The Australian sales company Inglis, which has hosted online auctions in Australia for seven years, will expand into America with the takeover of the thoroughbred auction company Wanamaker's, which will now be known as Inglis Digital USA, according to a press release from the company Wednesday morning. Inglis said they plan to launch a monthly sale beginning in July.
Wanamaker's has been conducting monthly auctions for horses of all ages since June, 2020.
Inglis Digital currently offers sales in Australia with an average of 300 horses offered every two weeks, grossing over A$90 million per year.
Inglis' Managing Director Mark Webster described Wanamaker's as an “exceptional online trading company managed by extraordinarily talented people” and said Inglis was pleased to be able to partner with them to expand into the American market.
“The U.S. market is the largest thoroughbred market in the world,” he continued. “There are almost twice as many active broodmares in North America as there are in Australia. Australia is the second-biggest market, and we've done well here with our digital platform. Expanding to another market has been a consideration for some time. We identified North America as a key market worth pursuing due to its size and opportunity, and there's increasing engagement between Australia and North America. Digital trading is still in its early stages in North America, presenting us with a significant opportunity.”
“Innovation and technology have been at the forefront of our business operations in Australia, which is home to the world's second-biggest thoroughbred market so I'm therefore delighted to announce our investment in the world's largest thoroughbred market via Wanamaker's and the launch of Inglis Digital USA,” Webster said.
“During my time as managing director of Inglis, Australia's leading thoroughbred auction house for the past 150 years, I have witnessed the rapid globalization of thoroughbred racing, breeding, and, of course, trading and never before have racing jurisdictions felt so connected or empowered,” he continued. “This is such an exciting opportunity and it's been an absolute delight to work with the Wanamaker's team behind the scenes to be able to create this rebrand as we aim to make Inglis Digital USA the largest and most successful online trading platform in the Northern Hemisphere. We started looking at North America before COVID hit, but the pandemic slowed everything down. I remember going over in late 2019, coming up with a plan and reporting to the board, and then everything got put on hold. Post-COVID, Wanamaker's emerged, and we were impressed with their platform. It's well designed and engineered, making it easy for us to enhance.”
Some of Wanamakers largest successes have been Fiya, who sold for $400,000 in July, 2020 and went on to become a multiple stakes winner for new owner Robert Masiello. The connections of Bandonarun parlayed an impressive allowance score at Laurel Park into a $330,000 sale just weeks later during the October, 2023 auction.
Wanamaker's has also conducted state-bred specific auctions in conjunction with breed organizations in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Under the new ownership platform, Wanamaker's co-founder and incumbent CEO Liza Hendriks will remain with the company as CEO, Inglis Digital USA, and be based out of Lexington, Kentucky.
Hendriks will be joined in the venture by senior director of sales and recruitment Kyle Wilson, formerly assistant director of sales development with Keeneland. Kelly Brophey, owner of Clarity Bloodstock, will serve as director of sales operations.
“We couldn't be more delighted to announce our partnership with the esteemed auction house, Inglis,” Hendriks said. “As we embark on this exciting journey together, I am personally thrilled to continue serving as CEO, with our newly formed team. Digital sales in the American market have already proven immensely beneficial, offering year-round trading opportunities and eliminating the need for horses to endure extensive travel for physical sales.”
Entries for the first sale under the Inglis Digital USA banner will close Monday, July 8. The catalogue will be released on Friday, July 12, with the final countdown of bidding on Wednesday, July 17.
The commission rate structure has changed to 5% commission on sales, 3.5% commission on sales $100,000 or more, and no commission on RNAs.
Each monthly sale will follow the same structure, with closing on a Monday, and the sale operating from the following Friday-Wednesday.
To enter horses for the July sale and register as a bidder, visit inglisdigitalusa.com.
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