1883, Newmarket was acquired by trainer Michael Fennelly who continued to train for Newmarket's previous owner James White. One of the horses trained there was 1883 Melbourne Cup winner Martini-Henry.
More than 100 lots were part of William Inglis & Son's first yearling catalogue in 1905. The auction house moved to Newmarket in 1918 and remained there until 2017 before moving to its new base 'Riverside Stables' at the newly-constructed five star hotel - The William Inglis Hotel - next to Warwick Farm Racecourse. [7]
Inglis In 1945, Bernborough was sold to A.O. Romano for 2,600 guineas, having been barred from racing at metropolitan tracks due to ownership issues. The 'Toowoomba tornado' went on to 15 consecutive races including the Newmarket Handicap and Doomben Cup. Hall of Fame galloper Shannon, set an Australian record in 1947 of 26,000 guineas when bought by W.J. Smith - chairman of Australian Consolidated Industries. [8] He had been offered for sale following the death of his owner and trainer Peter Riddle. Shannon eventually stood at stud in America.
Champion racehorse Tulloch was sold at auction at Newmarket, as a stallion in 1957.
The first $100,000 yearling in Australia was sold in 1978 at Inglis' Newmarket complex.
The first million dollar yearling in Australia, went under the hammer at the 1988 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. A colt by Bletchingly from Verdi was purchased by champion trainer Bart Cummings for $1.1 million. The colt had been bred by Sir Tristan Antico. [9] Cummings spent a whopping $13.6 million on 43 yearlings at the 1989 Inglis Easter Sale on behalf of two accounting firms, as part of a horse syndication scheme. The global stock market crash in 1987 saw Cummings' backers abandon the deal post-auction, leaving him to face possible bankruptcy. [10] A subsequent auction of Cummings-purchased yearlings - by then aged two - was held at Newmarket in 1989. Called The Night of the Stars, the auction was designed to recoup money paid for 67 yearlings across multiple Thoroughbred sales. [11]
Famed auctioneer John Inglis, the third generation of the Inglis family to sell at Newmarket, retired from the rostrum in 1998 and passed away in 2006, aged 88. [12] Broodmare Milanova - in foal to Encosta de Lago - set a new Southern Hemisphere record for a thoroughbred sold at auction in 2008, with $5 million paid for the daughter of Danehill by Coolmore Stud. [13] The final Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to be held at the historic Newmarket premises was April 12, 2017.
In 2020, Inglis became the first Thoroughbred auction house to host a major yearling sale in a virtual format, with its two-day Inglis Australian Easter Yearling relying entirely on online and phone bidding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sale was successfully conducted without horses, vendors or buyers at the Inglis Riverside complex, eliciting praise from industry participants worldwide. [14] [15] The live stream coverage included video footage of each yearling and two auctioneers in an empty sale auditorium. According to the company, its website saw almost 300,000 engagements during the two-day sale from more than 100 countries. [16] Prior to the virtual auction, more than 150 yearlings were withdrawn from the catalogue including the 60-strong draft from Arrowfield Stud. [17] [18]
Starcraft was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who came to international attention when he won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket in England in September 2005. He was the winner of five Group One (G1) races in four countries, the 2004 Australian Champion Three Year Old and also the 2005 World Champion Older Turf Miler.
Thoroughbred horse racing is an important spectator sport in Australia, and gambling on horse races is a very popular pastime with A$14.3 billion wagered in 2009/10 with bookmakers and the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB). The two forms of Thoroughbred horseracing in Australia are flat racing, and races over fences or hurdles in Victoria and South Australia. Thoroughbred racing is the third most attended spectator sport in Australia, behind Australian rules football and rugby league, with almost two million admissions to 360 registered racecourses throughout Australia in 2009/10. Horseracing commenced soon after European settlement, and is now well-appointed with automatic totalizators, starting gates and photo finish cameras on nearly all Australian racecourses.
