The statistics for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic preferred sale of 2-year-olds in training have been impressive in recent years. In 2006, the auction posted its highest ever gross revenue of $21,236,500 and average price of $57,396. In 2007, the sale’s median price soared to an all-time high of $34,500.
Boyd Browning, Fasig-Tipton’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, isn’t expected any huge steps forward during the latest edition of the auction, which is schedule for May 19 and 20 at Timonium in Maryland. But that doesn’t mean he’s not optimistic.
“It’s not going to go magically from averaging in the mid-$50,000 range to $85,000,” he said. “But I do think this year’s sale will be a continuation of a really solid, legitimate marketplace where you can sell a nice horse exceedingly well. The people that I’ve been talking to act like they’re definitely coming to Maryland to buy horses, so it should be a good sale.”
Among the 650 juveniles in the auction’s catalog are a Repent – Crowning Touch colt that worked an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 and a Lion Heart– Bye the Bye colt that breezed a quarter mile in :21. The Repent colt is a full brother to grade II winner Crown of Thorns, and the Lion Heart colt is a half-brother to grade I winner Shossberg.
“There is no question that in recent years our consignors have brought us better horses to Maryland,” Browning said. “The catalog sure has a nice feel to it, and consignors certainly are upbeat about a lot of the horses.”
One negative factor is the struggling American economy, but Browning declined to speculate on what impact it would have on the auction’s bottom line.
“I really try to worry about things we can control, and that is an uncontrollable element,” he said. “Because we don’t have any influence over it, I don’t spend much time or energy thinking about it.”
The stable areas at Timonium has new blacktop, and the steep grades where horses were shown have been reduced.
“This was the first step of a program to help improve the facilities,” Browning said. “The next thing we’ll likely take a look at is some sort of renovation of the pavilion area. It won’t be over the top, but it will be an improvement.