The two-day sale is being held at the
Western Fair Racing District Agriplex in London, ON.

by Matthew Lomon

Optimism is in the air ahead of the third-annual London Classic Yearling Sale.

Set for its usual post at the Western Fair Racing District Agriplex in London, ON, this year’s edition of Canada’s standardbred racing’s premier yearling sale is already generating significant buzz well before Day 1 kicks off at noon on Tuesday (Oct. 15). The two-day showing continues at the same time on Oct. 16.

The viewing period opens on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.

“There’s a good vibe going into this year’s sale,” said Greg Blanchard, director of equine programming at Western Fair. “You never know for sure how things will play out but going by what we’ve seen elsewhere, especially the recent Lexington Sale, we certainly hope that’s a positive indicator for our sale, which it typically is.

“And based on the number of people that have been reaching out to us — looking for catalogs, checking to make sure videos are up for yearlings, inquiries from people coming to town and looking for hotel rooms — I’ve got a good feeling, but we’ll find out in a few days from now.”

As Blanchard alluded to, his team hopes that the stellar showing at this year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale (Sept. 30 – Oct. 4, 2024) will translate positively over to Ontario.

Over the course of the five-day Lexington Sale, a total of 911 yearlings sold for $65,712,700 (USD).

The gross sales ranked as the second highest ever recorded at the marquee event, falling about $2 million shy of the all-time record set in 2023 ($67,916,300).

However, average sale price increased slightly year-over-year from $71,566 to $72,132.

“It’s a good sign that there’s a strong market out there, and other jurisdictions are doing well,” Blanchard said. “There’s been some encouraging announcements. We feel good about where things sit in Ontario and think there will be more exciting news to come.”

Last year’s London Sale saw 284 yearlings sell for a total of $7,579,000 (CAD). The average sale price experienced a year-over-year dip to $26,687 ($35,682 from 186 yearlings in 2022), although Blanchard said that was expected with a larger number of entries.

“Ontario is still one of the best jurisdictions to race horses,” he said. “We have one of the leading stakes programs in the world here, and we’ve got some of the top stallions in the world. We believe we have a top-quality catalog this year with something for everybody, and hope it translates into a successful sale.”

Blanchard is particularly bullish about the prospects of this year’s London Sale roster, which currently features 252 yearlings.

“I don’t think there’s any question that this is the best quality catalog that we’ve seen in the time we’ve been operating the sale,” he said.

And it’s easy to understand why.

The London catalog includes progeny from the first crop of the legendary Bulldog Hanover, the first full Ontario crop of Cattlewash, and several other standout sires in Green Manalishi S, Muscle Mass, Bettors Delight, Betterthancheddar, and many more.

“We’re so fortunate in Ontario to have some of the best sires in North America,” Blanchard said. “It’s a very deep catalog, and I think there will be something for every taste, if you will.

“We’re eager to get it going.”

The London Sale took on a new meaning for the team at Western Fair in 2022 when they officially assumed control of event operations.  

While the shift was a stark contrast to the facility’s previous role, Blanchard says it’s been rewarding to see just how integral the sale is to the health of Ontario’s standardbred industry.

“When we took over the sale three years ago, it was very new territory,” he said. “We had hosted it here for a long time, but to actually be operating a sale was new for a lot of us, including myself. But getting to learn as we go, and realizing how much work goes into putting on a sale, you take on an even greater level of respect for the breeders.

“It’s a long time from when you breed a mare to finally getting that horse through the auction ring, and a lot of money tied up in it as well. It’s not for the faint of heart. You gain an even stronger appreciation for how important the sale is to those folks and the industry at large.”

The sale is equally vital to the racing program at Western Fair.

“It’s a crucial component of what we do here,” Blanchard said. “When we had the opportunity to step up and take over operating a yearling sale here, we jumped at the chance. It’s Canada’s premier yearling sale, and we wanted to make sure that we maintain that status and continue to grow even more in the future.”

This year’s running of the sale is especially meaningful, as it will be directly tied to the Southwestern Ontario track’s beloved City of London Series.

Not only will Western Fair’s long-standing staple return in the spring under a new moniker (London Classic Sales Series), but a portion of the gross revenue from the sale will also be used to bolster purses for the series’ finals.

“We host the City of London Series finals here on Camluck Classic night, which is our closing night card,” Blanchard said. “Those are very important races for many horse people in the area. They’re meant for horses that are maybe a little bit later to the races that are looking for an early opportunity, they’re showing potential, but might not have a lot of money on their card to that point in time.

“It gives some of those folks that maybe missed out on some of the 2-year-old money a chance early in the season to race for some good purses.”

The London area also stands to benefit from the two-day sale with droves of horse people flocking into town and booking stays at hotels and dining at local restaurants.

Now in their third year calling the shots, Blanchard and Co. are officially yearling sale veterans.

Buy-in was evident from the beginning, and an eagerness to spotlight Ontario as one of the world’s foremost harness racing destinations soon followed.

That sense of pride, along with an unwavering dedication to the industry and its people is what drives the staff at Western Fair to make the next London Sale better than the last.

“We try to listen to the consignors, breeders, sellers, and buyers, and collect feedback each and every year,” Blanchard said. “We then take that feedback and introduce some positive changes. We’re embracing technology as best we can, and I think that will continue to evolve when it comes to putting on an annual yearling sale.

“We have probably one of the best venues of its size anywhere in North America. We’re proud of that. And for a sale under one roof, we’re able to offer a pleasant experience for everybody, including the people that are bringing horses here to sell. We want to ensure that when people are coming here, they’re treated to an enjoyable experience, no matter which industry stakeholder group they represent.”