A plate from 'Blue Ensign' who as a yearling in 1920 was sold for a record auction price of 14,500 guineas, mounted on a wooden shield-shaped backboar

A plate from 'Blue Ensign' who as a yearling in 1920 was sold for a record auction price of 14,500 guineas, mounted on a wooden shield-shaped backboard inscribed SOLD AT DONCASTER FOR 14,500 GUINEAS, SEPT. 1920, the reverse pasted with period press cuttings Blue Ensign was a colt bred at the Sledmere Stud by The Tetrach out of Blue Tit. He was purchased for 14,500 guineas as a yearling by Lord Glanely at the Doncaster September sales in 1920, a then record price. As a racehorse he was a dismal failure, which is inexplicable given that The Tetrach was a prolific sire of winners and that his dam had already produced winners of the Goodwood Cup, Jockey Club Stakes and other good races. He was, however, a moderately successful sire but nevertheless raised only 85 guineas when he was sold at the Newmarket sales and exported to Argentina. The modest return was given to the Rous Memorial Hospital in Newmarket.