Leobuster (g, 5yo), Housebuster - Leotive by Our Native. B - Noffsinger Glenn R. Dr. Charles Town, 12/22/2010, str alwc, $12,000, 7 f, 1:26.28. Monday, December 27, 2010
VIRGINIA-BRED WINNERS
Leobuster (g, 5yo), Housebuster - Leotive by Our Native. B - Noffsinger Glenn R. Dr. Charles Town, 12/22/2010, str alwc, $12,000, 7 f, 1:26.28. 
MARYLAND RACING CALENDAR SET
The Maryland Racing Commission ratified the agreement at an administrative hearing later that afternoon.
The Maryland Jockey Club will conduct a winter meeting at Laurel Park, a spring campaign at Pimlico Race Course and a fall meeting at Laurel Park. There will be no live racing at the major Maryland tracks during the summer.
Bowie Training Center will remain open for year-round training.
Condition books are available on http://www.laurelpark.com/ and http://www.equibase.com/ and will be printed this week. Copies will also be available at the Laurel Park and Bowie stable gates.
The Laurel Park winter stand will begin Saturday, Jan. 1, with live racing taking place four days a week on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule (with holiday exceptions). The 49- day meet will end Saturday, March 26.
Racing will then shift to Pimlico for the spring meeting, which will be highlighted by the 136th running of the $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes-G1, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, which is set for Saturday, May 21. Preakness day will be the final day of the meet for the 29-day stand, which will begin Friday, April 1.
After a 15-week break, which will include seven live days of racing at Timonium during the State Fair, live racing will return to the major tracks on the Saturday after Labor Day. Racing will take place from Sept. 10 through Dec. 17, four days a week in September (Wednesday through Saturday) and five days a week in October, November and December (Tuesday through Saturday).
PICTURES OF THE DAY
In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Twirling Candy, with jockey Joel Rosario aboard, wins the Grade I, $250,000 Malibu Stakes horse race on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
In this photo released by Benoit Photo, the Craig Family Trust's Sidney's Candy and jockey Joel Rosario win the Grade II, $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes horse race, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)
Jonathan Riddell rides Jimmy Choux to win the Stella Artois Great Northern Guineas race during the Boxing Day Race carnival at Ellerslie Racecourse on December 26, 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Opie Bosson rides Booming (R) to win the Zabeel Classic race during the Boxing Day Race carnival at Ellerslie Racecourse on December 26, 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Noel Fehily riding Noland (yellow) at Kempton Park racecourse on December 21, 2010 in Sunbury, England (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
GOVERNOR BROKERS MARYLAND RACING DEAL
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| Tom Chukas and Frank Stronach |
According to rumors out in the horse community and now the Baltimore Sun, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley brokered a last-minute deal between the owners of Maryland's two major thoroughbred tracks and the horsemen and breeders to guarantee live races next year — less than 24 hours after a state commission rejected a proposed schedule. Sources say the deal was made at an emergency meeting this morning.
The owners of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course and representatives of horse owners and breeders — who traded some contentious words on Tuesday night at a Maryland Racing Commission meeting — agreed after a meeting at the State House this morning to a framework that would allow the tracks to at least break even financially and run 146 days in 2011, the same as this year's schedule.
The agreement, which would need the racing commission's approval, calls for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to contribute $1.7 million and the state to transfer $3 million to $4 million from the state's slot-machine program to help pay for the Maryland Jockey Club's operations. The slots revenue had been earmarked for a track improvements.
To read more, click here.
MARYLAND RACING - R.I.P.?
By Frank Petramalo, Executive Director, Virginia H.B.P.A.
I attended yesterday's Maryland Racing Commission meeting at Laurel. The Commission rejected the MJC/PNG revised request to race 146 days in 2011 (the same schedule as this year) because of the conditions imposed by MJC/PNG. MJC/PNG in effect wanted a guarantee they would not lose money by running 146 days. This year they lost about $5 million doing so.
The Maryland horsemen and the breeders opposed the request because of the conditions. They urged the Commission to recommend to the Governor that he exercise "eminent domain" to oust the current ownership duo and take over the tracks . A majority of the Commission appeared to support that idea.
Here's the short version of what happened: The horsemen are flexible. They offered to contribute $1.7 million toward operating expenses and were willing to lobby for legislative changes MJC/PNG wanted like diverting slots racetrack improvement money to operating expenses and closing Bowie.
