Black Tie Affair Back in the U.S.A.

Black Tie Affair, 1991 Horse of the Year after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), arrived Nov. 1 in Virginia, where he will stand at Blue Ridge Farm near Upperville. The 17-year-old son of Miswaki stood the past six seasons in Japan after being sold to East Stud in 1997. Black Tie Affair, who began his stallion career at Vinery near Midway, Ky., was purchased this summer by Donna Hayes' The Stallion Company. His fee is private.

Black Tie Affair, who was produced from the Al Hattab mare Hat Tab Girl, has sired 33 stakes winners, including millionaire Evening Attire. One of the mares already booked to Black Tie Affair for 2004 is Evening Attire's dam, Concolour.

Blue Ridge also is home to another repatriated stallion, U.S. champion Housebuster, who stood several years in Japan.