Owners’ sudden exit from the sport forces Caldwell Construction runners to miss Dublin Racing Festival

Bloodstock agent Joey Logan confirmed that none of the horses belonging to Andy and Gemma Caldwell, all trained by Gordon Elliott, will run before the sale at Tattersalls Ireland on February 5. Logan expressed his regret for the horses not participating in the Dublin Racing Festival, stating that they are intended to be sold at public auction.

Logan also confirmed that the dispersal will include the younger horses in pre-training, with viewings and inspections in the morning followed by the auction in the afternoon. He emphasized that there will be no reserves for any of the horses being sold at Fairyhouse, and expressed hope that they will find good homes with their next owners.

Despite receiving numerous inquiries, Logan stated that no horse will be sold privately before the auction takes place. This decision follows the unfortunate death of D B Cooper at Fairyhouse and previous losses such as Smooth Player and Mighty Potter. Following these tragic events, a social media post linked to Caldwell Construction cited these losses as the reason for the family’s decision to take a break from the sport.

Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to work with Andy and Gemma, Logan recalled the success they had with five Grade 1 wins, a Cheltenham winner, and multiple Graded winners within a couple of years. He also mentioned that the decision to disperse the horses comes after the loss of D B Cooper, a €200,000 purchase at the Goffs Arkle Sale in June 2021 from Walter Connors’ Slugarra Farm.