The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s fall mixed sale ended its two-day run Oct. 13 in Central Florida with moderate losses of 12.8% in its average price and 6.7% in its median price. There was a smaller catalog than in 2008, when the auction was three days long, and that contributed to a 30.7% plunge in gross revenue and a 20.6% decline in the number of horses sold.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A weanling colt in the first crop of 2006 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Jazil brought $77,000 to top the consignor preferred session of the Ocala Breeders's Sales Co. fall mixed auction Oct. 12 in Central Florida. The sale opened its two-day run in Central Florida with downturns of 24% in gross revenue, 39% in average price, and 50% in median price from last year.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2009 fall mixed sale, which begins its two-day run Oct. 12 in Central Florida, has 688 horses in its catalog. The consignor preferred session, with 290 horses cataloged, is scheduled for the opening day. An open session with the rest of horses is set for Oct. 13.
Friday, October 09, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 688 horses for its two-day fall mixed sale in Central Florida. There will be a consignor preferred session Oct. 12 with 290 lots, and it will be followed by an open session Oct. 13. Selling will begin on both days at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. yearling sale, like many other auctions before it in 2009, couldn't overcome the weak economy and ended up posting results that were down signficantly from 2008.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The price for an individual horse peaked at $45,000 on the third day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. yearling sale, with three lots each bringing that amount Aug. 26 in Central Florida. They were a Stormy Atlantic--La Defense colt, a Put It Back--Lovely Lyric colt, and a Pomeroy--Misty Springs filly.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A filly by the hot first-crop sire Wildcat Heir was the most expensive horse sold on the second day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s slumping yearling auction, bringing $100,000 Aug. 25 in Central Florida. Repole Stable purchased the New York-bred chestnut from Bryan and Holley Rice's Woodside Ranch, agent.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling sale broke slowly from the starting gate Aug. 24 in Central Florida, suffering downturns of more than 30% from 2008 in its gross revenue, average price, and median price. But a powerful-looking Medaglia d'Oro filly topped the select session by attracting a $275,000 final bid from Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation that surpassed last year's peak price for an individual horse of $200,000.
Monday, August 24, 2009
With the weak economy continuing to have a negative impact on all sorts of businesses, Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. executive Tom Ventura has modest expectations for the auction firm's August yearling sale in Central Florida.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 1,151 yearlings for its August yearling sale. The number is down 14.2% from last year, when 1,342 horses were in the book.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Big City Man, who defeated champion Indian Blessing in this year's Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), died July 5 of a strangulated cecum, several hours after a six-furlong work in 1:13.40 at Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
In keeping with most other sales this year of 2-year-olds in training, the Ocala Breeders' Sale Co. ended its two day June sale June 17 with decreases in all major indices.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a gaming bill June 15 that contains several changes sought by the state's Thoroughbred industry and some changes in the operations of the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casinos.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tagged (Hip No. 30), a colt by Freefourinternet consigned by Robdale Farms, agent, sped a quarter in :21 1/5 to post the fastest time at the distance at the first session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. June sale 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 513 juveniles and 27 older Thoroughbreds for its June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age. The auction will be held in Central Florida June 16 and 17, with each session starting at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Florida Legislature passed a gaming bill May 8 that includes several changes sought by the state's Thoroughbred industry, and a compromise on the contentious issue of table games at the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casinos.
Friday, May 08, 2009
A memorial service celebrating the life of David Goldman will be held at noon May 3 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Goldman died April 23, in Ocala, after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Dave Goldman, a Florida advertising executive and a former director of marketing for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co., died April 23 in Ocala, Fla. He was 76.
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, which ended its four-day run April 23 in Central Florida, turned in one of the best performances for a Thoroughbred auction this year even though it suffered setbacks in several of its key business figures. Compared to 2008, the number of horses sold rose 4.7% while the gross revenue fell 10.7%. The average price declined 14.7%, and the median price dropped 16.7%.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
A Stormy Atlantic filly was the highest-priced horse sold April 22 during the third session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring juvenile auction in Central Florida. Consigned by Randy Miles, as agent, she brought $170,000 from Roger Dreyer.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sheikh Mohammed, represented by John Ferguson Bloodstock, bought the session-topping horse for the second day in a row at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. Dubai's ruler picked up a Snow Ridge filly for $180,000 April 21 after acquiring a $675,000 A.P. Indy colt during the auction's opening session.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A strapping A.P. Indy colt became one of the most expensive horses ever sold at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training when he brought $675,000 April 20. Jimmy Bell, the president of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley America operation, signed the sale ticket in the name of John Ferguson Bloodstock as the auction began its four-day run in Central Florida with increases in the number of horses sold, gross revenue, and average price.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, which is the largest auction of the juvenile selling season, opens April 20 in Central Florida. There are 1,389 horses cataloged for the sale's four-day run.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
A Pure Precision -- B. J. Telicus filly and a Dixie Union -- Duet gelding named General Staff were the fastest workers at a quarter mile April 18 during the fourth and final session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. They each covered the distance in :20 3/5.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Morning Price, who is a member of the Holy Bull stallion Bull Market's first crop, worked a quarter mile in :20 2/5 April 17 during the third session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. It was the day's fastest time for the distance.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Garden Cider, a daughter of Forbidden Apple, zipped an eighth of a mile in :9 3/5 April 16 in Central Florida. The bay filly posted the fastest time for the distance during the second session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A son of Omega Code breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 April 15 during the first session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. It was the fastest work for the distance.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Ocala Breeders' Sales Company has postponed the Under Tack Show for the 2009 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training until Wednesday, April 15 at 8 a.m.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has cataloged 1,389 horses for the spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, which will be held April 20-23 in Central Florida. Each session will start at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
Monday, April 06, 2009
When sale company officials, consignors, and buyers analyzed the Thoroughbred marketplace in the past, they often mentioned how well demand for the most expensive horses was holding up. But during the latest economic downturn, which has sparked financial crises around the world, even the top of the market is taking a pounding based on the combined results for the first four major select sales of 2-year-olds in training.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Steve Weicholz isn't a newcomer to shopping at the top end of juvenile auctions. The Boca Raton, Fla., resident is the new owner of El Kingdom, whose $450,000 price topped the recent Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of in training. Three years ago, through Bill Badgett, Weicholz purchased Justin Rules, a son of Mr. Greeley, for $525,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile auction in Maryland.
