Northern Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale
THIRSTY FOR YEARLINGS CTBA NORCAL SALE FIGS SEE ACROSSTHE-BOARD RISE
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Tose numbers, bolstered by strength in the rest of the top 10, nine of them by California sires, helped send sale fgures soaring. Te yearling average rose by 41.8%, to $8,142, over last year, and 2019’s fgure was a 24% increase from the year before. A total of 69 yearlings grossed $561,800. Te median of $3,000 represented an increase of 11.1%. A total of 74 horses sold for $575,600, with 27 not sold for a buy-back rate of 26.7%. Last year’s buy-back rate was 34%. Te fgures were especially gratifying considering the challenges of this year’s COVID-19 pandemic. “We were extremely pleased with the overall results of the sale,” said Doug Burge, president of the CTBA. “We didn’t know what to expect, especially under the circumstances, but there was signifcant interest and support from owners and trainers. Te emphasis on added Cal-bred opportunities in Northern California has created a newfound demand that we can continue to build on.” John Harris, whose Harris Farms is annually a major consignor to the Northern California sale, was also “pleasantly surprised” with the sale’s results. “Te yearlings I saw all looked well prepared and prospects that can go on 16
RON MESAROS PHOTOS
tay Tirsty’s frst California-bred foals attracted quite a bit of attention at the California Toroughbred Breeders Association Northern California sale of yearlings and horses of racing age, held Aug. 11 in Pleasanton. Tree by the stallion brought the top three prices, headed by a $50,000 colt.
A yearling colt from the frst California crop of Stay Thirsty topped the NorCal sale at $50,000
to make money for their buyers,” Harris said. “Te average was up and buy-backs were down. It’s an important venue for California breeders, and it’s nice to see a good outcome.” Terry Lovingier’s Lovacres Ranch sold all three of the Stay Tirsty yearling colts that brought the top three prices, and Lovingier bred them. Lovingier serves as chairperson of the CTBA. He agreed with Harris that two of the most important indications of the sale’s strengths were the increase in average and the decrease in buy-back. “It went really smoothly, and the people who turned out were buyers,” said Lovingier. “I do think that because Golden Gate is doing such a good job, the people were willing to buy horses and run them here.
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED ❙ September 2020 ❙ www.ctba.com
“Te really encouraging news is that most of those horses are staying in California. We need the horses here, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway.” For his own sale Lovingier was pleased with the reception for yearlings by Stay Tirsty. Winner of the 2011 Travers Stakes (G1) and an earner of $1,936,000, Stay Tirsty moved to Lovacres for the 2018 breeding season after standing several seasons in Kentucky. His foals already include grade 1 winner Mind Control. “Stay Tirsty throws a really nice-looking horse,” said Lovingier. “He’s doing well all over the nation. His foals have a big engine in their hind end. Tey’ve got nice gaskin muscles, big shoulders. Tey’re long-bodied horses, and they stay healthy. Tey continue running.”
