Charles Gordon-Watson

THOROUGHBRED TIMES, 06 Feb 99, BY BILL MOONEY

THE DECEMBER, 1998, issue of Pacemaker magazine ranks Charles Gordon-Watson among "racing's top thirtysomethings" in Europe.  And there is no denying Gordon-Watson's position among the elite bloodstock agents on that side of the Atlantic Ocean.  Having been in the business for a dozen years, he now boasts an international clientele that includes William S. Farish, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum, and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber of Watership Down Stud near Newbury.

The word in England is that Gordon-Watson is very adept at buying promising horses and selling himself, a combination that does have precedent within the Thoroughbred industry.

In 1998, Gordon-Watson bought more yearlings at auction than anyone else, making 47 purchases for $6,776,141.  The average price he paid worked out to $144,173, which put Gordon-Watson's activity solidly in the upper middle sector.  Most of his participation took place in Enlgand, but Gordon-Watson did sign a dozen tickets at the Keeneland September sale, for total expenditures of $1,531,000.

Gordon-Watson's biggest transaction at public auction in 1998 came at the Tattersalls Houghton yearling sale in September, when he signed a $721,389 ticket for a Rainbow Quest colt out of the Alzao mare Relatively Special.  At the Tattersalls opening session, Gordon-Watson also purchased a colt by Selkirk, a filly by Machiavellian, a pair of colts by Cadeaux Genereux, a pair of colts by Warning (GB), and colts by Kris, Theatrical (Ire), Caerleon, Sri Pekan, and Dayjur.  He was easily the most aggressive buyer at the sale.

Horse racing remains more of a national sport in England than it is in the United States, and Gordon-Watson has gained the status of something of a celebrity.  He is a familiar figure not only to readers of trade publications but to those who peruse the national press as well.  Strength does come to those who are noticed.