Breeding Stock Sale Concludes With $340M Sales

Posted on Monday, November 19th, 2007

The 15-day Keeneland November 2007 Breeding Sotck Sale concluded Monday, November 19th with $340,877,200 in sales. The total is an 8.6% increase from last year’s 14-day gross of $313,843,800 and broke the previous high mark of $317,666,000, set in 1999.

Average price of $100,821, the second-highest in sale history, was up 1.1% over $99,728 in 2006. The median of $35,000 remained unchanged from last year.

In a quote from Keeneland’s press release: “This sale was strong from beginning to end; evidenced by the fact that we conducted 15 days of selling and averaged over $100,000 and equaled the record median,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell, adding that double-digit growth was realized from session 11 through the end of the sale, while the RNA rate was a low 22.2 percent, down 3.5 percent from last year. “These figures indicate that we are selling more horses to a wide range of people, and that is very rewarding.”

A world-record price of $10.5 million was paid for a broodmare during the sale’s opening day, John Ferguson, on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, outbid John Magnier of Coolmore to buy Group 1 stakes winner Playful Act (IRE). The 5-year-old daughter of Sadler’s Wells was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent for the dispersal of the Robert Sangster family’s Swettenham Stud.

John Ferguson, bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Mohammed, led the November Sale buyer’s list, acquiring six horses for $19,450,000.

Taylor Made Sales Agency topped the consignor’s list for their sixth consecutive November Breeding Stock Sale, selling 306 horses for $41,089,400.

“We want to thank our consignors and buyers for their support this past year, and wish them a very happy holiday season,” Russell added.

Keeneland sold 114 horses during the final session for $673,500, an average of $5,908.

The session’s top price of $32,000 was paid by R.L. Stallard for Sailing Minstrel, in foal to Borrego. Sailing Minstrel, consigned by Patricia Clark as agent, is the dam of stakes winners Navesink and Efficient Frontier.

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Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale Still Ongoing

Posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007

The 15-day Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale is still ongoing in Lexington, Kentucky as sales are up by 20.9% and having a clearance rate of more than 80%.

On the 11th day, Keeneland sold 259 horses amounting to more than $4.6 million. This is an increase of 20.9% in sales as compared to last year when 226 horses were bought for $3.8 million.

“This sale in general proves that Keeneland remains the best marketplace for horses at all price levels,” said Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell. “We attract a large number of buyers from all ranges of the market, and that continued today.”

The day’s top price went for Whole Emblem, a 3-year-old filly by Our Emblem. She was sold as a broodmare prospect for $130,000 to Big D Stables and was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as agent. Whole Emblem is the half-sister of Top Secret, the Grade II Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks and Grade II New York City Astarita winner.

Keeneland?s November Breeding Stock Sale will continue until Monday. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. daily.

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Santa Anita To Race on Thursday-Monday

Posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Santa Anita Park which traditionally runs from Wednesday through Sunday will change its schedule and operate Thursdays through Monday during the winer-spring racing meeting starting December 26th until April 20th next year.

In a press release posted at www.santaanita.com:

“While our on-track business has improved significantly on weekends and in particular on our big days, we feel strongly that we need to do something to stimulate business on our regular weekdays,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. “We have sought the opinions of a significant cross-section of our customers, and based upon the feedback we have received from them and others in the industry, we believe racing on Mondays during this meet is something well worth trying.

“Additionally, we feel strongly that our product is going to be very well received around the country on Mondays. We feel that we need to try this, that to just to continue to operate with the status-quo is unacceptable, given the fact that on weekdays our on-track business has been slow. We are hopeful that by tweaking the work week in this way, we can draw more people on-track, while doing very well out-of-state,” Charles added.

Charles also noted that Santa Anita will offer a strong simulcast menu each Monday, consisting of racing from Gulfstream Park in Florida, Fairgrounds in New Orleans and Golden Gate Fields in northern California.

Santa Anita, which has traditionally run Wednesdays through Sundays, will invest heavily in promoting Monday racing, including free general admission on Mondays throughout the meet. Additionally, on-track handicapping contests will be offered each Monday.

Santa Anita will also offer its Thoroughbred Club members free box seat accommodations on Mondays, on a first come, first served basis. “Again, we feel strongly that we need to be innovative and to try and give people more reasons than ever to enjoy this magnificent venue,” said Charles. “We are hoping that in combination, these various promotions are going to stimulate our business by better serving our existing customers and enticing new and occasional fans to join us more often.”

With the exception of opening week, Santa Anita will be dark on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. First post time on Wednesday, Dec. 26, is 12 noon. Santa Anita will be dark on Dec. 27, and will reopen for a four-day week from Dec. 28 through Dec. 31. Regular weekday first post time will be at 1:00 p.m. First post on weekends is slated for 12 noon.

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Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park Ends With Gomez Breaking Records

Posted on Monday, November 12th, 2007

The $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park ended with Garrett Gomez setting a new record of stakes wins in a year when he drove favored Spring Awakening to victory on Sunday, November 11th. The mark Jerry Bailey set in 2003 was broken with this 71st win.

“Until I tied it yesterday, it really hadn’t sunk in,” Gomez said. “I just pointed ‘em in the right direction.”

Riding Spring Awakening for the first time, horse and rider, Garrett Gomez, always looked like a winner in the seven-furlong Moccasin Stakes. The California-bred daughter of In Excess was comfortably positioned in third following Sindy Jacobson and The Golden Noodle. After surging to the lead mid-stretch, she came home with a two-length victory.

Spring Awakening ran seven furlongs in 1:21.38. The 8-5 favorite returned $5.20, $3 and $2.40. Sindy Jacobson with jockey Tyler Baze came in next with $5 and $2.60 payouts. The Golden Noodle ridden by Clinton Potts showed with $2.60.

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