Texas Summer Yearling Sale Attracts Record Number of Entries

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The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, set for Monday, August 30, at Lone Star Park, will feature a record number of entries with nearly 250 yearlings consigned to the Southwest’s biggest auction. The sale, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, will begin at 10 a.m. in the sales pavilion on the grounds of the Dallas-area track.

“This will easily be our largest sale since taking the reins from Fasig-Tipton in 2016,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We’ve seen some solid growth over the past few years, despite the challenges of the health pandemic, and now we’ve really hit a milestone this year. We have several new consignors for this sale, and the sire power is stronger than I can ever remember seeing here.”

In addition to nearly 250 yearlings, there are three 2-year-olds in the sale.

“Texas racing and breeding have been on the upswing thanks to the Horse Industry Escrow Account authorized by the Texas Legislature, which has helped boost purses and breeding incentives,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “That in turn has increased interest in our sales and allowed us to develop a consignor rebate program. We are also pleased to introduce the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Derby to be run in 2023 to complement the very popular Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity.”

Details on the Sales Derby are still being finalized, but the race for sale graduates is expected to offer two divisions (one for fillies and one for colts/geldings) with an estimated purse of $75,000 apiece at Sam Houston Race Park. The Sales Futurity also offers two divisions at $100,000-estimated apiece at Lone Star.

The TTA and Lone Star will host a pre-sale party for consignors and buyers on Sunday, August 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alysheba room on the second floor of the Lone Star grandstand.

The yearling sale comes on the heels of the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale held in April, which posted the highest gross, average and median since the TTA and Lone Star took over both sales in 2016.

Online bidding and live online video will be offered on this sale. To view the catalogue, click here.

Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Posts Record-Breaking Numbers

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

Wednesday’s Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park recorded the highest gross, average and median since the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star took over operation of the auction in 2016.

Hip 85

A total of 89 horses sold from 104 offered for total sales of $2,907,700, a 66% increase from the 2019 auction total of $1,751,400 (the 2020 sale was cancelled due to COVID-19). The average price this year was $32,671, a jump of 39.9% from the 2019 average of $23,352, and the median increased by 37.9% to $20,000 from $14,500. The buyback rate was 14.4%, compared to 31.8% in 2019.

“This was one of the best sales we’ve ever had at Lone Star Park, including the prior years with Fasig-Tipton,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had a big crowd in the sales pavilion and lots of action with online bidding, so that speaks well about the demand for Texas-breds, Louisiana-breds, Oklahoma-breds and racehorses in general in this region. The increased purses and incentives in Texas have made the Southwest an even more desirable place to race than it already was.”

Hip 85, named The Reese Beast, brought a sale-topping bid of $240,000 from Austin Gustafson, agent. Consigned by Asmussen Horse Center, agent, the Virginia-bred Tiznow filly is out of the winning and stakes-producing Jump Start mare Delta Weekend. She galloped at the under tack show held Monday at Lone Star.

Two horses sold for $150,000 as the second-highest price of the sale, and both were Louisiana-breds consigned by Pike Racing, agent. Hip 36, a Louisiana-bred colt by Overanalyze, went to Highlander Training Center after working an eighth-mile in :10 2/5. The colt is a half brother to multiple Louisiana stakes winner Mirabeau. The fastest horse from the under tack show, hip 57 with a clocking of :10 flat, also brought $150,000 and sold to Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. Named Wupkar, the filly is out of the Songandaprayer mare Anne Margaret, who has produced two stakes-placed runners.

Benchmark Training Center, agent, as the leading consignor by total sales at $622,700. Pike Racing was the leading consignor by average, with four sales for an average of $105,750.

CLICK HERE to download complete results as a PDF, or CLICK HERE to view the interactive, sortable results.

Louisiana-bred Filly Posts Fastest Time in Advance of Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

A Louisiana-bred filly by Bind worked an eighth-mile in :10 flat as the fastest time in Monday’s under tack show for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park. The breeze show was held under sunny skies with a steady headwind throughout the day. The sale is set for Wednesday at 12 noon. CLICK HERE for a list of breeze show times.

To view videos from the under tack show, CLICK HERE and select the individual hip you want to view from the interactive catalog. Or CLICK HERE to watch the entire breeze show in hip number order.

Hip 57

Consigned by Pike Racing, agent, Hip 57 was the sixth horse to breeze in the under tack show. The February 27 foal, named Wupkar, is out of the Songandaprayer mare Anne Margaret, who has produced four winners. Two of those winners are stakes-placed, including $346,012 earner Adrianne G.

A single horse worked a quarter-mile, with Hip 113, an Ohio-bred colt by Midshipman, clocking the distance in :24 4/5.

“We had a nice crowd on hand today with more people in attendance than I remember over the past several years,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had some very strong works on the track, despite a pretty solid headwind.”

Videos of the under tack show will be posted later this evening.

