More than 200 people attended Bonhams’ sale at Chippenham Lodge Stud, just outside the town yesterday (Thursday, 20 July). Enthusiasts also made bids by phone and at one stage auctioneers were receiving five telephone bids for racing silks.
One set of silks, in simple dark blue with a white cap, sold for £19,000 - against a price estimate of £8,000-£10,000.
There were 15 sets of distinctive colours released by the British Horseracing Board for racehorse owners to bid for.
A Bonhams spokeswoman said:
“It has gone very well and been very well attended.”
Sketches and paintings from the studio of Peter Biegel, one of the late Queen Mother’s favourite artists, were among the other items which attracted a lot of interest from bidders. Other lots included a life-size bronze statue of a thoroughbred foal and historic items related to racing.
Another set of silks, dark green with a red cap with a green diamond, sold for £13,000. A Victorian diamond and enamel brooch of a horse and jockey sold for £2,000 at the hammer fall.
A 1966 Grand National race day programme signed by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney sold for £160. A Newmarket racecard from October 25, 1900, signed by composer Arthur Sullivan - one half of the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera writers - sold for £270.
Unsigned programmes, race cards and badges were also snapped up by collectors and dealers.
A collection of cardboard racecourse badges sold for £60, 17 enamelled metal badges sold for £150 and another collection of more soughtafter enamel badges sold for £320.

Posted: 07|21|06 at 2:15 pm. Filed under: UK News.