Point-to-point riders and trainers will have the opportunity to purchase some quality racing kit when a dispersal auction takes place at Caroline and Gerald Bailey’s Northamptonshire farm.
The couple announced last month they were closing their racing and point-to-point yards due to struggles with finding staff, and the dispersal at 2pm on September 15 will conclude one of hunt racing’s most influential chapters. The Baileys sent out some top-class horses over the years, including winners of all Britain’s featured hunters’ chases.
Caroline Bailey said: “There is some really nice equipment and it’s all been well looked after and is in good condition, from exercise saddles and bridles to rugs, schooling fences and machinery including three lorries.
“If someone is starting riding or training in point-to-points they could find themselves a bargain – it will be sad to see it go, but if the auction gives some new faces a chance to buy equipment then that will be a good thing.”
Racing tack catalogued in the dispersal includes seven race exercise saddles, six racing bridles with cavesson or cross nosebands, five leather racing rollers, five chiffneys and three leather lead reins. General purpose items include four GP saddles, a quantity of numnahs, girths and headcollars, plus front and hind boots and lunging equipment.
A Claydon horse walker is for sale, while those seeking schooling equipment can bid on 12 EasyFix chase fence sections (pictured above) and six hurdle sections, plus large and small fence wings. Yard items range from stable doors and partitions to wheelbarrows, buckets, mangers and haynets.
The three lorries, all with MOTs, are a 2013 Leyland Daf 4-5 horsebox, a 2014 George Smith Challenger II 2-horse box (pictured below) and a 2003 MAN 8.150 4-horse box. Hay-making machinery includes a Welger round baler, a McHale bale wrapper and a Claas twin rotor grass rake. There is also a Western 3,500 litre water bowser on an Ifor Williams trailer.
Local auctioneers Howkins & Harrison are conducting the auction, which takes place at Holdenby North Lodge, Spratton, Northants, NN6 8LG – viewing of auction lots takes place on Wednesday, September 15 from 9am to 5pm and from 10am on the day of the sale. The auction company states it intends to print the full catalogue on its website https://howkinsandharrison.co.uk//