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OBS Spring Sale Wraps Up Record Four-Day Run

OBS Spring Sale Wraps Up Record Four-Day Run

Officials of Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. understandably exhausted a thesaurus full of superlatives in describing this week's OBS Spring Sale in Ocala, Fla. which concluded its four-day run on April 25.

 Thursday, April 25, 2013
Record March Continues at OBS Spring Sale

Record March Continues at OBS Spring Sale

Climbing like the temperature, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training continued its record march April 24, posting another day of positive returns.

 Wednesday, April 24, 2013
OBS Juvenile Sale Continues to Show Strength

OBS Juvenile Sale Continues to Show Strength

Considering the record results posted during the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, an encore on day two of the four-day auction might have seemed like a lot to ask.

 Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Numbers Soar at OBS Spring Juvenile Sale

Numbers Soar at OBS Spring Juvenile Sale

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company officials could not have scripted a better start to the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla., on Monday, April 22. Bidding proved fast and furious, fueling large gains.

 Monday, April 22, 2013

OBS Spring Sale Has Something for Everyone

With a total of 1,195 head cataloged, this week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training, which kicks off Monday, April 22, should go a long way in meeting customer demand for quality juveniles.

 Sunday, April 21, 2013
Record Smart Strike Colt Brings $1.8M at OBS

Record Smart Strike Colt Brings $1.8M at OBS

A hush fell over the jam-packed pavilion at Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March 13 when Hip No. 333 entered the auction ring late in the OBS March select 2-year-old sale.

 Wednesday, March 13, 2013
OBS, Consignors Ready for 2-Year-Old Sale

OBS, Consignors Ready for 2-Year-Old Sale

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s juvenile sale season kicks off on Tuesday, March 12 with the first of two sessions of the March selected sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla.

 Monday, March 11, 2013
OBS August Yearling Sale Finishes Positively

OBS August Yearling Sale Finishes Positively

A colt by Old Fashioned consigned by Bobby Jones Equine topped the final open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August Yearling Sale in Central Florida on Aug. 23, selling to trainer Greg Gilchrist for $55,000.

 Thursday, August 23, 2012
Prices Surge During OBS Select Session

Prices Surge During OBS Select Session

A strong storm system that swept across Central Florida Aug. 21 failed to dampen the enthusiasm of buyers attending the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling auction in Central Florida.

 Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Good 2YO Market Could Help OBS Yearling Sale

Good 2YO Market Could Help OBS Yearling Sale

Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. officials are cautiously optimistic that the August yearling sale can pick up right where the sales company's juvenile sale season ended: on a high note.

 Monday, August 20, 2012
Big Finale Helps Ocala Spring Sale Set Marks

Big Finale Helps Ocala Spring Sale Set Marks

The Ocala Breeders Sales Co. concluded a record run through its Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training on April 26 with a fourth consecutive session of spirited bidding and a $650,000 sales topper.

 Thursday, April 26, 2012

Orientate Colt Leads OBS Spring Sale Session

Buoyed by a new sale topper and momentum from a robust juvenile market, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s Spring Sale continued its record pace on April 25 in Ocala, Fla.

 Wednesday, April 25, 2012

OBS Spring Sale Kicks Off April 23

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co's spring sale feature nearly 1,200 2-year-olds over its four sessions in Central Florida.

 Saturday, April 21, 2012
BH.com to Stream Video of OBS March Sale

BH.com to Stream Video of OBS March Sale

BloodHorse.com and the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. are teaming up to provide live streaming video of the OBS March select sale of 2-year-olds in training and its under tack shows.

 Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Wojciechowski is OBS' New Director of Sales

Tod Wojciechowski will begin his duties after the first of the year. Tom Ventura will become president of OBS on June 30.

 Friday, December 02, 2011

Chiota Retiring as OBS President in 2012

Director of sales and general manager Tom Ventura will take over as president after Chiota's retirement.

