Sale Buzz About the Storm, Postponement

The buzz around the barn area for the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale the morning of Aug. 14 was all about the developments the previous day when the sale’s first session was rescheduled following a major thunderstorm that struck Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

As a result of the postponement, which came after only one horse had gone through the ring as the storm raged outside, sales company management quickly made the decision to hold the entire sale, for which slightly more than 300 yearlings are cataloged, on Sunday, Aug. 14, beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Each session had been scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., coordinated with the racing program at nearby Saratoga Race Course.

The only horse that had gone through the ring, a Mission Impazible   filly, will also begin the Sunday session.

“We wish we weren’t going up against live racing but we are,” Fasig-Tipton president and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. said following the Aug. 13 postponement. “It’s unusual circumstances. Ultimately the safety of our customers and horses are of paramount importance. Unfortunately the weather conditions deteriorated very quickly and created an environment where we weren’t comfortable proceeding with the sale.”

Although the session will overlap with part of the Saratoga race card, those on the sales grounds Sunday morning said the mid-afternoon start time and one continuous session were probably the best options available to Fasig-Tipton.

“It was unfortunate but I thought Fasig did fantastically for a challenging episode,” said consignor Stuart Morris. “I think the extra day might be better for us because the buyers who were still getting organized and getting finalized for that first day can have a day today to really get focused,” Morris said. “Sure, some (prices for horses) may fall off, but the ones they land they may land on stronger because they’ve had more time to study them.

“I always like to have an extra day before I sell horses. It allows me more time to do my job.”

Meanwhile Fasig-Tipton New York plant manager Manuel Hernandez, reported the only damage at the sales facility was a large tree that fell on Barn 4. The tree fell slowly, resting on the barn roof, so there was limited damage.

Hernandez said efforts to remove the tree would begin following the sale because there are so many horses and people on the grounds. He said the direction of the wind, and not the velocity, was likely the reason the tree went down.

Hernandez said the thunderstorm was severe, but that he has seen worse storms during the winter months, and echoed Browning’s sentiment that it was fortunate no people or horses were injured.

The evening storm was one of a number of weather fronts that rolled through the area Saturday, drenching fans at the track, which canceled the last six races on the card.