More than 120 Horses Consigned to Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

The catalogue is now available for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale with more than 120 head consigned to the auction set for Wednesday, April 7, at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. The under tack show will be held Monday, April 5, at Lone Star, which co-sponsors the sale with the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

CLICK HERE to view the online catalog.

CLICK HERE for more info about online bidding and to register.

“After being forced to cancel last year’s 2-year-old sale due to COVID-19, we are very pleased to get back on track this year, especially with the excitement from the increased overnight purses in Texas and the strong stakes schedule coming up at Lone Star Park,” said Tim Boyce, sales director.

First-year sires Klimt, Practical Joke, Lord Nelson, Gormley and Midnight Storm lead a strong stallion list, along with Texas freshman stallions Texas Chrome and Eagle. National and international sire power should be enticing to all buyers with Bernardini, California Chrome, Honor Code, Kitten’s Joy, Maclean’s Music, Malibu Moon and Street Sense among those represented. As usual, offspring of many of the Southwest’s top sires are in the sale, including Bradester, Custom for Carlos, Den’s Legacy, Half Ours, My Golden Song and Star Guitar.

The mailing of catalogues was delayed due to February’s winter weather in Texas, but copies are expected to mail next week. The complete catalogue is now online, and as the sale approaches photos will be posted along with videos following the under tack show. Online bidding will again be available, and interested bidders can register now.

“After being forced to cancel last year’s 2-year-old due to COVID-19, we are very pleased to get back on track this year, especially with the excitement from the increased overnight purses in Texas and the strong stakes schedule coming up at Lone Star Park,” said Tim Boyce, sales director.

First-year sires Klimt, Practical Joke, Lord Nelson, Gormley, and Midnight Storm lead a strong sire list with local first year sires Texas Chrome and Eagle. National sire power should be enticing to all buyers with Bernardini, California Chrome, Honor Code, Kitten’s Joy, Maclean’s Music, Malibu Moon and Street Sense. As usual, many of the Southwest’s top sires are represented in the sale, including Bradester, Custom for Carlos, Den’s Legacy, Half Ours, My Golden Song and Star Guitar. The mailing of catalogues was delayed due to February’s winter weather in Texas, but copies are expected to mail next week. The complete catalogue is now online, and as the sale approaches photos will be posted along with videos after the under tack show. Online bidding will again be available, and interested bidders can register now.

Texas Summer Yearling Sale Set for August 30

by Posted in Yearling Sale

The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that the Texas Summer Yearling Sale will be held Monday, August 30, at the Dallas-area track. Entries are now being accepted with a deadline of June 21. Click here for the entry form.

Despite the current health pandemic, last year’s Texas Summer Yearling Sale resulted in an increase in gross sale receipts of more than 166% with approximately twice the number of horses consigned compared to the previous year. Even with the larger catalog, last year’s sale posted an increase in average and median as buyers reacted positively to rising purses and breeders awards in Texas thanks to new legislation.

“Last year’s sale showed how strong the Southwest market is with Texas on the rise and Oklahoma and Louisiana continuing to have solid racing and breeding programs,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We fully expect that upward trend to continue with our upcoming 2-year-olds in training sale followed by this yearling sale.”

Last year the TTA introduced a consignor rebate program that rebates up to 50% of the consignment fee using funding from the passage of HB 2463, and that offer will again be in effect for this sale. As previously announced, the TTA and Lone Star Park will hold the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on April 7. The breeze show will be held April 5.

Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Set for April 7, 2021

by Posted in 2-Year-Old Sale

The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that the 2021 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on Wednesday, April 7, at the Dallas-area track. The breeze show will be held Monday, April 5.

The sale will be held about two weeks before Lone Star Park kicks off its expanded Thoroughbred meet with 48 days of racing starting on April 22. The track has announced an enhanced stakes schedule worth more than $2.2 million and the revival of Lone Star Million Day. As usual, the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity, for TTA Sales graduates and those made eligible through a consignor berth, will be held at Lone Star with two divisions at $100,000-estimated apiece.

“With daily purses at Lone Star expected to be around $250,000 and maiden races at $36,000, this sale will offer buyers the chance to get an almost immediate return on their investment,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “In addition to the Sales Futurity in July, Lone Star will be running two divisions of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds in June, so that’s another opportunity for Texas-sired horses.”

The entry deadline for the 2-year-old sale is January 15, 2021. Click here to download the consignment form.

Texas Winter Mixed Sale Results

by Posted in Mixed Sale

The TTA would like to thank all the buyers and consignors at the Texas Winter Mixed Sale on December 6 at Lone Star Park.

Click here to download a PDF of the results. Or click here to view the sortable results.

Pictured is the sale-topper, a Texas-bred weanling colt by Valor Farm stallion Bradester. He sold for $16,000 from Benchmark Training Center, Inc., agent, to Highlander Training Center. Good luck to all with their purchases!

