Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 494 horses for its Kentucky July select yearling auction. The number is down 13% from last year’s total of 568.
“We were more selective and more demanding in terms of pedigrees and physical conformation,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning, explaining why the catalog is smaller. “We accepted fewer yearlings from a larger pool of horses nominated.”
While the progeny of young sires will continue to be an important part of the auction, the percentage of horses by first- and second-crop stallions is lower than in 2008 and the percentage of yearlings by veteran stallions is higher.
Sires represented by yearlings in the catalog include Afleet Alex, A.P. Indy, Birdstone, Distorted Humor, Dynaformer, Ghostzapper, Indian Charlie, Medaglia d’Oro, Mr. Greeley, Tapit, Tiznow, and Unbridled’s Song.
“We’re very pleased with the catalog,” Browning said. “Our management team and staff are going to spend the weeks before the sale attracting as many buyers as we can for all levels of the market.”
There will be an increased emphasis this year on recruiting trainers as buyers.
The auction will be held July 20-21 in Lexington.
Last year, 305 yearlings were sold for a gross of $28,151,000 and an average price of $92,298. The median price was $75,000. Compared to 2007, the number sold declined 13.8% while the gross revenue dropped 22.7%. The average fell 10.3%, and the median was down 6.3%. The buy-back rate rose from 32.1% in 2007 to 38.8% in 2008.
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale is the first major auction of the yearling selling season.