A group of Ohio breeders has banded together to create a new fall mixed sale with the goal of creating what they hope will be a more successful option than the auction historically run by the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.
The new sale announced June 11 is called the Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Sale and be held Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. ET at the Delaware County Fairgrounds north of Columbus.
"It seemed the OTBO sale was becoming a viable source for both sellers and buyers after a 13-year hiatus, but over the last three years under their new leadership it has headed in the wrong direction," said Daryl Duncan with Duncan Farms, referring to the organization under the management of executive director Mike Annechino. "Our input was generally ignored, and he seemed more concerned with entry fees instead of putting efforts to bringing in the leading breeders to the sale."
The OTBO Fall Mixed Sale did have a run of three solid years before falling off last year. The sale grossed $426,050 in 2020, $427,900 in 2021, and $540,150 in 2022. Last year, the number of horses offered dropped to 59 from 110 in 2022 and the gross fell to $173,250.
Annechino, who was hired in 2020, said the sale was bolstered in 2021 and 2022 by dispersals but even without those offerings has been a well-run venue for Ohio horsemen to sell their stock. The main reason the numbers declined in 2023, he said, was because the people supporting the new sale did not enter horses.
"We've made our sale affordable and provided a platform for everyone, even if you only have one horse," he said. "We've listened to a lot of suggestions and really refined the logistics of the sale. We're doing so much better."
Annechino added that he was disappointed to see the new sale formed and thinks the competing sales will ultimately hurt the Ohio market. The OTBO is planning to hold its annual mixed sale Oct. 16 at Mahoning Valley Racecourse in Youngstown.
Duncan agreed the Ohio market is not big enough to effectively support two sales but believes the Buckeye Classic will prove to be the best venue.
One benefit, he said, is returning an auction to the Columbus area.
"That's huge," he said. "It is centrally located and with concern about strangles, it is not smart for the owners and breeders to bring in horses to a racetrack."
Another benefit is support from the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which is helping to underwrite the operating cost.
"The endorsement from the Ohio HBPA will go a long way. I do believe that the farms that have made the commitment to this sale will be bringing in quality, well-prepped horses in a show of their support," said Duncan, who stands two-time Ohio stallion of the year Dominus and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Fort Larned in addition to Mobil , Corfu , and Air Strike .
Horses sold at the Buckeye Classic will be eligible to compete in the $50,000 newly named Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Stakes that will be held at Mahoning Valley in the fall along with horses made eligible through the previous OTBO sales.
The sale is open to yearlings, weanlings, in-foal mares, and 2-year-olds. The early entry deadline for the Buckeye Classic Thoroughbred Sale is July, 15. Consignment contracts can be obtained at smokincllc@gmail.com.