OBS Spring Sale Sets Records For Gross And Average

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's spring auction of 2-year-olds in training established sale records for gross revenue and average price during its four-day run that ended April 26 in Florida. In addition, the auction's record for the highest-priced horse was equaled when a Grindstone filly sold for $550,000 on the final day. The mark first was established in 1998, when Kaaren and Hays Biggs purchased Etbauer, a son of Silver Deputy who won the 1999 Rebel Stakes (gr. IIII).

Consigned by Old South Farm, agent, the Grindstone filly was purchased by California high-tech executive David J. Shimmon. She was produced from the 6-year-old unraced Carson City mare Quiet City. The OBS Sale topper was purchased as a weanling for only $15,000 by Terry Oliver at the 1999 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The consignor at Keeneland was Glennwood Farm, agent. Prior to the OBS sale, the filly worked a quarter-mile in :21 4/5.

In all, 685 juveniles were sold over the sale's four days. They grossed $18,058,600 and averaged $26,363, figures that were up by 4.2% and 2.4%, respectively, from a year ago. The median was $15,000, which was down by 21.1%. In 2000, 673 horses were sold for a gross of $17,323,900, an average of $25,741, and a median of $15,000.

OBS reported that this year's buy-back rate was 33.4%, which was up from last year's rate of 26.1%.

The Biggses led all buyers, paying $890,000 for six horses. John Dolan and Wesley Ward were next with ten for $854,000, followed by Amy E. Tarrant with seven for $806,000. David J. Shimmon was next with two for $750,000.