Harness: Gross up, average down in yearling-only portion of Standardbred Horse Sale

The yearling-only section of this year's Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon (November 6).

Year-over-year, the three-day yearling-only sale saw an increase in the gross from $35,870,000 to $37,091,000, but the average dipped from $44,284 to $42,830. A total of 810 yearlings went through the ring through three sessions in 2023 while 866 horses were sold in 2024. A comparable year to this year in terms of the average would be 2018, which ended at $42,675 for 830 horses offered.

Agent Concord Stud Farm was the leading consignor on average, with their 75 offerings sitting at $74,880. They were followed by agent Peninsula Farm Inc., ($65,889 / 18 horses), Twinbrook Farms ($58,533 / 15 horses), All American Harnessbreds ($55,773 / 22 horses) and Icy Stable/Farhi Standardbreds ($55,000 / six horses).

Walner was top dog for sires in terms of average as his 16 progeny finished at $258,063, including record-setter Cambridge Hanover at $1 million. Chapter Seven ($128,800 / 25 horses) was second, with Captaintreacherous ($98,513 / 39 horses), Muscle Hill ($87,769 / 13 horses) and Gimpanzee ($71,786 / 14 horses) in third through fifth.

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New York-eligibles led the average in that category at $66,379 for 95 horses. Kentucky was second ($60,529 / 17 horses), New Jersey was third ($58,250 / 124 horses), Ontario was fourth ($37,725 / 142 horses) and Pennsylvania checked in fifth ($36,411 / 431 horses).

Trotting fillies were at the head of the line for sex/gait as 184 of them fetched an average of $58,505. Trotting colts were next at $45,216 for 208 offerings, and pacing colts ($36,004 / 265 horses) edged out pacing fillies ($35,311 / 209 horses) for third.

The top seller on Wednesday was HIP 607 Shes On The Money, a daughter of E L Titan consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing Inc. Shes On The Money, who was purchased by George Ducharme for $95,000, is a half-sister to the Conway Hall mare With Out A Doubt (1:53 1/5, $250,185).

With the yearling-only part of the Standardbred Horse Sale complete, the focus in Harrisburg switches to the mixed sale on Thursday and Friday. Thursday features some more yearlings, followed by stallions shares and broodmare and broodmare prospects, and on Friday there will be race horses and potential stallions going through the ring. HIPs 953-1332 will be offered on Thursday, and HIPs 1341-1642 will close out the sale on Friday. Both of those sessions get underway at 11 a.m. (EST).