The market for yearlings this year showed signs of stability after big setbacks in 2009. But was that enough to boost the demand for breeding stock?
We’ll begin finding out Oct. 19 and 20 during the autumn’s first major breeding stock auction: the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. fall mixed sale. There are 677 horses cataloged for the auction, which will be held in Central Florida. Each session will begin at 10:30 a.m. (EDT).
The sale’s performance will provide clues about how breeders feel about the future of the Thoroughbred auction business because investments in broodmares require long-term commitments. The weanlings offered will be the first young horses bred on stud fees that were cut after an American recession turned into a global financial crisis and sent prices for Thoroughbreds into a downward spiral.
The complete dispersals of EMO Racing Stables and Westbury Stables, both handled by Summerfield Sales, agent, will take place during the OBS auction. Also scheduled are phase II of the D.W. Frazier dispersal, (Lynne Boutte, agent), and the Mane Place Farm dispersal (Sue Vacek, agent).