The MJC crew is completely unfocused but is sympathetic to year round racing. However, Frank Stronach refuses to be specific about anything other than to say he wants "everybody to work together." The PNG folks (Peter Carlino, et al) are hard ballers who refuse to lose one dollar racing, even in the short term. (Despite a 51/49 ownership split favoring MJC each side has veto power over any racing agreement.)
I don't know what the next step is. The Commission asked the parties to continue talking but I think that's unlikely to result in any agreement. The bargaining relationship seems dysfunctional, to put it mildly. As it now stands come January 1st there will be no racing or simulcasting in Maryland.
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| Frank Stronach |
The Maryland horsemen and the breeders opposed the request because of the conditions. They urged the Commission to recommend to the Governor that he exercise "eminent domain" to oust the current ownership duo and take over the tracks . A majority of the Commission appeared to support that idea.
Here's the short version of what happened: The horsemen are flexible. They offered to contribute $1.7 million toward operating expenses and were willing to lobby for legislative changes MJC/PNG wanted like diverting slots racetrack improvement money to operating expenses and closing Bowie.
The MJC crew is completely unfocused but is sympathetic to year round racing. However, Frank Stronach refuses to be specific about anything other than to say he wants "everybody to work together." The PNG folks (Peter Carlino, et al) are hard ballers who refuse to lose one dollar racing, even in the short term. (Despite a 51/49 ownership split favoring MJC each side has veto power over any racing agreement.)
I don't know what the next step is. The Commission asked the parties to continue talking but I think that's unlikely to result in any agreement. The bargaining relationship seems dysfunctional, to put it mildly. As it now stands come January 1st there will be no racing or simulcasting in Maryland.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
VIRGINIA-BRED RACE WINNERS
Beebee's Kitten (f, 3yo), Parker's Storm Cat - Little Miss Beebee by Spartan Victory. B - Sandy Valley Farms. Laurel Race Course, 12/18/2010, mdn clmg, $5,700, 6 f, 1:14.00. Da Lady Vikki (f, 3yo), Purge - Saintly Hertfield by Saint Ballado. B - Lady Olivia @north Cliff LLC. Calder Race Course, 12/18/2010, clmg, $6,300, 6.5 f, 1:19.41. ($135,000, wnlg, 2007, keenov)
Fabulous Prospect (c, 3yo), E Dubai - Fabulous Fame by Cherokee Colony. B - Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III. Laurel Race Course, 12/18/2010, mdn clmg, $4,560, 5.5 f, 1:05.89.
Lovely Night (f, 6yo), Makin - Midnite Cat by Farma Way. B - Shapiro Hilde R. Charles Town, 12/17/2010, clmg, $6,600, 4.5 f, 0:52.42.
Luscious Lady (f, 4yo), Near The Limit - Truly Extravagant by Is It True. B - Horseshoe Hill Farm. Charles Town, 12/15/2010, mdn clmg, $6,600, 6.5 f, 1:20.66.
River Fancy (f, 4yo), Congaree - Go Baby Go (IRE) by Lion Cavern. B - Morgan's Ford Farm. Aqueduct, 12/19/2010, clmg, $12,000, 6 f, 1:12.74. ($90,000, wnlg, 2006, keenov)
Shy Bye (f, 3yo), Star Trace - Smart Mae by Two Smart. B - Suzanne Alexandra Dempsey. Charles Town, 12/17/2010, mdn clmg, $6,600, 9 f, 1:55.10.
COLONIAL DOWNS 2011: MORE OF THE SAME OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Usually, the delay is over on-going negotiations to resolve some conflict or contract between the horsemen and the racetrack, but this year the delay is for an entirely different reasons – something new, something different, something quite interesting.
In September, the VRC received request for live racing days from the relevant parties. Noting the ongoing decline in handle (14.8% through November) and in purses as a result of same, the Virginia H.B.P.A. requested a slightly shorter meet over the same time frame – 33 days instead of 40. The plan called for racing over the a similar time period as last year running four days a week instead of five for the eight week period for 32 days plus the Fourth of July. The reduction of seven days would increase purses which have sagged over the past two years.
Colonial wasn’t adverse to this plan, and the two sides were figuring out the few details they didn’t agree upon when the management of Colonial Downs offered up an intriguing new idea.
