Consignor Herbener dies at age of 69

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Consignor James M. Herbener Jr., whose operation is active at the Keeneland September yearling sale, died Sunday morning at his home in Georgetown, Ky., from a suspected heart attack. He was 69.

Herbener’s agency sold a pair of horses at Keeneland September’s Sunday session, an $80,000 Arrogate filly and a $70,000 Nyquist filly. His consignment has five horses remaining to offer this week, and Herbener’s daughter, Heather, along with longtime friend John Williams will handle those duties.

Herbener, a native of Virginia, had brief careers training horses and riding steeplechasers before establishing his Herbener Farm in Kentucky and turning to sales consignments. His top horses in recent years included classic-placed graded stakes winner Hot Rod Charlie, who he consigned for the estate of late breeder Edward Cox Jr. to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale. The Oxbow colt sold for $17,000 to Erickson Equine before being resold later that year to his current connections.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Along with his daughter Heather, Herbener’s survivors include his wife, Catherine; son-in-law Dr. Patrick Ford; and grandchildren Reagan, Patrick, Vivian, and Tucker. Arrangements are pending.