The Evening Horse Sale at Cheltenham provided a unique opportunity to explore the atmosphere in the stables, and around the selling arenas, where stock is brought out – for professional buying choices to be made. Feeling the horse’s legs, watching their movements as they trot for the isolated buyers and their breeding profiles, are all haunting images.

Bleak floodlighting out on the parade ground enhanced the horses throwing stark shadows, heightening the isolation and body language of the people intent on one thing – finding the premier thoroughbred physiques. A place where groups of visitors, expert buyers — the owners, trainers, stable jockeys and blood-stock agents all mingle tensely in that shadowland.

An electrifying experience to record the full narrative in this collection of stirring photographs.

“The images are as comforting as a windswept street, or a homeless person attempting to find shelter in a shop doorway” Steve Dilworth Sculptor

“It’s all a big gamble, everyone knows that. It’s why the central area where the buyers meet, eat and study videos of the horses in previous races is called ‘Theatre of Dreams’ “ Thelma horse owner