April, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Posts Record-Breaking Numbers

Wednesday's Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park recorded the highest gross, average and median since the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star took over operation of the auction in 2016.

A total of 89 horses sold from 104 offered for total sales of $2,907,700, a 66 percent increase from the 2019 auction total of $1,751,400 (the 2020 sale was cancelled due to COVID-19). The average price this year was $32,671, a jump of 39.9 percent from the 2019 average of $23,352, and the median increased by 37.9 percent to $20,000 from $14,500. The buyback rate was 14.4 percent, compared to 31.8 percent in 2019.

“This was one of the best sales we've ever had at Lone Star Park, including the prior years with Fasig-Tipton,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had a big crowd in the sales pavilion and lots of action with online bidding, so that speaks well about the demand for Texas-breds, Louisiana-breds, Oklahoma-breds and racehorses in general in this region. The increased purses and incentives in Texas have made the Southwest an even more desirable place to race than it already was.”

Hip 85, named The Reese Beast, brought a sale-topping bid of $240,000 from Austin Gustafson, agent. Consigned by Asmussen Horse Center, agent, the Virginia-bred Tiznow filly is out of the winning and stakes-producing Jump Start mare Delta Weekend. She galloped at the under tack show held Monday at Lone Star.

Two horses sold for $150,000 as the second-highest price of the sale, and both were Louisiana-breds consigned by Pike Racing, agent. Hip 36, a Louisiana-bred colt by Overanalyze, went to Highlander Training Center after working an eighth-mile in :10 2/5. The colt is a half-brother to multiple Louisiana stakes winner Mirabeau. The fastest horse from the under tack show, hip 57 with a clocking of :10 flat, also brought $150,000 and sold to Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. Named Wupkar, the filly is out of the Songandaprayer mare Anne Margaret, who has produced two stakes-placed runners.

Benchmark Training Center, agent, as the leading consignor by total sales at $622,700. Pike Racing was the leading consignor by average, with four sales for an average of $105,750.

For complete sale results, go to www.ttasales.com.

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Tiznow Filly Tops Record-Setting TTA 2-Year-Old Sale

An Asmussen Horse Center-consigned daughter of Tiznow–Delta Weekend (A.P. Indy) realized a final bid of $240,000 to top Wednesday's Texas 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale at Lone Star Park.

The Virginia-bred filly was one of five six-figure transactions on an afternoon during which 89 horses changed hands for gross receipts of $2,910,000. The average was $32,697 and the median was $20,000, while the buyback rate was a low 14.4%. When compared to the last TTA sale–the 2020 renewal was canceled due to the coronavirus–the average price gained 40%, with the median ahead by 33%. The average and median were the highest since the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park took over operation of the auction in 2016.

Sales director Tim Boyce was duly pleased with the results and gave credit to the current state of the Thoroughbred industry in Texas for contributing to the positive results.

“I had high expectations coming in and I think it exceeded my high expectations,” Boyce said. “Racing has really been revived around here, with what the governor and the legislature did. You can see where purses are and how that is affecting things. It's a good example of how it's turned into a plus for racing and the Thoroughbred scene here in Texas. Guys have more money in their pockets because they're running for bigger purses.”

He continued, “We had some really nice horses. All week these horses were looking great out there and it was getting harder and harder to pick the good ones, to figure out which horse was going to top the sale. I thought any of the six-figure horses could have topped it. I told my consignors that it was going to be a good 2-year-old sale and they stepped up and brought nice horses. [Auctioneer] Danny [Green] said it was as strong as he could remember.”

Hip 85, a half-sister to Virginia-bred stakes winner Altamura (Artie Schiller) and hailing from the family of GIII Virginia Oaks winner Volcat (After Market), was acquired by Austin Gustafson, agent, for $37,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. She was one of two horses of the 13-strong draft presented by Asmussen Horse Center to merely gallop during Monday's under-tack show. The consignment was also responsible for hip 68, a More Than Ready colt from the stakes-placed Bonita Cat (Tale of the Cat), the hammered for $100,000. The aforementioned Gustafson signed for both horses Wednesday.

Pike Racing consigned the Louisiana-bred $150,000 joint-second toppers. The first of those through the ring was hip 36, a colt by Overanalyze out of Smittystown (Speightstown), who was successfully pinhooked after Susan Moulton paid $33,000 for the half-brother to SW Mirabeau (Bind) at last year's Texas Summer Yearling Sale. Highlander Training Center was the successful bidder for the colt, who breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5. Hip 57, a $13,000 ESLAUG yearling purchase, was a bit of a talking horse after the daughter of Bind–Anne Margaret (Songandaprayer) worked the bullet furlong in :10 flat Monday at Lone Star. A half-sister to a pair of stakes-placed runners, she was hammered down to the bid of prominent owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.

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Toronto-Area Lockdown Forces Woodbine Postponement

With a government-enforced 28-day lockdown set to take effect in the province of Ontario Thursday, Apr. 8 at 12:01 a.m., officials at Woodbine Racetrack announced late Wednesday that the planned opening of the 2021 meet would be delayed.

Woodbine will continue to engage in dialogue with government officials and local health authorities in an effort to gain permission to operate a live meet during a lockdown situation in which they would try to begin operations once the stay-at-home order is lifted May 6.

“This is very difficult news to share with our horse people, horse players and fans throughout North America and the world,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Since the beginning of the pandemic more than a year ago, we have supported the Government of Ontario every step of the way and will continue to do so.

“However, if we do not receive permission to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation after the stay-at-home is lifted, our industry and business could be greatly impacted, as trainers will not bring their horses to Woodbine Racetrack and more horses will be shipped out to the United States where there are plenty of racing opportunities. This situation has the potential to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the Thoroughbred industry in Ontario.”

The backstretch at Woodbine will continue to operate as an essential service for the stabling, training and care of the horses. Active training, including times workouts, will also be allowed to continue, but starting gate and receiving barn training operations will be suspended for 10 days.

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Start Of Woodbine Meet Postponed Due To Provincial COVID Restrictions

As a result of the Provincial State of Emergency declared today by the Government of Ontario, which includes a province-wide 28-day stay-at-home order effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m., Woodbine Entertainment announced that the 2021 Thoroughbred Meet at Woodbine Racetrack has been postponed.

Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it is continuing its efforts with government officials and local health authorities to be permitted to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation which would allow the Thoroughbred season to commence after the stay-at-home order is lifted on May 6. The season was scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 17.

“However, if we do not receive permission to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation after the stay-at-home is lifted, our industry and business could be greatly impacted as trainers will not bring their horses to Woodbine Racetrack and more horses will be shipped-out to the United States where there are plenty of racing opportunities. This situation has the potential to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the thoroughbred industry in Ontario.”

During stay-at-home order, Woodbine will continue to operate the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack as an essential service for the stabling, training and care of horses. Active training, including timed workouts, will continue but starting gate and receiving barn training operations will be temporarily suspended for 10 days.

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