Tattersalls is a prominent auctioneer of racehorses in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with a history dating back to 1766. Established by Richard Tattersall, the business developed from its original premises in London into a leading bloodstock auctioneer in Europe. Its activities have included major horse dispersal sales, the expansion of auction operations into France and Ireland, and the sale of Thoroughbred horses at internationally recognised prices. Today, Tattersalls is based in Newmarket, Suffolk, and continues to operate within the horse racing and breeding industry.
The Founding Of Tattersalls In 1766
Tattersalls was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall, who lived from 1724 to 1795 and had served as stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The business initially operated near Hyde Park Corner, which was then situated on the outskirts of London. Its premises included two subscription rooms reserved for members of the Jockey Club. These rooms also became meeting places for people involved in sporting activities and betting.
Richard Tattersall established the foundations of a business that would become closely associated with horse racing and bloodstock auctions. Among the notable sales he conducted were the dispersal of the Duke of Kingston's stud in 1774 and the sale of the Prince of Wales's stud in 1786. The prince, who later became George IV, frequently visited Tattersall and jointly owned the Morning Post newspaper with him for several years.
The Tattersall Family And Business Expansion
Following Richard Tattersall's death in 1795, the business passed to his son, Edmund Tattersall, who lived from 1758 to 1810. Under Edmund's leadership, the firm's activities expanded into France. This development marked an early extension of the business beyond its original English base.
The next generation continued the family's involvement in the company. Richard Tattersall, born in 1785 and deceased in 1859, was Edmund's eldest son and succeeded him as head of the firm. He became known for his ability and tact and maintained close relationships with leading sporting figures of his time.
Another Richard Tattersall, who lived from 1812 to 1870, subsequently assumed control of the business. When the 99-year lease associated with the firm's original premises expired, the company relocated to Knightsbridge in 1865. Richard was followed by his cousin Edmund Tattersall, who lived from 1816 to 1898, and subsequently by Edmund's eldest son, Edmund Somerville Tattersall, who lived from 1863 to 1942.
Tattersalls During The Twentieth Century
Tattersalls remained a family-operated business until the death of Edmund Somerville Tattersall in 1942. Ownership then passed to the firm's partners, Gerald Deane, Robert Needham and Terrence Watt. Major Gerald Deane assumed the position of chairman, marking a new phase in the company's leadership.
In 1965, Tattersalls introduced bloodstock auctions at Park Paddocks in Newmarket, Suffolk. The company extended its auction operations to Ireland in 1988, when it began holding sales at Old Fairyhouse in County Meath. These developments strengthened its presence in the horse auction market in both Britain and Ireland.
The company subsequently became known as Tattersalls Ltd, dropping the apostrophe from its former name, Tattersall's. Its headquarters are now in Newmarket. Although a separate company operates in Ireland, the two businesses share some directors.
Tattersalls As A Leading European Bloodstock Auctioneer
Tattersalls is described as Europe's leading bloodstock auctioneer, selling approximately 10,000 horses annually. The business retains the traditional practice of expressing horse prices in guineas, reflecting the established conventions of horse racing. A guinea was originally worth 21 shillings and is now equivalent to £1.05.
The company's history also includes a significant legal case concerning unclaimed horse purchase money. In Morley v Tattersall in 1938, the English Court of Appeal considered sums paid to the firm for horses that remained unclaimed by clients for substantial periods. The court ruled that these balances were not to be treated as profits for income tax purposes, establishing a judicial precedent on the tax treatment of such amounts.
Record-Breaking Horse Sales
Tattersalls has been associated with notable achievements in the international bloodstock auction market. At its October Book 1 sale in Ireland, a yearling filly by Sadler's Wells, subsequently named Liffey Dancer, achieved a price of $5.33 million. This established a new world record price for a yearling at the time, surpassing the previous record of $4.4 million paid for Moon's Whisper at the Keeneland yearling sale in 2000.
These sales form part of the company's history in the auction of Thoroughbred horses. Its operations have brought together the buying and selling of bloodstock within the established horse racing and breeding industry.
Tattersalls And Its International Expansion
Tattersalls continued to expand its activities through acquisitions during the twenty-first century. In 2014, Tattersalls Ltd announced that it had acquired a majority stake in Osarus, a bloodstock sales company based in south-west France. Founded in 2007, Osarus had been establishing a presence in the French market.
The acquisition reflected Tattersalls' involvement in the French racing and breeding industry. The company's chairman at the time highlighted the international respect and admiration associated with the French industry.
In October 2015, Tattersalls Ltd announced the completion of its purchase of the bloodstock auctioneering business of Brightwells Ltd. It planned to promote the former Brightwells Bloodstock division under the names Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham and Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Sales. These changes extended the company's auction operations and brought the former Brightwells bloodstock business under the Tattersalls name.
Tattersalls And Its Cultural Associations
The business has also attracted attention beyond the immediate horse racing industry. During the 2010s, the author Jilly Cooper visited Tattersalls while researching her novel Mount!. This visit connected the auction house with the research behind a work of fiction.
The name Tattersall is also associated with a distinctive checked fabric used in clothing, including modern shirts. The pattern takes its name from the business, where blankets featuring the check were sold during the eighteenth century for use on horses. This association reflects another aspect of the company's historical connection with the world of equestrian activity.
The Continuing History Of Tattersalls
From its establishment in London in 1766 to its present base in Newmarket, Tattersalls has undergone several generations of family leadership, changes in ownership and geographical expansion. Its development has included the introduction of bloodstock auctions at Park Paddocks, the establishment of sales in Ireland, and acquisitions involving bloodstock businesses in France and the United Kingdom. The company has also become associated with record-setting yearling sales and the traditional use of guineas when pricing horses.
Tattersalls remains an important name in the European bloodstock auction market, with operations rooted in the sale of racehorses and the wider Thoroughbred breeding industry. Its history reflects the development of a business that has continued across centuries while expanding its activities beyond its original London premises.
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