SUCCESS FOR PENNSYLVANIA AT ANNUAL HORSE SALE
Harrisburg, PA, November 2007: Standardbred Horse Sales Co. conducted its 69th Annual Sale at the PA Farm Show Complex between November 5-10, 2007. A total of 2,041 horses were sold during the six-day event, for the total of $70,579,500, and an average horse sale price of $34,581.
The yearling sale portion of the event kicked off on November 5th, with sales increasing +10.5% to the yearling sale in 2006. Bedtime Song, a trotting yearling from the Pennsylvania sire Windsong’s Legacy (by Bold Dreamer) received a bid of $360,000. Bedtime Song was consigned by Peninsula Farm and purchased by Michael Andrew of Maine. Yearlings by Pennsylvania sire, Andover Hall, brought in the top average sales of $78,154.
Top bid in the Mixed portion of the sale was $525,000 for Mystical Sunshine, a 6 year old broodmare prospect and filly that is likely to be named 2007 Trotting Mare of the Year. Mystical Sunshine was consigned by Northwood Bloodstock and purchased by Odds On Nourrir of Illinois. Kentucky sire, Like A Prayer, topped the best average for the mixed sale, with $76,400.
Top purchase by a PA buyer was $320,000 for Touchdown Town, a Muscles Yankee colt. Buyers from New York and New Jersey topped PA buyers with purchases in the amount of $10.6 million and $9.3 million, respectively.
Race horses concluded the sale, with a top bid price of $320,000 for Big Business (Dragon Again-Tricky Business), a pacing gelding. Big Business was consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing and sold to Patrick Lachance of New Jersey.
Consignors from Pennsylvania included Hanover Shoe Farms, Vieux Carre’ Farms, Hempt Farms, Pin Oak Lane Farm, Earl Beal Agency, and Fashion Farms. The PA consignors realized sales in the amount of $13.8 million, with a total of 333 horse sales averaging at $33,969 each. Sales by Pennsylvania consignors increased 28% from 2006. Highest sales by any consignor were for Northwood Bloodstock Agency (Secaucus, NJ), with revenue of $12.9 million and average sales of $29,204 for each of their 445 horses sold.
According to Paul F. Spears, Executive Director of Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania, said “The 2007 Standardbred Hose Sales Company Annual Sale was an enormous, record-breaking success. A renewed sense of optimism pervaded our industry, fueled by the attractive financial opportunities of slots-enhanced purses in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. The new Pennsylvania slots program is rapidly supplementing both overnight purses and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes purses. Standardbred horse ownership is once again becoming an attractive investment option for new owners. Not only do they have a chance at owning “the big horse”, they now have a reasonable chance of making money by owning more moderately talented horses. Even Andrew Cohen, a financial columnist for Barron’s magazine, is promoting Standardbred horse ownership. Ellen Harvey of the United States Trotting Association periodically holds “new Owner Seminars” that educate new owners in various aspects of Standardbred racehorse ownership. And best of all, it’s great fun!”.
In 2007, overnight purses for harness racing have increased, and approximately $5 million will be awarded to Pennsylvania breeders. The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program is expected to add $4 million to the Pennsylvania Pari-Mutuel program from slots revenue.
Download 2007 Sales Results from PA Preferred Yearling Sale (PDF Format)
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