Simply put, a combined meet is predicated on two things: 1) moving the meet to the fall, and 2) building a harness track.
There has been much discussion lately about a move back to the fall for the Thoroughbred meet, and a recent VHBPA survey confirms the popularity of the schedule change that would mitigate some extreme traffic and weather issues for both fans and horsemen.
Colonial Downs has offered to build a Harness track somewhere on the property as the costs of any new facility would offset future years of losses utilizing the current schedule. They have submitted several plans involving a new harness track in the infield or a new track and stable area in front of the current grandstand.
According to Frank Petramalo of the VHBPA, “On the positive side a single fall meet may introduce harness racing to thoroughbred racing’s significantly larger fan base and will probably create significant operating efficiencies. For those reasons Colonial proposed a 2011 fall meet starting on September 3rd—Labor Day weekend—and ending on October 27th. Racing would be on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday for a total of 33 race days. On those days the harness post is at noon with thoroughbreds starting at 3:30 p.m.”
Of course there are many issues to discuss and hopefully resolve. Does the 8-hour fan day make sense? Is fall racing going to be better than summer racing? Will competition from other tracks deplete fields or will a well-summered turf course attract horses no matter what other tracks are running? Where to put the harness track? How to accommodate two racing offices? Are there enough stalls? What about an additional receiving barn for Harness? How to accommodate training so one group doesn’t freak out the other?
According to Petramalo, “Because of the many issues presented by a combined meet an easy solution for the VHBPA would be to stop talking with track management and the VHHA and simply say “no” to the proposed combined meet. But that would be shortsighted. The VHBPA Board of Directors recognizes that the interests of its horsemen members are tied to the survivability of Colonial Downs as a business. Our situation in Virginia is like that of the Maryland horsemen. Millions in slots revenue for purses is of little value if Laurel closes because the track loses millions each year.”
At the December VTA Board of Directors meeting, a resolution was offered and passed encouraging the racetrack and the horsemen to pursue creative solutions to improving the racing product.
Long ago somebody said “necessity is the mother of invention.” The economy of the racing and breeding industry is woeful. It is difficult for the racetrack to make money. Government regulation and gambling from inside and outside of Virginia (some legal some not) continues to negatively impact us. Our purses are sagging and our Breeders Fund is the smallest in the Mid-Atlantic by a crushing 75%. In short, what do we have to lose by trying something different if all these logistical issues can be resolved?
Kudos to Colonial Downs and Virginia’s horsemen for being creative. The horse racing industry continues to change at an astounding pace. While taking the lead in ADW and steroid regulation, Virginia has never feared being the front-runner for change. Now is not the time to become suddenly timid no matter the complications. -- Glenn Petty
DEAL OR NO DEAL FOR RACE DAYS IN MARYLAND?
According to the Baltimore Sun, on the eve of the last scheduled racing commission meeting of the year, the owners of Maryland's two major thoroughbred tracks and the horsemen remained at odds over live racing next year.
Frank Stronach, chairman and chief executive of MI Developments, the majority owner of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, said in a brief interview Monday that a verbal agreement calling for 140 racing days in 2011 was struck with the horsemen. The 140-day schedule is just six days shy of this year's 146.
"It's structured so that we would not lose any money," Stronach said, adding he will attend Tuesday's Maryland Racing Commission meeting at Laurel Park.
But Alan Foreman, attorney for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said there is no such deal.
"There is no agreement with Frank Stronach," he said, noting that a board of directors for the joint venture that operates the two tracks makes those decisions. MID and Pennsylvania casino operator Penn National Gaming own and operate the Maryland Jockey Club, the umbrella organization for Laurel Park and Pimlico.
Eric Schippers, a spokesman for Penn National, declined comment on Stronach's claims of a verbal agreement.
"It's still somewhat of a fluid situation," he said. "We want to withhold or reserve comments" until the meeting.
THE FUTURE OF RACING ACCORDING TO CHURCHILL CEO ROBERT EVANS
Evans made a major keynote address at the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing and Wagering a few weeks ago called "Why I'm Still Breeding Racehorses: Five Reasons to be Optimistic About Racing's Long-Term Future." Among other things, he said this:
"Three years or four years ago, I did a presentation with the Kentucky Farm Managers Club, and in that discussion I talked about how there was far too much supply in the industry. And people didn't want to hear it, didn't want to deal with it. I think you're starting to hear people talk about things like less is more and we need to reduce the supply side. We're probably getting in that mode."
