Fasig-Tipton catalog down

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton's July yearling sale, the only yearling sale in Kentucky that month because of the cancellation of the Keeneland summer auction, will have fewer horses cataloged this year as a result of mare reproductive loss syndrome.

The catalog for the company's showcase Saratoga select sale remained nearly level with last year's numbers, with about 220 horses in the catalog, compared with last year's 228.

Sale officials noted that MRLS has undoubtedly contributed to the lower number of July entries this year, bringing the prospective catalog down to about 460 horses. Last year, Fasig-Tipton cataloged a record 600 to its July auction.

Walt Robertson, president of Fasig-Tipton, said, "MRLS definitely hurt us on two fronts: (a) there are fewer horses available in central Kentucky than in years past, and (b) the July sale is the first sale on the calendar, so we certainly were looking for early horses and forward horses, and MRLS took its biggest hit on those horses."

Sale nominations were down 8 percent from last year.

The July sale will take place on July 16-17 in Lexington, and the Saratoga sale in New York is set for Aug. 5-7.