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The Kia-Ora Stud is a Thoroughbred horse stud situated near Scone in the Hunter Region, New South Wales. Percy Miller purchased the cattle property Kia-Ora from the established Segenhoe Stud in 1914 and from there developed the Kia-Ora Stud.
David Lee Freedman is an Australian thoroughbred racehorse trainer. and Hall of Fame inductee. In partnership with brothers Anthony, Michael, and Richard, he has been a prolific winner of Australia's major races in past 20 years, with four Golden Slippers, four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates, and five Melbourne Cups, including two of the three won by Makybe Diva. On 19 June 2007 he won the prestigious King's Stand Stakes at the United Kingdom's Royal Ascot racecourse with his champion mare, Miss Andretti.
The Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. is an American auction house for Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses. Founded in 1898, it is the oldest auction company of its kind in North America. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky, Elkton, Maryland, Grand Prairie, Texas, Saratoga Springs, New York, and Ocala, Florida. In 2008, Fasig-Tipton Co. was purchased by Synergy Investments Ltd., a Dubai-based company headed by Abdulla Al Habbai. Of the 13 Triple Crown winners, two of the three which were offered at public auction were sold at Fasig-Tipton: 2015 winner American Pharoah, sold at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and 1975 Seattle Slew, sold at the 1973 Fasig-Tipton July Sale in Kentucky.
Alinghi was an Australian Thoroughbred racemare who won four Group One races, including the Newmarket Handicap, and earned A$4,161,740 in total prize money. She was by the leading sire, Encosta De Lago from Oceanfast by Monde Bleu (GB). Oceanfast's racing record was 12 starts for 2 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds for $82,760 and Alinghi is her only stakes winner until July 2009.
Starspangledbanner is an Australian-bred and internationally raced Thoroughbred racehorse who won six of his sixteen group or listed race starts including the group one (G1) Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, G1 July Cup at Newmarket, G1 Oakleigh Plate and the G1 Caulfield Guineas for A$2,198,503 in prize money.
Encosta De Lago was an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse that won three group races from eight starts including the Group One (G1), Vic Health Cup against older horses. He was the Leading sire in Australia during 2008 and 2009.
Sacred Falls was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.
Reg Inglis is a bloodstock agent in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Inglis family have been prominent as bloodstock agents since the nineteenth century.
Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd is a racing syndicate and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses based in Melbourne, Australia and owned by Sean Buckley. Although based in Melbourne, the company has significant interests throughout Australia, with land holdings in Victoria and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. The business primarily bases its racing interests in Australia, however, races internationally with a particular focus on the New Zealand market in recent times.
The Big Stable Newmarket is a heritage-listed former Aboriginal land, farm stables, residence, hotel, factory and detention centre and now stables at 29-39 Young Street in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Cranbrook Stables;. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Autumn Sun was a Thoroughbred racehorse trained and bred in Australia. He won five Group One races and over three million dollars.
Gytrash is a retired Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred racehorse, who was trained by Gordon Richards at Morphettville in South Australia. He is named after the legendary spirit of English folklore, the Gytrash that is said to take form of a horse, mule or dog.
Exceed And Excel is a retired multiple Group 1 winning Australian thoroughbred racehorse. After his racing career ended he has been successful as a breeding stallion, having sired over 150 Stakes winners.
Classique Legend is an Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse that is most notable for winning the 2020 running of The Everest.
Avantage is an Australian-bred, New Zealand-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who has won nine Group 1 races.
Brazen Beau is a multiple Group 1 winning Australian thoroughbred racehorse, and current successful stallion.
Flying Spur was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse that won three Group One races, most notably the 1995 Golden Slipper. He was also the Leading sire in Australia for the 2006/07 season.
In 1921 the firm became a limited company, and in 1934, after buying out a competitor, Henry Chisholm & Co. Pty Ltd, it became the undisputed leader in bloodstock auctioneering in Australia.
