Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino will host the John Franks Memorial 2-year-olds in training sale March 17.
Evangeline Downs, along with sale administrator Stemmans Inc., said the 11th edition of the sale will begin at 10 a.m. CT. The gallop preview show will start at noon on March 16. Both the sale and gallop preview are free and open to the public.
As in previous years, a pair of races restricted to 2-year-olds that pass through the sales ring will be offered in August 2013 at Evangeline. One race will be for males and the other for fillies and each will be run at the distance of 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track and offer a $50,000 purse.
"The sale has become an important part of the local racing industry and to Evangeline Downs," said Evangeline director of racing operations Steve Darbonne.
Sale officials said the quaility of horses offered has improved.
"This sale is the marquee event of its kind in Louisiana," said Stemmans president Charlotte Clavier. "We have made a concerted effort with consignors and local breeders to upgrade the sale in terms of quality and we feel strongly that horsemen will appreciate those efforts and respond in kind.
"Last year's (2012) sale was one of our best ever. We sold more than 120 juveniles for a total of $1.125 million, which averaged out to better than $9,078 a horse. Those numbers were substantially better than the 2011 sale and we are optimistic that we can improve on those results."
Sale entry fee is $350 with a 5% commission ($300 minimum). The entry deadline is Dec. 31. Late entries will have a fee of $500 also with a 5% commission ($300 minimum).