Topping $31 million in sales at Harrisburg will be difficult, but Preferred is game to try

by Dave Briggs

David Reid learned long ago not to make hard predictions about how his Preferred Equine consignment will fare at the Standardbred Horse Sales Company (SHSC) auction in Harrisburg, PA – at least not publicly. But he knows last year will be nearly impossible to top.

At the 2025 sale, Preferred set an all-time SHSC consignor record with over $31 million in sales – more than $25 million of that coming from the Mixed Sale alone where the agency represented a number of high-profile dispersals, including Fashion Farms, Fair Winds Farm and the partnership dissolution of the equine holdings of Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

“Last year was a once in a generation that doesn’t happen that often,” said Reid, who was enshrined in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in July. “This year, it’s a more traditional Harrisburg Mixed Sale… and the overall numbers [in the Mixed Sale] are down from last year… With the Spring Station dispersal being the only major one, the overall numbers are going to be down, but I think the marketplace will be consistent year over year.

“It’s obviously looked upon by a lot of people as a target to come to a public sale to get breeding stock and racehorses.”

With Preferred representing so many breeders and so many jurisdictions, even comparing yearling consignments year over year is difficult to do, Reid said. Last year, Preferred was the second leading consignor in the yearling sale with over $5.8 million in sales. Hanover Shoe Farms led the pack with sales of $10.5 million.

“I really don’t compare year-to-year, but we have about the same amount of yearlings and we represent the same breeders, so I just think we have an outstanding group of horses to offer and there’s something here for everybody and I would just really encourage everyone to stop by and take a look,” Reid said. “There’s no greater example than Beau Jangles being sold out of our consignment [in 2024]. Moderately-priced yearling and he went on to be the champion that he was.”

Beau Jangles, the reigning U.S. and Canadian Horse of the Year will be sold during this year’s Mixed Sale to dissolve the ownership group. “Beau” has passed his fertility test and will make an intriguing stallion prospect.

He will be sold on Friday (Nov. 6) as Hip #1602 from Bob Boni’s Northwood Bloodstock consignment. Beau, a late supplement, will sell after Hip #1489.

“We sold him as a yearling and we’re proud to have done so,” Reid said. “It’s unfortunate that the ownership group had to take this route to put him in a public auction. I actually don’t think the horse deserves it – the reigning Horse of the
Year being offered at public auction. That being said, he was a great 2-year-old and he came back this year, but it’s tough for horses. Everyone knows his record and whatever the fair market value will be on that day is what he’s going to bring. It’s just that I feel a little bit bad for the horse being offered in this manner.”

But before we get to the Mixed Sale being held on Thursday (Nov. 5) and Friday, Preferred has a strong group of yearlings to sell Monday (Nov. 2) through Wednesday (Nov. 4).

“I have a very broad-base assortment of yearlings,” Reid said. “There will be 119 sold, of which 66 are pacers and 53 are trotters. All jurisdictions, all price ranges. We have a lot of dual and triple-eligible horses, because we have 18 eligible to the Massachusetts program. There’s something for everybody. We’ve got a handful of Walners in here. We’ve got a handful of Chapter Sevens. We’ve got some nice Confederates and Cannibals, Huntsvilles. It’s a very typical, very workman-like Preferred Equine consignment.

“We’ve got Ontario, the Midwest, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, we have them all covered.”

As for the Mixed Sale, Reid said Preferred has a strong group of Fabulous Fillies and racehorses.

“Preferred has a cross-section of broodmares, stallion shares, racehorses that are pretty much on par with a normal year for Preferred,” Reid said. “Last year was not a normal year, but this year we’re back to a normal year and I expect a good marketplace.”

Reid said he is also selling three racehorses that are also stallion prospects, including a late addition: Hip #1603 Spencer Hanover, a 3-year-old millionaire son of Chapter Seven out of Secret Passion that won the 2025 Breeders Crown. Spencer Hanover will sell Friday.

The other two stallion prospects are selling back-to-back. They are:

• Hip #1504 Celebrity Bambino, a 6-year-old son of Muscle Hill out of Celebrity Ruth that has earnings just shy of $1 million.

• Hip #1505 Ari Ferrari J, a 6-year-old son of Walner out of Dream Child that has earned over $1.3 million.

“All three of those horses are interesting prospects for the next career when their racing days are over,” Reid said.

Asked about the state of the economy as it pertains to horse sales, Reid, who is also co-manager of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, said you really need to compare standardbred sales and not try to draw conclusions from thoroughbred auctions. A nice barometer was the fact the Lexington sale set a record for average sale price at $81,320.

“I think you have to stick with standardbreds when you make comparisons,” Reid said. “The Ohio market was pretty even, year over year. The Lexington sale, obviously, the sale was very strong with the highest average. The Indiana sale held in line. The London sale was up a smidgen. I think the economy is stable from where it has been. I think currency for the Europeans or Canadians is consistent with what it was a month ago. I think the marketplace will be on par with last year. I don’t see any new distractions to the marketplace that haven’t been in the industry in the last six weeks when the other sales were taking place.

“It’s going to be a typical Harrisburg week, a little bit of a grind. There will be a lot of people coming in and out and horses going through the ring. It’s a good time of year and I look forward to it coming and I also look forward to the completion of the major sale circuit.”