$26,000 Giant Gizmo colt tops CTHS yearling sale open session at Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A $26,000 colt by first-year sire Giant Gizmo topped the open session of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s yearling sale at the Woodbine sales pavilion Saturday. Bob Tiller, acting as agent for Rolph Davis, purchased the colt from Beth Hancock, agent for Cedar Creek Farm.

A $23,000 Giant Gizmo was the highest-priced filly at the session. She was bought by John Mattine as agent for RCC Stable, from Paradox Farm.

The sale showed significant decreases, which are at least partly due to the uncertainty surrounding the province’s racing industry as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is phasing out the racetrack slots program, a major contributor to purses.

The open session was down 61 percent in gross and 50 percent in average from last year. A total of 100 head brought $490,300, for an average of $4,903. Last year, 129 head grossed $1,266,600, averaging $9,819. The median decreased by 30 percent, to $3,500.

A total of 38 were listed as not sold, compared to 73 in 2011.