Sandy Stuart is the new director of sales for Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, and he’s finding out what it’s like being in charge of a consignment for the first time at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling auction in Lexington.
There are nine horses in the Bluegrass group, including offspring sired by Distorted Humor and Ghostzapper . Especially impressive, according to Stuart, is a gray/roan El Prado – Blue Sky High filly that is from the family of the ill-fated champion Ruffian and grade I winners Coronado's Quest and Private Terms.
“She’s a very balanced filly,” he said, “and she has a lovely walk – an aggressive, strong, good, long-striding walk.”
Stuart, 27, is a son of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services president John Stuart, and he represents the third generation of his family to be involved in the bloodstock agency business. A graduate of Hampden- Sydney College in Virginia, he majored in economics.
“I used to work prepping the yearlings in the summer for pop,” said Stuart, who has been involved full-time in his family’s equine ventures for several years.
His debut as director of sales comes at a challenging time in the Thoroughbred marketplace. A worldwide financial crisis has caused prices for horses to plummet. But Stuart isn’t discouraged by the situation. Instead, he views it as a challenge.
“I think it’s great,” he said. It’s a real strength to be able to understand that there aren’t always boom times and you can never overextend yourself. I think it’s great to experience the highs and the lows.”