Harness: Management, consignors look ahead to this year's Standardbred Horse Sale

The 2026 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which gets underway on Monday, November 2, gives buyers who didn't get their quota in October's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale another chance at yearlings or older horses in the mixed sale that goes on Thursday and Friday.

Dale Welk, President and Operations Manager for the Standardbred Horse Sales company, had a keen eye on the Lexington sale and came away seeing that the top-end remained robust but did have concerns about horses just below that level.

"I think the market is strong, especially on the high-end it seems to be. I'm still a little nervous about the middle market," Welk said. "Theirs was okay, but their middle market wasn't super-strong as you've seen with some of the horses that sold. The lower end's come up pretty good, but that middle market's just kind of falling away. Not horrible, but enough that you can tell it.

"I think about (if the money in the market will still be strong after Lexington) every year, but it seems like everything's alright. People still have (money to spend). It's like last year Lexington had a record gross and we had a record gross sale. So, there was still plenty of money to be had."

As usual, Monday's opening afternoon session is loaded with well-bred pacers and trotters to bid on, and Welk thinks that the group is more eye-catching than last year's. He also remarked that Lexington cutting a day gave some opportunities for people to bring their horses to Harrisburg later in the week, and that he was willing to give them a chance at a major event.

"I think day one's stronger than last year's day one," Welk remarked. "I think all three days are a little bit stronger. There are some horses that I took that are maybe on the third day that I probably wouldn't, but with some of the cuts and stuff that were going on out west, and Lexington cutting back to four days, I like to help the new guy or the young guy or the little guy now and then.

"Does it burn me? I don't put a ton of weight on averages like a lot of people do. Geoff Stein was the best person about that. When I took over as General Manager at Garden State, he said, ‘Don't think about averages until the end of the year and you average everything out. You average all the sales. Then you can decide, well, that stallion didn't do so well.'"

Overall in 2025, the Standardbred Horse Sale did a record five-day gross of $74.6 million, and while Welk realizes that number won't be achieved this year due to declines in the number of horses available in the mixed sale, he was okay with that since it meant there aren't a number of farms dispersing their stock like there were a year ago.

"We had a record sale, but we had six dispersals and accounted for probably $15 to $16 million of that money," he noted. "We're not going to have a $75 million sale this year. We're down over 200 in the mixed sale. And you know what? I'd rather be down like that than see any more places go out of business. We do have one (dispersal). We have phase one of the Spring Station, of course. They're selling their in-foal mares here."

Welk was also looking forward to the opportunity to see and sell 2025 Horse of the Year Beau Jangles in the mixed sale on Friday, November 6.

"This is probably the easiest way for them to sell, but I can't believe we're getting him in the sale," he finished.

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Hanover Shoe Farms ready to showcase their offerings

With renowned Hanover Shoe Farms not currently bringing yearlings to Lexington, Harrisburg is the chance to purchase their horses, and Farm Manager Patti Murphy was enthused about what they have to offer.

"We have 32 yearlings selling on day one, with 13 of those being dual-eligible to the Kentucky program," she said. "Our trotting fillies are strong as ever and we have some incredible-looking trotting colts to offer.

"Day one should be exciting, but we have a solid group to follow the rest of the sale. I think we have something for every range."

As far as some of their individuals go, first up is HIP 43 Coffeeshop Hanover, a Chapter Seven full sister to Maryland and three-quarter sister to Climatic Hanover, who won this year's Kentuckiana Stallion Management for 2-year-old filly trotters and was fourth in her Breeders Crown final. Coffeeshop Hanover's other three-quarter sibling Cambridge Hanover sold for $1 million at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale also.

"This filly is nicely-balanced and athletic-looking," Murphy said.

Another Chapter Seven filly Hanover has is HIP 88 Live Long Hanover, and she should be very attractive as both a racehorse and a broodmare prospect given that she's a full sister to multiple-time stakes winner and Horse of the Year contender Super Chapter.

"She is a large-built filly and reminds me of her mother Lifetime Pursuit, standing 15.2h," Murphy remarked about Live Long Hanover.

A trotting colt that Hanover will sell on Monday that Murphy noted has been in demand to see at the farm thus far is HIP 96 Mr Sean Hanover, who is by Captain Corey.

"He will knock your socks off. He has a powerful conformation - wide chest, good neck, shoulder and barrel and a muscular rear end that I love," she stated. "He's the best-looking foal from M Diddy so far and has been getting a lot of lookers at the farm."

