Roy Rogers' Trigger goes on sale
15 Jul 10
Trigger - the stuffed and mounted horse of famed singer and cowboy actor Roy Rogers - has been purchased by cable company RFD-TV for $266,500 (£173,578) at an auction in New York City.
The iconic mount - which had been on display at the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Missouri - went under the hammer at Christie's for a price that was far above previous estimates.
RFD-TV's chief financial officer Steve Campione said Rogers reflects the company's values. The cable TV network in Omaha, Nebraska, mainly telecasts agricultural, equine and country living programmes.
Several other items from the museum were also sold at prices far above previous estimates.
At the start of the sale, an emotional Rogers' son Roy Jr spoke of the family's decision to sell his father’s belongings.
He said: "We hope you get a piece of Roy and Dale and take it home and you'll get to pass it on to your children."
Auctioneer Cathy Elkies called it the "most colourful, emotional and sentimental" sale, with many of the bidders coming in Western attire and cowboy boots, while a few were in tears.
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http://www.royrogers.com/ (Roy Rogers and Dale Evans website)
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