Registration Now Open for Online Bidding on Texas Winter Mixed Sale

by Posted in Mixed Sale

Registration is now open for those interested in placing bids online for the Texas Winter Mixed Sale on Sunday, December 6, at Lone Star Park. The auction will feature a catalog of 135 weanlings, yearlings, horses of racing age and broodmares. The sale begins at 1 p.m. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

This auction will feature an upgraded online bidding experience compared to the Texas Summer Yearling Sale, which was the first Texas sale to offer online bidding. Live video will be available both for online bidders and those just wanting to watch the sale. The online catalog features photos and videos of many of the horses in the sale. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CATALOG.

Bidders may also attend the sale in-person at the Texas Thoroughbred Sale Pavilion at Lone Star. Masks will be required, and Lone Star Park’s COVID-19 protocols will be in effect.

“This is the first Texas Winter Mixed Sale in nearly 10 years, and it offers some high-quality bloodstock and future racing prospects,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We were quite pleased with how many entries we received, and we’ve had interest from buyers around the region and around the country due to the rising purses and breeding incentives in Texas and the overall health of the industry in the Southwest region.”

For more information about online bidding, including the credit reference form required, click here.

More than 125 head consigned to Texas Winter Mixed Sale, Catalog now online

by Posted in Mixed Sale

The first standalone Texas Winter Mixed Sale in nearly a decade has attracted more than 125 consignments. To view the online catalog, CLICK HERE.

The auction, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, will be held on Sunday, December 6, at 1 p.m. Central at the Texas Thoroughbred Sale Pavilion on the backside of the Dallas-area track.

Although there have been mixed sessions as part of the Texas Summer Yearling Sale in recent years, this will mark the first Texas Winter Mixed Sale since 2011.

“Because of increased purses and breeding incentives in Texas, and the overall strength of racing in the Southwest region, we saw the need to bring this sale back,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “Even though we knew there would be demand from consignors and buyers, we didn’t anticipate this many entries or the interest we’ve already seen from potential buyers. That’s a good sign for how things are growing in this region.”

The sale will kick off with broodmares followed by weanlings, yearlings and horses of racing age. The Texas Summer Yearling Sale in August was the first Texas sale with live online bidding, and that option will again be available for this sale along with online video. More details about online bidding will be posted soon.

Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale Posts Big Gain in Gross as Average and Median Trend Up

by Posted in Yearling Sale

The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, posted a big gain in gross sales on Monday. The average and median also increased compared to last year, even with a much larger catalog on tap this year. The sale was held in the sales pavilion at Lone Star with appropriate safety measures in place, and online bidding was offered for the first time at the Texas sale.

Hip 218 – Photo by Denis Blake/Texas Thoroughbred Association

For the yearling session, 106 head from 137 offered sold for a total of $1,347,700, compared to 42 of 65 sold last year for $506,000. That represents a 166.34% increase in gross sales. The average this year was $12,714, up 5.5% from last year’s $12,048, and the median rose to $5,100 from $5,000 for an increase of 2%. The buyback rate this year was 22.6% compared to 35.3% last year.

The format was altered this year to include a horses of racing age session, in part because of the cancellation of the 2-year-olds in training sale earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The session had 15 horses sell from 18 offered for a total of $162,500 and an average of $10,833.

Last year’s summer auction had a traditional mixed session with 12 sold for $31,100.

“The results of this sale were strong on their own, and especially against the backdrop of a health pandemic,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “With twice as many yearlings as last year, the fact that our average and median still went up shows that there’s a lot of demand in this region for quality stock. We were pleased with the response to online bidding as well.”

Al Pike, agent, bought the three highest priced horses, topped by hip 218, a Louisiana-bred colt from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Klimt. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent for Coteau Grove Farms LLC, the January foal is the first out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Ms. Character and sold for $120,000.

Pike also signed the ticket on the hip 203, who sold for $100,000 as the top filly and second-highest overall. Consigned by H & E Ranch, Roger Daly, agent, the Kentucky-bred daughter is also from the first crop of a Grade 1 winner in Classic Empire. She is out of Just Like Pop, by Unbridled’s Song, whose only foal to race is a multiple winner.

Pike also got the third-highest price from H & E Ranch and Daly with hip 243, a Kentucky-bred Lemon Drop Kid colt for $70,000.

From the horses of racing age session, the top price was hip 16, an unraced 2-year-old filly by Twirling Candy. Martin Racing Stable LLC bought her for $27,000 from Eaton Sales, agent.

Eaton Sales, agent, participating in the Texas sale for the first time, topped the list of consignors with gross sales of $454,800 from 28 sold. Roger Daly, agent, had the top average with eight sold for an average of $31,800.

For complete hip-by-hip results, click here.

For a printable PDF version of the results, click here.