Evans also arrived at five conclusions about the future of Thoroughbred racing in North America.
Reasons for optimism: 1. Alternative gaming at tracks is expanding. 2. Balance sheets are improving. 3. Racing is embracing technology that exponentially expands our knowledge of customers. 4. There is a market for quality. 5. Innovation is the basis of the competition for customers.
Conclusions: 1. Racing faces many challenges. 2. The economic forces at work suggest racing will continue to consolidate. 3. There is a viable business model at the foundation of racing's future. 4. Alternative gaming and improved balance sheets give us the time and financial resources to make the necessary changes. 5. Innovation, technology and quality are the paths to success.
To read more, click here.
TRADITIONAL WAGERING IN VIRGINIA CONTINUES TO DECLINE (ALBEIT MORE SLOWLY)
Overall, handle is down through November from $115,581,695 in 2009 to $99,070,314 in 2010 – a decline of -14.29%.
For the same period, Thoroughbred handle is down -14.85% from $90,759,751 in 2009 to $77,280,329 in 2010.
The good news continues to come from ADW where electronic wagering continues to grow. Through November ADW wagering is up 7.86% from $46,279,715 in 2009 to $49,916,159 for the first eleven months of 2010.
CONGRESS PASSES TAX EXTENTIONS
Congress has passed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010. President Obama signed the $858 billion package into law
almost immediately. The Senate passed the bill on Dec. 15 on a vote of 81 to 19. The House followed on Dec. 16, 277 to 148, with 112 Democrats and 36 Republicans voting no.
Passage of the legislation avoids tax increases, scheduled to go into effect automatically on Jan. 1, 2011, on everyone’s individual income, capital gains, and dividend income and on estates. The bill also includes other tax benefits for the horse industry supported by the American Horse Council.
After a bit of brinksmanship over extending the Bush-era tax cuts following the November elections, President Obama and Republican leadership sat down and hammered out
the legislation. There was some opposition in the House to extending the cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year and exempting estates valued at up to $5 million from the estate tax, out it was not strong enough to allow a tax increase on all Americans to go into effect on Jan. 1.
The tax rate on capital gains will remain at 15 percent for another two years, rather than rising to 20 percent. The tax rate on dividends will remain at 15 percent for another two years, rather than being taxed at the same rate as a taxpayer’s ordinary income, which could be as high as 35 percent.
Payroll taxes for all workers will be reduced 2 percent from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for 2011 on wages up to $106,800. This will put up to $2,136 extra in the pocket of every U.S. worker.
Estate tax rate and exemption - Effective Jan. 1, 2011, the top estate tax rate will be 35 percent with an exemption of $5 million for individuals and $10 million for married couples through 2012. This means that only estates valued at over $5 million ($10 million for married couples) will be subject to the tax.
Contribution of property for conservation purposes - Under legislation passed a number of years ago, a landowner with 50 percent of more of his/her income from agriculture could get a deduction for the contribution of a conservation easement up to his/her full income, with any unused amount carried forward for 15 years. This provision had expired and the deduction was limited to 30 percent of income.
The tax bill reinstated the conservation easement benefit for two years, through 2012, for contributions made in taxable years after Dec. 31, 2009.
JOCKEY CLUB DEADLINES APPROACHING
The Jockey Club reminds owners of unregistered yearlings and 2-year-olds that the requirements for foal registration must be completed by Dec. 31, 2010, to avoid additional late registration fees.The late registration fee increases from $525 to $775 after Dec. 31 of the yearling year and from $775 to $2,000 after Dec. 31 of the 2-year-old year.
Interactive Registration (IR) is the most efficient means to complete the application for foal registration and other registration requirements. IR enables customers to check the status of their applications and, through the registration center, view and resolve outstanding conditionsof registration.
The Jockey Club also recommends using IR to upload digital foal identification photos as the online service accepts all standard file formats and file sizes up to 10 MB.
IR is available at no charge at http://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/.
PICTURES OF THE DAY
In a photo provided by Fair Grounds Race Course, Country Flavor (3), with Shane Sellers aboard, holds off Z Humor and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan to win the 46th running of the Tenacious Handicap horse race at Fair Grounds Race Course, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, in New Orleans.
