by Dave Briggs

Prior to the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale — where All American Harnessbreds was the second leading consignor by average ($136,889) — the farm’s general manager, Rob Tribbett, announced All American wasexiting the standardbred breeding business at the end of 2025. At the time, Tribbett called the decision “bittersweet.”

Asked about his prevailing emotion as All American gets set to sell 67 horses at the Standardbred Horse Sales Company sale in Harrisburg, PA — including some of the farm’s top mares in the mixed sale portion — Tribbett said, “The one thing is that I’ve been so busy getting ready [for Harrisburg] that I haven’t really had time to be thinking about [emotions]. We’ve got 67 horses to sell in the next week, so that’s really the focus right now.”

After nearly 40 years in business, All American — owned by Fred Hertrich III — is leaving the standardbred breeding game at the pinnacle of its success. Tribbett said it simply was the right time to make the exit due to the pending retirement of key farm staff.

Hertrich said the four-phase dispersal plan was set in motion when long-time farm manager Beverly Webb and her second in command, Debbie Pinder, said they were both interested in retirement.

All American will sell its assets in four phases and exit the standardbred breeding market at the end of 2025.

Tribbett said All American yearlings will sell this year both at Lexington and Harrisburg as normal. The in-foal mares will be sold in the mixed sale portion of this year’s sale in Harrisburg, along with the majority of the farm’s stallion share interests.

“Then, in 2025, we’re holding over our weanlings of this year to sell them as yearlings as we normally would next year,” Tribbett said. “Then, next year at Harrisburg, the remaining barren mares, barren of ’24, will be sold at the mixed sale in ’25 along with the balance of the stallion shares that we’re holding over to breed those mares next year.”

The objective is to have a complete dispersal of the farm by the first week of November, 2025.

“Lots of people are sad to see us exiting, but anyone who is operating a breeding business understands the challenges and how important it is to have a good staff,” Tribbett said. “It’s been nice to hear people talk about how many nice horses they bought from us and how much they like coming to see us. We still have this sale at Harrisburg and then another full crop of sales next year.”

Before we talk about the opportunity for breeders to acquire some top mares from All American, let’s begin with the yearlings the farm is selling beginning Monday (Nov. 4).

“One of my favorites is Hip #2 [Bettor Story], out of Allamerican Memoir – the mare of one millionaire [Bettor Memories] and one horse that made $945,000 [Beach Memories],” Tribbett said. “This is a Bettors Delight filly, who is a very nice filly.

“We also have a sister to Horse of the Year Test Of Faith [Hip #9 World Of Faith] and another out of one of our best mares, My Lady Day, who is the dam of Stag Party, Hen Party and Save America [Hip #94 Midnight Party].

“So, you could be buying a yearling you like knowing that, if they are successful, you’ve got a very good broodmare. And even if it doesn’t work, you’ve got a lot of residual value. These are mares that, when they retire, would be in-demand broodmare prospects, but also have a lot of ability to be good racehorses.”

On the trotting side, Tribbett highlighted two Chapter Seven offspring — Hip #127 Secured, a colt out of Frannie Hanover and Hip #547 Sharp Seven, a filly out of Lookin Sharp.

During the mixed sale, which begins on Thursday (Nov. 7), All American will sell — all in a row — the dams of this year’s Hambletonian Oaks runner-up Buy A Round (Hip #1056 On Your Tab), the 2024 Little Brown Jug champ Captain Albano (Hip #1057 Angelou) and the 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Fath (Hip #1058 Cannae Cammie), followed a few hips later, by this year’s Pepsi North America Cup winner Nijinsky (Hip #1062 Pirouette Hanover) and many more.

“Someone recently called to ask about a few of them and it’s the same sentiment as I’ve had; those horses are obviously the headliners in the ads, but there’s going to be some horses that are yearlings now or foals now or in utero that are probably going to be — based on our recent success — Breeders Crown horses the next year or the year after,” Tribbett said.

“I think that’s the interesting thing for people, that there should be something for everyone. That it’s not just about the headliners. There are a lot of young mares in there that we selected that we thought could produce really good horses and hopefully they do for wherever their new home is.”

As well, All American is selling a deep list of stallion shares, including: Bulldog Hanover, Captaintreacherous, Downbytheseaside, Huntsville, Perfect Sting and Tall Dark Stranger.

“Also, we’re selling a five per cent interest in Always B Miki, which is kind of unique,” Tribbett said. “That’s not a share, but an undivided five per cent. That’s really a good opportunity for someone who wants to breed to the horse and you get to participate in the income side of things.”