The First Saturday in May: The Cody Horse Sale and the Kentucky Derby
Written by Caleb Nelson on May 9, 2022
The annual Cody Horse Sale took place downtown this weekend on Saturday, May 7th, 2022, in front of the historic Irma Hotel with a large crowd in attendance.
The Cody Horse Sale 2022
Under sunny skies and a strong breeze, there were just over 100 “gentle, well broke and sound Trail, Ranch & Rope Horses,” available for auction. For the uninitiated, the call and cadence of the auctioneer is quite unique and specific, and auctioneers are required to be licensed through the state.
Auction preparations
The highest selling horse, Sweet Nu Oakleys (079), sold for a whopping $90,000 from RMO Horses. Close behind, Fajita (051), sold for an impressive $75,000 from Diamond K Versatility & Family. In previous auctions, horses have gone for as high as $100,000.
It was also the Kentucky Derby this weekend (the 148th Run for the Roses), which added to the buzz of the auction downtown. In honor of the Derby, the Cody Market and Bar, Proprietress, served mint juleps.
Proprietress
As the Cody Horse Sale was winding down, excitement for the Derby revved up. In one of the biggest upsets in Derby history, the 80-to-1 longshot Rich Strike won the race over favorites like Epicenter, Taiba, and Cyberknife.
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