 Monday, October 31, 2011

OBS Sale Ends With Gains in Average, Median

The final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August sale of yearlings ended with another day of across-the-board increases despite a smaller amount of horses offered for sale.

 Thursday, August 25, 2011
Excitement in New York Could Help OBS Sale

Excitement in New York Could Help OBS Sale

Higher racing purses in the Empire State resulting from the opening of a VLT casino won't be limited to New York-breds.

 Sunday, August 21, 2011
South Korean Ambassador Visits Ocala

South Korean Ambassador Visits Ocala

South Korean buyers were particularly active in 2010, spending $2.6 million at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.

 Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Average, Median Down as OBS March Sale Opens

Average, Median Down as OBS March Sale Opens

The opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training struggled, with the average price declining 8.8% from a year ago while the median price dropped 18.6%.

 Tuesday, March 15, 2011
OBS March Sale Offers Quality and Quantity

OBS March Sale Offers Quality and Quantity

They say two heads are better than one, but is one sale better than two? We'll find out March 15 and 16 when the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. conducts its March select juvenile auction in Central Florida.

 Sunday, March 13, 2011
OBS Winter Mixed Sale Starts Jan. 18

OBS Winter Mixed Sale Starts Jan. 18

There are 522 horses cataloged for the Central Florida auction.

 Saturday, January 15, 2011

OBS Sale Ends With 27.8% Increase in Average

Boosted by quality offerings in the dispersal of Al and Nora Figliolia's Westbury Stables, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. fall mixed sale enjoyed major upswings in gross of 48.3% and average price of 27.8% from a year ago.

 Wednesday, October 20, 2010

OBS August Sale Ends With Increases

The combined gross and average for the select and open portions enjoy upswings.

 Thursday, August 26, 2010

Upswings Continue at OBS Yearling Sale

The average price for the first open session rises 29.1% while the median price increases 62.5%.

 Wednesday, August 25, 2010

OBS Select Session's Average Rises 9%

The median price rose 8% as the yearling sale began its three-day run in Central Florida.

 Tuesday, August 24, 2010
OBS Combines February, March Sales for 2011

OBS Combines February, March Sales for 2011

There will be no selling of juveniles in February. All select 2-year-olds offered by the company will be sold in March.

 Friday, August 20, 2010

Shorter, Smaller OBS Sale Opens Aug. 24

The three-day Florida auction has 901 yearlings in its catalog.

 Friday, August 20, 2010
OBS Sale Will Begin One Day Later Than Usual

OBS Sale Will Begin One Day Later Than Usual

Starting the auction on a Tuesday (Aug. 24), instead of a Monday, will make the auction more convenient for buyers.

 Sunday, July 11, 2010
Consignors, Buyers Like Slower Times at OBS

Consignors, Buyers Like Slower Times at OBS

Participants in the February select juvenile auction were pleased with the changes in track maintenance, saying horses were less sore after the under tack show.

 Wednesday, February 17, 2010

OBS Sale Ends With 36.6% Decline in Gross

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

Expectations Modest for OBS Yearling Sale

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
Downturns at OBS Spring Sale Are Moderate

Downturns at OBS Spring Sale Are Moderate

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
OBS Postpones Under Tack Show

OBS Postpones Under Tack Show

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
OBS February Sale Gross Falls 29.3%

OBS February Sale Gross Falls 29.3%

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

OBS February Show Times Set Records

Times were faster than ever before during the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. February select sale of 2-year-olds in training Feb. 13 in Central Florida.

 Friday, February 13, 2009

OBS March Sale Has 523 Horses

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) has cataloged 523 horses for its March select sale of 2-year-olds in training. The number is up 13.7% from last year's total of 460.

 Tuesday, February 03, 2009
OBS February Sale Has 200 Juveniles

OBS February Sale Has 200 Juveniles

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. has more horses for its February select sale of 2-year-olds in training than it did in 2008, according to Tom Ventura, the auction firm's general manager and director of sales. OBS will catalog 200 juveniles, up 16.3% from last year's total of 172.

