From the Associated Press
Bringing in considerably more than expected, Roy Rogers’ stuffed and mounted horse sold for $266,500 to a Nebraska-based cable TV network.
RFD-TV, which says that Rogers is representative of the company’s values, purchased the movie cowboy’s sidekick, Trigger, at a Christie’s auction in New York City on Wednesday. The network hopes to eventually start its own Western musuem.
Until then, Trigger, who was preserved by Rogers back in 1965, will sit in the company lobby. “It came to our attention a little too late,” said network owner Patrick Gottsch, who wanted to purchase the entire Rogers collection. “By the time we lined up the right financing and kind of got our arms around the value of the collection, it was literally 24 hours ago.”
Gottsch’s network primarily airs agricultural, country living, and equine programming. Once displayed in the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum, Trigger was only one of more than 1,000 items included in the auction.
Auctioneer Cathy Elkies said it was the ‘most colorful, emotional and sentimental’ sale she had experienced in her 20 years at Christie’s,” the Associated Press reported. “Many of the bidders in the packed hall came in Western attire and cowboy boots, and there were more than a few tears.”
Among those crying was Roy Jr., Rogers’ son, who told the crowd how difficult it was to part with his father’s belongings. “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,” he said.