(Edited Fasig-Tipton press release)
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 237 horses for its Texas sale of 2-year-olds in training. The auction, which had 303 juveniles in 2008, is scheduled for March 31 at Lone Star Park. The under tack show will be held at Lone Star March 29.
“This sale, in its 13th year at Lone Star, has really grown in stature, and with the enhancements and changes we will make for 2009, it will have the same feel as any of the better 2-year-old in training venues,” said Tim Boyce, director of sales for Fasig-Tipton in Texas. “(Beginning this year) all Fasig-Tipton’s in-training sales will have the same whip and horse shoe regulations in place for our under tack shows. We will have random medication checks throughout the show. Buyers are afforded new levels of protection within our revised conditions of sale for medication and anabolic steroid misuse.”
Fasig-Tipton joined with Barretts, Keeneland, and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. to develop uniform policies for their sales that took effect earlier this year. Issues addressed were medication, various prohibited practices, use of the riding crop, and horse shoes.
The Texas juvenile auction will have flat screen televisions in the sale pavilion this year, and Fasig-Tipton officials are working on getting a business kiosk installed that could be ready for use in time for the sale.
“Our sire power for the sale is pretty exciting,” Boyce said.
Sires represented by horses in the catalog include Grand Slam, Thunder Gulch, Harlan’s Holiday, Closing Argument, El Prado, Eurosilver, Forestry, Malibu Moon, More Than Ready, Sky Mesa, and Songandaprayer.