In this photo provided by Hodges Photography, Fastation with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, second from left, race onto win the 52nd running of the Letellier Memorial Stakes horse racing at Fair Grounds Race Course, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, in New Orleans.
Prince Will I Am and Javier Castellano won Saturday's $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap Gr. III at Calder Casino & Race Course. (Photo by Horsephotos.com) 
Calibrachoa and David Cohen reeled in his entrymate Driven by Success to give trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable a sweep of the top two spots in the $65,000 Gravesend Hanidcap on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. (Photo by NYRA via Flickr)
Friday, December 17, 2010
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Mack Miller and Cragwood Stable's Protanto in 1971. (Photo by Paul Schafer/New York Racing Association via the New York Times) To read the Times' obituary of Miller, click here.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
DRF: BARBARA LIVINGSTON'S TRIBUTE TO MACK MILLER
Renowned photographer Barbara Livingston pays tribute, in both words and photos, to Mack Miller for the Daily Racing Form. Well worth a look.Tuesday, December 14, 2010
HALL OF FAME TRAINER MILLER DEAD AT 89
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| Mack Miller |
When Paul Mellon died in 1999 the Rokeby Farm era came to an end. Mellon’s horses had been among the leading Virginia-breds year-in and year-out and had the VTA awarded year-end championships during his three decades of dominance, the Upperville farm would have needed an even bigger trophy room.
MacKenzie “Mack” Miller trained for Mellon and a substantial number of Miller’s 72 stakes winners crossed the finish line wearing Mellon’s grey and yellow Rokeby colors. Closing the final chapter in the Rokeby-Miller partnership, Mack Miller died on Saturday at the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. He was 89.
Known as racing’s “gentleman trainer” during a 46-year career, Miller was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1987. The Versailles, Kentucky, native trained 1993 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sea Hero, Travers winner Java Gold and the champions Leallah, Assagai, *Hawaii, and *Snow Knight.
Miller, who lived in Versailles in the home in which his wife of 59 years Martha, was born, also made his mark as a breeder. Mack and Martha Miller bred 1981 champion turf female De La Rose and 1999 champion two-year-old filly Chilukki in partnership with Dr. R. Smiser West, and his wife, Kathryn.
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| Sea Hero |
He attended the opening meet at the Keeneland racetrack, became hooked on Thoroughbred racing, and got a job mucking stalls at Calumet Farm.
In 1949, Miller received his trainer's license and won his first stakes race in 1955 with a horse named Oil Painting. He trained several champion turf horses for industrialist Charles W. Engelhard Jr. before becoming Mellon's full-time trainer in 1977. Other top horses trained by Miller for Mellon included Winter's Tale, Fit to Fight and Red Ransom.
Known for having a special touch with ill-tempered horses, Miller took over training *Snow Knight during his three-year-old season, after he had won 1974 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1). He conditioned him for his 1975 champion turf male campaign that included wins in the Canadian International Championship Stakes (Can-G1), Man o’ War Stakes (G1), and Manhattan Handicap (G2). Miller had help with *Snow Knight from Virginian Jill Gordon-Moore who did all the hands on work with the petulant horse.
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| Miller, Mellon and Jerry Bailey after Sea Hero's Kentucky Derby win. |
Miller retired at the end of the 1995 season when Mellon discontinued his racing activities in the U.S. He continued as a breeder until Dr. West’s death in December 2006. The shared bloodstock of Miller and West was dispersed at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale and Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Martha McCauley Miller of Versailles; two children, MacKenzie Todd Miller Jr. of Austin and Martha Queen of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and two grandchildren.
Monday, December 13, 2010
VIRGINIA-BRED WINNERS
Boone's Babe (f, 4yo), Bop - Booneton by Boone's Mill. B - Waln Gary Ray. Charles Town, 12/10/2010, clmg, $6,600, 4.5 f, 0:52.30. Cassilda (f, 3yo), Prints Of Peace - Lapherslastlaugh by Roanoke. B - Hodges Betty Jo. Charles Town, 12/12/2010, mdn sp wgt, $15,600, 4.5 f, 0:54.50.
Disguise (g, 4yo), Dixie Union - Dorm by Pleasant Colony. B - Evans Edward P. Laurel Race Course, 12/9 /2010, clmg, $5,700, 8 f, 1:39.74. ($350,000, yrlg, 2007, keesep)
Europa (f, 2yo), No Armistice - Runaway Jeanne by Runaway Groom. B - Albert P Coppola. Penn National, 12/11/2010, clmg, $9,000, 6 f, 1:15.55.
