Friday night’s final session was soft compared to last year. That, coupled with the fact 63 more yearlings were sold this year compared to last, meant the overall sale average of $71,566 was down 3 per cent from 2022’s record total.

quotes by James Platz / story by Dave Briggs

The 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale concluded Friday night (Oct. 6) setting 12 records, including new standards for gross ($67,916,300) and number of yearlings sold for $100,000 or more (233).

The gross was up 4 per cent from last year’s record total of $65,289,000. The number of six-figure yearlings was up by 37 or 19 per cent from last year’s record of 196.

However, 63 more yearlings were sold this year compared to last. That meant the average of $71,566 was down 2.9 per cent from last year’s record average of $73,690. Also, the median of $45,000 was off 3.2 per cent from last year’s record median of $46,500.

The sale also set the following records:

First session 100,000+: 97 (up 9 per cent from 89 in 2022)

First session median: $170,000 (up 6 per cent from $160,000 in 2022)

Second session gross: $23,242,000 (up 13.7 per cent from $20,433,000 in 2022)

Second session average: $97,247 (up 8 per cent from $90,013 in 2022)

Second session 100,000+: 100 (up 33 per cent from 75 in 2022)

Second session median: $80,000 (up 6.7 per cent from $75,000 in 2018)

Third session gross: $13,021,000 (up 8.6 per cent from $11,989,000 in 2022)

Third session average: $52,717 (up 3.3 per cent from $51,038 in 2022)

Third session 100,000+: 29 (up 16 per cent from 25 in 2022)

Fourth session gross: $4,973,800 (up 0.6 per cent from $4,946,000 in 2022)

No new records were set during Friday’s fifth session. Like Thursday’s fourth session, the final day was soft compared to last year.

That said, last year’s sale smashed records in nearly every category. It was an auction that was going to be tough to beat.

First-year sale co-manager Bruce Brinkerhoff said, “It was a very exciting week. We had tremendous participation from the buyers and an all-time record gross, second-highest average in the history of the sales company. Our consignors promised a tremendously deep set of horses and it reflected throughout the week.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this organization. I’ve worked for this company for a long time and there are a lot of people that have contributed to me being in the position that I’m in… from the owners of the sales company and my mentor Bart Glass to Randy Manges, who was, of course, my predecessor and very good friend. They all taught me what I know about this and put me in a position to be here today and to be able to manage this company… the work and foundation that they had prior to me coming on board as manager this year was the key to success, as well as the contribution of co-manager David Reid, who also does an outstanding job. I’m very happy to be able to work with him and conduct another record sale.”

Reid said, “It was a great week on a lot of levels. We ended up selling 64 more horses, roughly. Obviously, when you do that your gross is going to kick up. Probably the most important thing is that the average is just down a smidgen over two per cent. Whenever you add horses to the marketplace, you’re always concerned about that… but just to follow up on what we talked about yesterday, I thought about it more and I spoke to a few of our consignors and to be able to provide a venue for them to be able to sell their offspring is more important than the average.

“It’s just good to service our customers. They work hard, they spent money on mares, raised a foal, paid money on stud fees and I think from a sales company point of view we’re obligated to offer them a venue.”

At the end of the week, money was spread around really well. All size operations had a good week. The sire powers hung up well.

“Hats off to everybody in the sales management team and our office staff and everybody who contributes,” Reid said. “I thought the auctioneers did a great job, there were very few communication errors between the auction staff. I think we kept a great pace all week.”

FIFTH SESSION DOWN FROM 2022 AND 2021

The fifth-session gross of $4,457,500 was down 8 per cent from last year’s final session total of $4,854,000. The average of $33,265 was down 5.4 per cent from the 2022 average of $35,174 and down 6.9 per cent from the 2021 average of $35,713. Finally, the fifth-session median of $24,000 was down 4 per cent from the 2022 median of $25,000 and off 15.8 per cent from the 2021 median of $28,500.

“I thought it was overall very well attended, probably the most people I’ve seen here,” Reid said. “Tonight’s audience was normal, strong, energetic people. Seaside led the way tonight.”

Downbytheseaside offspring dominated the night. The 12 highest-priced yearlings sold in the final session were all sired by the Diamond Creek stallion.

“Expectations met,” said Diamond Creek’s Adam Bowden. “Seasides were supposed to sell like this and they did and it’s nice to see. Not only us, but the other people that have been big supporters of the horse, like All American did exceptionally well tonight with their two. I’m happy for them and I’m happy for the rest of the people that did well.

“It’s always good to end on a high note. We hit it big on a couple of them and we got lucky with a few others that we weren’t sure about. It’s nice. Our clients did well, we did well, so it’s a win-win.”

Topping the fifth and final session was Hip #890 Highway Boy, a Downbytheseaside colt out of Blazing Yankee with a bid of $150,000 by Country Club Acres Inc. of Findlay, OH. The colt was sold by the sale’s leading consignor by average, All American Harnessbreds.

Erv Miller signed for the second-highest priced yearling sold during the fifth session. Hip #970 Johnny Smash is a Downbytheseaside colt out of Cinnamon Girl consigned by Kentuckiana.

