New OBSOnline Auction Will Launch Oct. 24-30
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Photo: Photos by Z
Ocala Breeders' Sales announced Oct. 11 it will launch OBSOnline, a new digital platform, with an online auction for horses that failed to meet their reserves or were withdrawn from the recent OBS October Yearling Sale.
Entries for the timed online auction will close Oct. 18. Bidding will open Oct. 24 and close Oct. 30.
The October Yearling Sale was originally scheduled to run from Oct. 8-9. Due to the threat of Hurricane Milton, OBS officials made the decision to move the start date of the sale up one day in the interest of the safety and welfare of the horses and sale participants.
The October Yearling Sale held an abbreviated opening session Oct. 7 and concluded Oct. 8.
"We felt providing this opportunity to the horses that were either bought back or scratched from our yearling sale was important," said OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski. "I think it is obvious that Hurricane Milton impacted the travel of buyers to the sale. By placing these horses in the online sale format, it will give buyers a second chance. We are appreciative of the collaborative effort of the consignors, buyers, staff, board members, and auction team to be able to react to the pending storm and allow us to conduct the sale a day earlier than originally planned. This was not an easy decision or a simple task to implement, so it was important for everybody to pull together to make it happen."
Those who choose to participate in the online sale will not have to pay an entry fee. There will also be reduced commissions. Consignors will have the option of bringing the yearlings to OBS for inspection Oct. 28.
Additional OBSOnline auctions have been set for December and January as well. Entry forms for the OBSOnline October auction and information regarding the other new OBSOnline sales are available online or in hard copy at the OBS office.
The December online sale will be open to all horses while the January 2025 online sale will be limited to 2-year-olds and horses of racing age. The January online sale will open for bidding during the OBS January 2025 Winter Mixed Sale live auction, which runs Jan. 28-29. The online sale will close Jan. 30.
A unique component to the OBSOnline December and January Sale will be an optional under tack show.
"Consignors will have the opportunity to showcase their unraced prospects or those horses without recent form with an electronically timed work over the OBS track," said OBS president Tom Ventura. "These workouts will be videotaped and posted with each horse."
OBSOnline December 2024
- Entries close: Dec. 2
- Optional Under Tack: Dec. 6
- Bidding Begins: Dec. 12
- Bidding Closes: Dec. 17
OBSOnline January 2025 Sale
- Entries close: Jan. 14
- Optional Under Tack: Jan. 17
- Bidding Begins: Jan. 23
- Bidding Closes: Jan. 30