North Freeway (f, 2yo), Jump Start - Shawnee Country by Chief's Crown. B - Morgan's Ford Farm. Laurel Race Course, 12/10/2010, clmg, $11,400, 8 f, 1:40.37. ($15,000, wnlg, 2008, ftmdec)
Quiet Giant (f, 3yo), Giant's Causeway - Quiet Dance by Quiet American. B - Edward P. Evans. Aqueduct, 12/12/2010, stk, $36,000, 8 f, 1:38.46.
VA-BRED WINS N.Y. STAKE
It was the third victory in six starts and first in a stakes race for Quiet Giant, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway who is also a half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam. Quiet Giant is owned and bred by Edward P. Evans and trained by Todd Pletcher.
Under John Velazquez, Quiet Giant stalked longshot Malibu Legacy through fractions of 25.15 seconds, 49.15, and 1:13.92 before taking over just inside the three-sixteenths pole. Quiet Giant covered the mile in 1:38.46 and returned $3.10 as the 1-2 favorite.
The victory was the sixth from 20 starts for Pletcher, who is in second place in the trainer standings behind Rick Violette, who won another race Sunday with Not Macho Any More, giving him 8 wins from 16 starters at the meet.
NEW PLAN FOR MARYLAND RACING
MI Developments and Penn National Gaming operate the state thoroughbred tracks in partnership and announced their intention on Friday. The tracks reportedly have been losing millions of dollars a year, and the owners are seeking a way to make year-round racing viable.
The commission rejected their bid last month to reduce the schedule to 47 days of live racing at the Laurel Park winter meet and Pimlico spring meet.
Penn National official Eric Schippers said the new plan includes racing through the Preakness on May 21. After that the operators would seek a long-term solution.
JOHNSON BUYS SALES TOPPER
Consigned as a supplemental addition to the catalog by Sally Thomas, agent for the dissolve of the partnership of Kaygar/Gerczak, the 3-year-old filly has five wins and four seconds to date while earning $140,814.
The Maryland-bred filly, who won this Maryland Million Oaks, was produced from stakes-placed Gabby’s Love (by Perkin Warbeck) and is a half sister to stakes winners Baltimore Bob and Gabianna.
Fasig-Tipton reported 158 horses were sold for gross receipts of $968,100, well above the $776,300 gross in 2009 when 169 horses changed hands. This year’s average price of $6,127 represented a 33.3% gain over the $4,593 figure of a year ago and the median was unchanged at $2,000. The 120 horses that did not sell was 43.2% of the total through the ring, compared with an RNA rate of 37.2% in 2009.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF HORSE MANIA
The bar for the sale was set fairly high in 2000, when a trio of horses went for around $50,000 and numerous horses sold for more than $10,000.
In comparison, bidding was fairly modest Friday as most horses stayed around $5,000 and several went unsold. The unsold models are headed to eBay.
This year the auction raised $376,400 benefiting LexArts Public Art Fund and 84 other charities. The average sale price for a horse was $5,791.
To read more, click here.
Aaron Kennedy showed Bourbon Barrel Horse Friday. The winning bidder plans to display it at Ramsey's on Harrodsburg Road.
Auction attendees looked over all the horses before the bidding began at Keeneland Friday.
To see all the horse mania models, click here.
PICTURES OF THE DAY
In this photo released by Benoit Photo, Turbulent Descent and jockey David Flores coast to victory in the Grade I, $409,250 Hollywood Starlet, to remain unbeaten in three starts, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 at Hollywood Park, Inglewood Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)
Ryan Moore of Britain rides his horse Snow Fairy following his win in the Hong Kong Cup race of the Hong Kong International Races at the Sha Tin race course on December 12, 2010. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP)
Riders compete at the Hong Kong Mile during the Cathay Pacific International Races at the Sha Tin Racecourse on December 12, 2010 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
Ian Popham riding Poquelin (2nd R, red cap) on their way to winning The Vote A.P. Gold Cup at Cheltenham racecourse on December 11, 2010 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)
More Than a Reason captured the 105th running of the Grade 3 Queens County at Aqueduct Racetrack in late-running fashion Saturday afternoon, posting a last-to-first upset victory in New York’s final graded stakes race of the year. (NYRA Photo)
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