Hip #964 Ballistic, a Downbytheseaside colt out of Shocking Beauty sold for $115,000 to David Kapp out of the Diamond Creek consignment.

Hip #961 Downbythewater, a Downbytheseaside colt out of Pirouette Hanover sold for $110,00 to Jodi Schillaci out of the All American Harnessbreds consignment.

Downbytheseaside’s trainer, Brian Brown, purchased one Downbytheseaside yearling on Friday.

“We always want Seasides and we bought one of the nicest ones and we had to pay for it,” Brown said of Hip #895 Seaside Star, an $85,000 colt out of Rock N Roll Xample. “I’m glad to have the horse; you never want to have to pay that much, but the Ohio program is really good and it’s worth the chance.

“The Seasides have been able to go out of state, to race in big races; won some Breeders Crowns, won the Jug, so we’re willing to take the chance on the Seasides.”

HUNTERTON LEADING CONSIGNOR BY GROSS

Hunterton Sales Agency Inc. was the sale’s leading consignor by gross with $10,654,000 earned for 111 yearlings. Reid’s Preferred Equine was second with $10,561,000 in sales for 145 yearlings.

Preferred had been the leading consignor by gross the last 10 straight years and Hunterton had been in second spot in each of the last five years.

“We were knocked off by Hunterton, but kudos to them,” Reid said. “They have a great clientele, strong broodmare band and they’ve always led us on average, but no shame there. It was within $150,000 or something like that.”

This year, Kentuckiana was third with sales of $9,294,500 for 119 yearlings.

All American Harnessbreds ended the sale averaging $142,444 for nine yearlings to top consignors by average.

Hanover Shoe Farms was second, averaging $135,720 for 25 yearlings.

Brittany Farms was third with an average of $99,316 for 19 yearlings.

“I’m a believer that the more you spread the wealth, the healthier the industry is and I think we felt that today,” Reid said. “Anvil and Lace is representing breeders that have accumulated mares the last three or four years… Then you have Crawford Farms that have been building their broodmare band and spending a lot of money; they grossed nearly $6 million. Diamond Creek… here again, the wealth was spread out.

“I think that’s very key to the overall health and success of the breeding industry and for marketing the yearlings because it’s a year-round business and they get their one week of the year, if they are selling here, to cash in on their crop. From a sales management company point of view, I’m happy that we could deliver.”

ALAGNA TOPPED THE BUYERS

Trainer Tony Alagna led all buyers in purchases for the second straight year. He spent $4,627,500 to take home 35 yearlings.

The tandem of Bill Pollock and Andrew Harris were second with $3,550,000 spent, total, on 10 yearlings.

The Andy Miller Stable was third with 15 horses purchased for a total of $2,353,000.

CHAPTER SEVEN TOP TROTTING SIRE, TALL DARK STRANGER TOP PACER

Chapter Seven led all stallions with total sales of $7,578,000 for 56 sold, an average of $135,321. Walner was second ($6,191,000, $128,979).

First-crop sire Tall Dark Stranger topped the pacing sires. His progeny grossed $5,549,000 for 60 yearlings, an average of $92,483. Captaintreacherous was next with gross sales of $5,513,000 for 48 yearlings, an average of $114,854.

First-crop trotting sire Gimpanzee led all sires in average ($168,238) and was seventh in gross ($3,533,000 for 21 sold). Rookie pacing sire Papi Rob Hanover was eighth in gross ($3,032,000 for 35 sold, average of $86,629).

In average, Chapter Seven was second ($135,321), followed by Walner ($128,979), Muscle Hill ($122,523) and Captaintreacherous ($114,854).

“Trotters, pacers… the top four pacing sires… the sire averages were up – all trotters: Gimpanzee, Chapter Seven, Walner, Muscle Hill, then right behind that Captaintreacherous, Tall Dark Stranger, Papi Rob, Southwind Frank, Sweet Lou, Bettor’s Delight,” Reid said. “If you take your top 10, I think it was a great blend, from an average point of view.

“From a dollar point of view, Chapter Seven and Walner were the top two, but right there is Tall Dark Stranger, Captaintreacherous, Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, Gimpanzee, Papi Rob.”

Overall, Reid said he was very pleased with the sale.

“I really think it’s just high quality,” he said. “High-quality buyers, high-quality sellers, high-quality stallions, high-quality mares. I think the catalogue was our deepest, we said that before and I’m happy to see it play out that way. Sire power, I think, is the deepest we’ve seen in a long time in our industry, pacers and trotters, and I think that’s healthy. All the jurisdictions are happy and healthy. So, if I had to summarize it, I’d say I’m extremely happy with the quality of the offering. Extremely happy with the quality of the buyers and extremely happy with the professionalism conducted by all our consignors and the operations of our staff and Fasig-Tipton staff to provide a professional venue for the industry.”

Brinkerhoff added, “We’re happy on a high note here from the last session. We’re very appreciative of everybody that contributed to one of the greatest sales in the history of the sport.”