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training suffered downturns of 30% or more in its gross revenue, average price, and median price after posting all-time highs for those figures in 2008. Here's what people had to say about the market at the auction, which was held March 17 and 18 in Central Florida.
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. closed out the two-day run of its March select juvenile auction with a bang as an El Prado colt named El Kingdom brought the sale's most expensive price of $450,000 March 18.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Saying he had found the equine equivalent of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball star LeBron James, trainer Eddie Plesa paid $450,000 for an El Prado colt March 18 during the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. As of early afternoon, the price was the highest of the auction, topping the $425,000 Indian Charlieâ€"Hollywood and Wine filly that sold March 17
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Leprechaun Racing's Mike Mulligan, who suffered a fractured skull in a fall following the March 3 Fasig-Tipton Florida March select sale of 2-year-olds in training, is fully conscious and spoke to his wife on the phone March 18 during the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
As Leprechaun Racing's Mike Mulligan recuperated from a fractured skull in a South Florida hospital, his friends and associates in the Thoroughbred business reached out to offer support. Participants in the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training wore green rubber bracelets decorated with shamrocks and pitched in to help Mulligan's wife, Britt, at the Leprechaun consignment. They also held a prayer service prior to the March 17 opening session of the auction.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Still reeling from the effects of the worldwide financial crisis, buyers approached the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training cautiously, and their reluctance to spend the really big bucks was a major factor in the opening session's setbacks. Compared to a year ago, when the auction enjoyed a record-setting run, the gross revenue dropped 29.6% while the average price fell 32.6%,and the median price declined 22.2% March 17 in Central Florida.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
A smooth-striding Grand Slam colt brought $400,000 early in the afternoon during the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Adena Springs sale of 2-year-olds in training bucked the downward trend in the Thoroughbred marketplace in one important statistical category. The median price rose 28.6% from a year ago during the eighth edition of the auction, which was held March 16 at Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select juvenile auction "will be as good as a 2-year-old sale can be this year," according to Tom Ventura.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Here is a list of horses to keep an eye on during the March 16 first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida:
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Here is a list of horses to keep an eye on during the March 18 seconds session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A More Than Ready colt was the fastest worker at an eighth of a mile March 13 during the second session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida. He covered the distance in :9 3/5.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Four horses tied for the fastest work at a quarter mile during the March 12 first session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training in Central Florida.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Uniform policies that restrict use of a riding crop in under tack shows for 2-year-olds in training had a significant effect on riders' actions at the preview for the Fasig-Tipton Florida select juvenile auction, according to Fasig-Tipton director of marketing Terence Collier.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March select sale of 2-year-olds in training will begin at 9 a.m. (EDT) instead of 8 a.m., as previously scheduled, because of the recent switch to Daylight Savings Time. The first session of the show is set for March 12 (Hip Nos. 1-260), and the second session will be held March 13 (Hip Nos. 261-523) in Central Florida.
Monday, March 09, 2009
If the recent Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) February select sale of 2-year-olds in training was any indication, it's going to be a tough year for yearling-to-juvenile pinhookers. The rate of return (ROR) on their investment, 30.7%, ranked among their worst ever based on figures that date back to 1990. It was the weakest since the ROR dropped to its lowest point during the 20-year period of 17.1% in 1993.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The set of uniform policies developed by four major auction firms Barretts, Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, and the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. took effect beginning with the OBS February select sale of 2-year-olds in training Feb. 17 in Central Florida. The policies address medication, prohibited practices, riding crops, and horseshoes. "As the first sale under these new guidelines, I thought it went tremendously well," said Tom Ventura, the OBS general manager and director of sales.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The selling season for select 2-year-olds in training staggered out of the starting gate in Central Florida Feb. 17. The year's first major juvenile auction, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. February sale, suffered sobering setbacks of 29.3% in gross revenue, 33.7% in average price, and 28% in median price from a year ago. Another discouraging result was the buy-back rate, which soared from 28.2% in 2008 to 38.3%.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Westrock Stables' Scott Ford, a former president and chief executive officer of Alltel, hasn't been in the Thoroughbred business for long, but he was a major player at the Ocala Breeders'Sales Co. select sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
