A civil complaint has been filed in Kentucky after bidding reportedly closed and then resumed on a filly at the 2025 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Case 25-CI-05200 listed in Fayette County Court indicates that the complaint was filed by Val D'Or Farms and lists Cameo Hills, Hot Lead Farms and Lexington Selected Yearling Sale as its defendants.
An article by Thoroughbred Daily News indicates the horse in question is Phillys Sting, who was bred by Hot Lead Farms, consigned to the sale by Cameo Hills and sold as Hip 572.
“According to the civil complaint initiated by the New Jersey-based Val D’Or Farms, which thought it had rightfully purchased the filly, named Phillys Sting, for $15,000 via proxy bid, the auctioneer purportedly tried to cover his alleged mistake by reopening the bidding on the premise that there had actually been a tie bid," wrote TDN. "The auctioneer then commenced to get the price up to just under the reserve, declaring the yearling sold to a different buyer.”
“According to the lawsuit, ‘neither the Auctioneer, nor LSYS, nor anyone acting on their behalf or control, including spotters, observed, received, and acknowledged a tie bid during and/or prior to the fall of the Hammer, [and] the Auctioneer had no right to and improperly, negligently, intentionally, and/or recklessly reopen the bidding on Phillys Sting.’”
The TDN article states that the lawsuit seeks a sale of the yearling at $15,000 and to have the horse delivered to Val D’Or Farms.
(Standardbred Canada)