The annual Blooded Horse Winter Sale, which was held on Tuesday, February 12 at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio, was the strongest in its 56-year history.
It was standing room only at the sale, as owners, trainers and breeders flooded the pavilion to restock stables and acquire broodmares.
“People love coming to a sale to actually see and touch the horses they want to buy,” said sale manager Jerry Haws. “It may take a bit more time and resources, but the dividends far outweigh the cost. Bringing horses to a packed venue of eager buyers is a tremendous marketing tool. Consignors, for the most part, were quite pleased.”
The sale topper was the Muscle Hill five-year-old trotter Southwind Cobra (pedigree) who was purchased by Loren Yoder of Iowa for stallion duties for $54,000. Consigned by Windy Ridge Farm, the Grand Circuit winner sported a record of 2,1:53.3 and earnings of $236,834. Runner-up honours went to the highly competitive four-year-old pacer Gerardo, a winner of $104,000 last year. Consigned by Doug Dunbar of Ontario, the son of Rockin Image was bought near the end of the sale by Kayne Kauffman for $50,000. Dunbar also signed the ticket for the solid conditioned pacing mare Big Lis for $35,000, one of 29 that Canadian buyers took home. Of those, six were purchased by Brian Doyle for export to Ireland, including the lovely Art Major broodmare Miri for $17,000.
The Burke Racing Stable consignment included a pair of fancy trotting fillies that got breeders’ attention. Winterwood Farm, which was acting as agent, had the final bid on Pink Fringes, a daughter of Uncle Peter from the family of B Cor Pete 9,1:53.2 ($893,076) and Tall Cotton 8,1:51.3f ($871,621) for $26,000, and Dublin Valley Farm secured Pat On The Back, a Donato Hanover daughter of Buck I St Pat 7,1:51 ($2,320,637) for $15,000.
The always popular Spring Haven Farm consignment offered the fast five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare Mylittlesurfergirl p,4,1:51.3 who was purchased by Gray Thunder II Stable of NY for $18,500, and the attractive four-year-old trotting gelding Fan The Flames that Brandon Presto acquired for $19,000 to race at the Meadows.
For complete sale results visit bloodedhorse.com. The next sale is May 14 and it’s an exceptionally strong market for racehorses. Entries close April 22. Any questions should be directed to [email protected].
(Blooded Horse Sales Company)