Harness: Atlanta sold for $1.55 million

Hambletonian winner Atlanta was sold on the online website OnGait.com Friday afternoon for $1,550,000 to Michelle Crawford. The selling price is the richest ever for a standardbred at public auction in North America.

"There was an underbidder with real numbers," confirmed OnGait's Eric Cherry, who added that bidders are alerted via text message when they have been outbid. "Seeing an auction like this with people who genuinely want to buy a horse is great for out sport."

Atlanta was placed on the site to settle a dispute with 5% owner and trainer Rick Zeron, who will conceivably receive about $75,000 from the sale after commission.

According to Crawford, previous owners Bradley Grant, Howard Taylor and Holland Racing Stable will remain in on the horse.

A decision on who will train Atlanta in 2019 has yet to be made.