Anticipation was high among Fasig-Tipton officials as they prepared for the Kentucky November select mixed sale in Lexington that will be held Nov. 6.
Last year, when the Thoroughbred marketplace was still shaky after downturns that followed an American recession and a global financial crisis, the auction suffered declines from 2009 in gross, average price, and median price. This year, following improvements at many yearling auctions, Fasig-Tipton’s management is expecting more positive results.
“We can’t wait for Nov. 6 to get here,” said the company’s president Boyd Browning, who described the auction's catalog as “very, very good.”
Seventeen horses were entered in both World Championship races and the Fasig-Tipton sale. Prior to the start of the Breeders' Cup, Medaglia d’Amour was scratched from the Ladies’ Classic (gr. I), but she still is scheduled to be offered during the auction. Elusive Kate, who is in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT), has been scratched from the sale after being sold privately.
In addition to the Breeders’ Cup runners, the sale’s 155 lots include a number of grade I-winning broodmares or broodmare prospects and grade I producers.
“We think the market will continue to be very strong for quality offerings,” Browning said. “We’ve seen this year that there is certainly a desire for people to own top horses, whether they are yearlings, 2-year-olds, or broodmares. We also anticipate a significant amount of international participation. It will be a very important aspect of the marketplace just as it has been in recent years. There is going to be a lot of interest in the wide variety of horses in our catalog.”
The auction will start at 4 p.m. (EST).