Carter Sales Company summer sale posts record returns

The Carter Sales Co. Oklahoma City summer Thoroughbred sale closed at record heights on Aug. 19 at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds.

The one-day sale for yearlings, 2-year-olds and horses of racing age saw 56 horses sell for a record gross of $448,600, up 59 percent from last year’s total of $282,700 from 50 sold. The average sale price rose 42 percent from $5,654 to a record $8,011, while the median of $6,000 was a 36 percent increase from $4,400 last year.

The buyback rate also saw a decline, from 28 percent in 2012 to 22 percent this year.

“We expected a better sale, but these numbers really signal a turn,” said sale manager Terri Carter. “Our racing is really strong, but like sales across the country the last couple of years have been a little tough. It was exciting to see the value of these horses rise and the people at the sale really had a good time.”

The sale was topped by a Primary Suspect colt, who was secured by Randy Patterson for $27,000.

The bay colt is out of the stakes-placed winning Saint Ballado mare Spirited Maiden, who is the dam of one winner from two foals to race, with that winner being stakes-placed Franksassessedvalu. Bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm and consigned by Mighty Acres as agent for the breeder, the colt is from the family of Grade/Group 3 winners Salty Strike and Eishin Lombard.

One of the factors that helped drive sale figures this year was the addition of a horses of racing age segment, which featured five horses sold from 12 offered for an average price of $10,200. With the sale coinciding with the opening of Remington Park’s Thoroughbred meet, the new segment presented buyers the opportunity for a quick turnaround.

“The buyers were able to buy a horse Monday and enter him on Wednesday,” Carter said. “It doesn’t get much more fun than that.”

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