David Shimmon

News, Articles, Videos and other content about David Shimmon

Hess Catching Up With Ocean Terrace

Knowing that the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby who did not race at 2 was Apollo in 1882, trainer Bob Hess Jr. admits he might have rushed Ocean Terrace before the $700,000 son of Saint Ballado made his debut on Dec. 26.

Editor's Note Colt Beats $4.2-Million Saratoga Sale Topper at Spa

Last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale topper, a Seattle Slew colt named Distinction purchased for $4.2 million by Californian David Shimmon, was soundly beaten in his second career start, a six-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at Saratoga on Thursday. The winner of the race was first-time starter Coach Knight, an Anthony Dutrow-trained son of Editor's Note who was a $75,000 purchase at an Ocala Breeders' Sales Company 2-year-old sale this March.

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 median 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 set in 1998, when Kaaren and Hays Biggs purchased Etbauer, a son of Silver Deputy who won the 1999 Rebel Stakes (gr. IIII).

Barretts Downturn Coincides With Stock Market Decline

On March 12, the Nasdaq composite index sank below 2000 and the Dow Jones industrial average experienced a staggering 436-point drop. The following day, Barretts conducted its select sale of 2-year-olds in training and suffered one of its worst financial beatings ever. The gross, average, and median all declined sharply. The buy-back rate climbed to its second-highest level in the auction's history. And the sale failed to produce a seven-figure horse for the first time since 1996. Just a coincidence? Gerald McMahon didn't think so. The Barretts president saw a direct link between Wall Street's crash and his California-based company's plummeting fortunes.

Lukas to Train Quartet for New Buyer Shimmon

David Shimmon, the California entrepreneur who has been one of the Thoroughbred industry's leading yearling buyers since emerging at the Keeneland July sale in 1999, has elected to have D. Wayne Lukas train four of his purchases from last year, including a $4.2 million Seattle Slew colt who topped Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga yearling sale.

$4.2 Million Colt Buoys Record Spa Sale

Fasig-Tipton's annual Saratoga yearling auction ended with plenty of fireworks Thursday night: a Seattle Slew colt whose $4.2 million hammer price was the second-highest in the sale's history; a filly by Hennessy selling for $1.8 million, the highest filly price since the high-flying 1980s; and a final session average of almost $400,000.

Most Popular Stories