Hancock Pleased with Claiborne's HRA Sale Results
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Walker Hancock in front of the Claiborne consignment barn at the Fasig-Tipton HRA Sale
With receipts for the evening totaling $1.28 million, Claiborne Farm's first foray into the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale was, for farm president Walker Hancock, well worth braving the mid-July heat.
Initially reluctant to discuss the sale lest he jinx the prospects of his entrants, Hancock was visibly relieved as his last offering of the evening, Hip 557, was handed over to Lothenbach Stables for $22,000.
"I thought it all went well," Hancock said.
While Claiborne has sold horses in the sale previously, 2018 marked the first year the historic farm pulled together a consignment under the farm's name. Spurred on by the suggestion of client Daisy Phipps of Phipps Stable, Claiborne eventually amassed a total consignment of 11 horses that included entries from several of its regular clients, from which only one horse, Hip 522, was pulled, and two were RNAs.
"I think that the market is strong right now and that everyone wants a horse of racing age right now," Hancock continued.
Four of Claiborne's entries brought six figure sums, including Fire Away (Hip 443), a graded stakes-winning son of War Front that kicked the energy of the pavilion into high gear, bringing $450,000 and setting the bar for the sale up to that point. The 6-year-old graded stakes winner sold to Joseph Brocklebank, who said the horse will be shipped to South Africa to perform stud duties unless plans change.
The second-highest price for the Claiborne consignment came with Revved Up, consigned as Hip 504. Owned and bred by Phipps Stable, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride was a graded stakes-placed runner who finished second last out in the July 7 Arlington Handicap (G3T). He was purchased for $350,000 by Empire Thoroughbreds as agent, buying on behalf of Kingsport Farms.
Hip 556, a filly by The Factor and Hip 554, a 4-year-old gelding by the late Giant's Causeway, sold for $200,000 and $102,000, respectively, to round out the six figure sales for the Kentucky-based operation.
"We are entering a good time of the year with a lot of good races coming up," Hancock said "It's a good time to have this sale."