 Thursday, January 22, 2009
OBS Mixed Sale Ends With Big Downturns

OBS Mixed Sale Ends With Big Downturns

Even though it's a new year, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale was the victim of the same worldwide economic crisis that caused prices at many Thoroughbred auctions to plummet late in 2008. The gross revenue plunged 57.7% from a year ago while the average price and median price dropped 39.6% and 45.5%, respectively.

 Thursday, January 08, 2009
Average Drops 63% at OBS Mixed Sale

Average Drops 63% at OBS Mixed Sale

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) winter mixed sale suffered downturns of 63% in its average price and 74.4% in its median price from a year ago as it opened with a consignor preferred session Jan. 6 in Central Florida. The gross revenue dropped 43% even though the number of horses sold was up 54.1% from 2008's first day total.

 Wednesday, January 07, 2009
OBS Updates August Sale Results

OBS Updates August Sale Results

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) recently revised the results for the 2008 August yearling sale on its Web site (www.obssales.com) because of new rules governing horse auctions in Florida that took effect in July. Sale companies now are required to disclose any horses that did not change ownership after being reported as sold.

 Tuesday, November 25, 2008
OBS Mixed Sale Suffers Major Losses

OBS Mixed Sale Suffers Major Losses

The results were grim for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s fall mixed auction, which ended its three-day run in Central Florida Oct. 8. The buy-back/no bid rate rose significantly while the other key business figures suffered huge setbacks during a week when the American stock market is plunging and economic turmoil is increasing worldwide.

 Thursday, October 09, 2008
Downward Trend Continues at OBS Sale

Downward Trend Continues at OBS Sale

Double-digit percentage drops hit the first open session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s fall mixed sale Oct. 7, continuing a trend from the previous day's consignor-preferred session.

 Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Declines Steep at OBS Fall Sale Opener

Declines Steep at OBS Fall Sale Opener

It took roughly six hours to get there, but a horse selling in the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. fall mixed sale finally brought six figures Oct. 6, a day marked by severe across-the-board declines for the Central Florida auction.

 Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Will Trends Continue at OBS Mixed Sale?

Will Trends Continue at OBS Mixed Sale?

With a yearling auction season all but over, and one that delivered a sharp dose of economic reality, industry eyes will be fixed on the upcoming Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. fall mixed sale, the unofficial annual kick-off to the campaign of selling of broodmares and weanlings.

 Monday, October 06, 2008
Prices Still Falling at OBS Auction

Prices Still Falling at OBS Auction

The market continued to lag behind last year's pace on the third day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. August yearling sale. The gross revenue for the second of three open sessions fell 18.5%, and the average price dropped 30.4%. Meanwhile, the median price declined 26.7%.

 Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Hurricane Threat Could Affect OBS Sale

Hurricane Threat Could Affect OBS Sale

On top of America's economic woes, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) might have to deal with a tropical storm or hurricane during its yearling sale, which is scheduled for Aug. 18-21 in Central Florida.

 Sunday, August 17, 2008
OBS Sale to Test Market With Quantity

OBS Sale to Test Market With Quantity

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. (OBS) will test the yearling market with quantity at a time when some buyers might be cutting back on their purchases because of America's struggling economy. There are 1,342 horses cataloged for the auction, which begins with a select session of 230 yearlings Aug. 18. Three open sessions will follow.

 Saturday, August 16, 2008
OBS Spring Sale Holds Steady

OBS Spring Sale Holds Steady

The Ocala Breeders Sales Co. (OBS) April sale of 2-year-olds training finished its four-day run in Central Florida Thursday with figures close to last year's results.

 Thursday, April 24, 2008
Hearing: Divide on Florida Sales Rules

Hearing: Divide on Florida Sales Rules

It is clear following an April 7 public forum in Florida that published rules concerning horse sales in the state did little to quiet those on opposite sides of the arguments over disclosure and transparency.

 Wednesday, April 09, 2008
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