October Sale Shows Improvement Across the Board

The conclusion of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale finished strong, seeing a new sale-topping purchase in the $700,000 Gun Runner   filly sold to trainer Wesley Ward. The final yearling sale of the year concluded with marked increases in all statistical markers for the total sale.

During the final session, Fasig-Tipton reported 292 yearlings changed hands of the 336 under the hammer for gross receipts of $13,751,500, posting an increase of 5% over 2021. Suitable for an average price of $47,094, a 6.8% increase, and a median of $20,000, a decrease of 20% over the previous year. Forty-four horses failed to meet their reserve, representing an RNA rate of 13%.

"Another remarkable sale concluded tonight. We are always thrilled when you set records for your gross, average, and median price," Fasig-Tipton's president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. said. "Particularly considering the 2021 sale had a dramatic increase from prior years. We were optimistic coming in because of the market, and we knew consignors and sellers had supported us with better quality horses this year than in the past. The gratifying thing is for many sellers, the October Sale has become the first option, not the last one. The men and women who brought quality horses here were rewarded by bringing horses with great appeal across the market."

The fourth day of the sale in 2021 saw 297 yearlings sold of the 332 on offer for final figures of $13,095,900. An average price of $44,094 and a median of $25,000 was recorded. Thirty-five horses failed to meet their reserve, representative of an RNA rate of 10.5%

Cumulatively over the past four days, 1,100 yearlings sold of the 1,353 through the sales ring for a gross total of $55,426,500, a 5.3% increase over 2021. An average price of $50,388, an increase of 10.4% year-on-year, and a median of $25,000, a 13.6% increase over the previous year, was seen. Two hundred fifty-three horses represent an RNA rate of 18.6% who failed to meet their reserve.

"One of the cool things is when you look at the catalog cover, and you see three horses, and you see a horse like Hot Rod Charlie  on the back, that's what makes this a sale that buyers can come to expect to buy horses that can compete next weekend in the Breeders' Cup and sellers can bring quality horses here and get rewarded," Browning said. "I think that there's a high level of confidence amongst both buyers and sellers, and that's gratifying because I think what's happened is now the October Sale has become a staple in the marketplace. It gives you real options; we know that not every yearling will have its best day in July, August, or September. Raising a horse from a horsemanship standpoint, it's fantastic to have an option later in the year for horses that may lack maturity and maybe need a little more time." 

The total sale figures last year show 1,153 yearlings sold of the 1,358 on offer for final figures of $52,607,500, suitable for an average of $45,627 and a median of $22,000. Two hundred and five yearlings failed to meet their reserve to represent an RNA rate of 15%.

"Claiborne isn't overly familiar with the October Sale; this year, we had an overflow of yearlings," Walker Hancock, who sold the sale-topping offering, said. "We can only prep a certain amount at the farm, and we only sell yearlings we raise. We didn't have enough stalls to sell them all in September, so we had to choose a few to sell here. The first three days weren't as good as today was for us."

Claiborne Farm consigned the precocious-looking filly out of No More Parties on behalf of her breeder Colts Neck Stables as Hip 1364. Ward was star-struck by her similarities to his fast millionaire earner Judy the Beauty  and will be looking toward the Gun Runner filly's juvenile season. 

"I was only able to get three horses in September. Everything Ben (McElroy) showed me I got excited about; we'd run in there, and they were unattainable for my clients," Ward said. "We went way higher than we should have on many chasing them up there. Only having three horses and me being a 2-year-old guy, I really didn't have anything. I was lucky enough that Ben bought some nice horses for Barbara (Banke) and some other clients in Europe, but I didn't get anything here in the states. I think the October Sale is great for me, and I got some nice horses."

Ward was the leading buyer Oct. 27 after spending $700,000 on his single purchase.

Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency sold nine of the 11 horses from their session four draft for a gross of $1,201,000 and an average of $133,444 to be the session's leading consignor by gross.

"Fasig-Tipton has done an amazing job with this sale and has proven you can get a lot of money for the right horse," consignor David Anderson said, consignor of the Uncle Mo   filly purchased for $485,000 by Lauren Carlisle. "I've been fortunate enough to do it for a couple of years now, so I'm not afraid to bring the right horse here. I know you'll get the money, and Hip 1429 was an example of that."

DJ Stable closed out the final yearling sale of the season, purchasing 10 yearlings for gross receipts of $1,824,000, at an average price of $182,400 to be the sales leading buyer.

Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 73 of their 100 horses on offer for a gross of $5,063,000, at an average price of $69,356, to be the sales leading consignor after four days of selling.

All eyes will now turn to Breeders' Cup World Championships weekend, Nov. 4 and 5 at Keeneland, ahead of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, which takes place Nov. 6 beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Browning added: "I couldn't be any happier; overall, thrilled to build on the success of last year. I hope next year, the cover has five major horses on the front cover. We will be rooting like hell for some of our graduates at the Breeders' Cup this weekend."