The sale, the first of its kind around the world this year amid a coronavirus pandemic, was the highlight of the world-renowned Arabian Horse Show in Janów Podlaski, eastern Poland.
Perfinka was the most expensive mare sold and went to a buyer from Saudi Arabia.
Ten of the 21 horses presented at Janów Podlaski changed owners. The auction fetched a total of EUR 1,587,000.
Some 95,000 people worldwide watched an online broadcast of the auction, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
In an interview with Polish Radio, the head of the Polish Jockey Club, Tomasz Chalimoniuk, said that organizing the event had been a challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the number of participants had to be reduced.
Last year, 14 horses, bred at sites including the famed state-run stud farm in Janów Podlaski, were sold at the auction, fetching a combined EUR 1.39 million.
In 2018, only six horses were sold at the auction, fetching a combined EUR 501,000.
A record EUR 1.4 million was paid in 2015 for 10-year-old mare Pepita, with the auction bringing a combined EUR 4 million.
Image:prideofpoland.com
(pk)
Source: IAR
Listen to an audio report by clicking on the ‘Play’ button above