For the first time ever, the world’s largest sale for Clydesdale horses is in St. Louis.
More than 125 Clydesdale mares, geldings and stallions are on the auction block this weekend at the National Clydesdale Sale in Lake St. Louis, making it the largest in the U.S.
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“It seems very appropriate to have our event in St. Louis,” says Cathy Behn, secretary of the Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A., in a statement. “This city is known throughout the world as being home to the Budweiser Clydesdales, and St. Louisans have a deep passion and love for this breed of horse.”
See also: What It’s Like to Train the Budweiser Clydesdales
The three-day, free event starts at 9 a.m. Thursday with free educational seminars on topics such as equine photography and nutrition. Visitors can preview the sale horses Friday after 2 p.m., and the sale starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis.
Last year’s Clydesdale sale generated $583,300, including a record-setting sale of a six-year-old, 2,000-pound gelding for $60,000.
“Hundreds of Clydesdales have passed through my stables throughout my career and very few, if any, have possessed the total package of size, color, structure and temperament that he did,” said Jim Poole, whose Waterloo, Illinois-based company JFP Equine cosigned the sale. “This year I’m very excited the show is in St. Louis, and I plan to have two fantastic Clydesdales featured.”
