British Columbia yearling price up

With gross receipts up sharply from last year, the average yearling price at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's British Columbia division sale on Tuesday was up marginally from last year. The overall average at the mixed sale, however, was down.

This year, 129 yearlings were sold for a total of $1,783,000, up from last year's total of $1,485,700 for 110 yearlings sold. The average yearling price went from $13,506 to $13,822, an increase of 2.3 percent.

The sale's overall average price was down 4.9 percent from $12,508 in 2004 to $11,898 this year. The two-day mixed sale, which included broodmares, horses of racing age, and weanlings, totaled $1,868,000 for 157 horses sold, up from last year's total of $1,538,500 for 123 horses.

The sales-topper, at $85,000, was a colt by Cryptoclearance out of Ashwood Tie. He was purchased by Nick and Pauline Felicella from Orange Blossom farm.