B.C. yearling sale average dips

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The average yearling price at the yearling and mixed sale held on Tuesday at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, dropped marginally from the 2007 sale, according to preliminary figures released by the provincial division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society,

The average price for a yearling this year was $11,148 compared with $11,341 in 2007, 1.7 percent decline.

The gross, which includes figures for broodmares and horses of racing age, was up nearly 3 percent, at $1,158,400 compared with $1,129,150 in 2007.

The top-priced yearling, a colt by Black Minnaloushe out of Sinibion, was purchased by Glenn Todd for $57,000.

The leading buyer was Swift Thoroughbreds Inc., who purchased six horses for a total of $130,500.

A total of 103 yearlings were sold, up from last year's total of 98. Of the 173 yearlings who went through the sales ring, 70 horses were either not sold or didn't reach their reserve. That compares favorably to the 101 who were bought back last year.