Switching over to the pacing side, Hanover has the likes of HIP 138 Suella Hanover, a sister to a pair of fast males in Pebble Beach and Sea Bistro Hanover.

"I'm in love with this cross," Murphy said. "Stay Hungry with the Western Ideal mares make solid-built horses that are extremely sharp-looking."

Second-time around for Alliance Bloodstock in Harrisburg

Alliance Bloodstock debuted at the yearling sales in 2025, and after a strong presence at Lexington, are back with more offerings this year for clients such as Ontario's Princeton Farms.

"Princeton Farms is operated by Jesse Belore and his wife, Katie. They've got deep roots in the sport up there and they have excellent taste in stallions and maternal families," Alliance's Shaun Laungani said. "We started working with them several years ago on the stallion side. They became a big stallion client of ours because they were interested in breeding to horses like Sweet Lou and Downbytheseaside. Then, they were looking for a change in representation last year, so we worked with them and they had a pretty solid sale.

"They've done tons of bloodstock investments, so it's just kind of cycling through to reality now. Their stock last year went on to race quite well. They had horses like Seine, the Sweet Lou colt for Joe Bongiorno that just won the Kindergarten and was good in Kentucky, Rumble And Sway was really good in Kentucky. They've got Major Contender, a trotter, doing well up in Ontario. So, they've got some momentum, and I think they really proved this year that you can spend on a yearling from Princeton and you can get some powerful results."

Their list of individuals begins with HIP 95 Queen Contender, a King Of The North filly. As mentioned by Laungani, Queen Contender's full sister Major Contender was one of the top 2-year-old trotting fillies in Ontario in 2025, earning $192,829 and winning not only multiple times in the Sire Stakes program but also against Grand Circuit company in a division of the Champlain.

"They're excited about her. I think King Of The North has done enough and this being a full sibling, this will be a very similar individual," Laungani said. "I think it's something where not only the folks that own her, but anybody that appreciates her is going to appreciate this one too."

HIP 99 Sevenfold is by the red-hot Chapter Seven, who was the leading sire at Lexington and is the second foal out of Mermeith S, a full sister to $1,181,980 earner and now top Ontario-based stallion Green Manalishi S.

"This is a beautiful dam and a beautiful pedigree, " remarked Laungani. "This Chapter Seven colt is the right-looking type. I would expect that he'd be very well-received and do quite well in the ring."

For pacers, Alliance has the likes of HIP 126 Sweet Beach Lou and HIP 177 Chanel. Sweet Beach Lou is out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Perfectbeachday, a sister to two six-figure earners led by Big McDeal at $817,770, and what will immediately jump off the page about Chanel is that she is the first foal out of Twin B Roulette, a half-sister to Twin B Joe Fresh. Chanel is also from the highly-anticipated first crop of Confederate.

"Hillside Farms raises an exceptional physical specimen, and this horse has got a great video," Laungani said about Sweet Beach Lou. "It'll be something that if you're looking at Sweet Lou colts, you need to come see him. He's going to be a man among boys, most likely, out there."

In regards to Chanel, Laugani offered, "Twin B Joe Fresh is just a revelation. What she did again in the Breeders Crown, obviously it's no surprise to anybody, but what you have here is you have a very similar-built filly. Twin B Joe Fresh's known for almost looking like a colt and having a big rear end and a big shoulder, and that's what this filly has.

"I think because the dam of Twin B Joe Fresh has had reproductive problems, the market hasn't really seen a whole lot of yearlings closely related to her, so this'll be fun, and she's easily got the prettiest head of any of the Princeton horses and maybe our whole consignment."

Hunterton Sales Agency looks to build on Lexington success

Steve and Cindy Stewart's Hunterton Sales Agency was the top consignor again this year at Lexington, but kept some attractive-looking prospects in their holster to bring to Harrisburg.

First up on their list of individuals to examine is HIP 36 Social Animal, a filly from the first crop of New York-based sire Cannibal. Social Animal is the second foal out of Lioness By The Sea, a young Downbytheseaisde mare who is a sister to $787,211 earner Queen Of The Pride.

HIP 59 Quasar, a filly, is another one by a first-crop sire in Tactical Approach. Quasar is the first foal out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Gabby's C Note, who earned $652,543 during her career and has three siblings who also made it into six figures.

Tactical Landing had the Breeders Crown winner in the 2-year-old colt division this year with the outstanding Wrong Sounds Right, and Hunterton has a colt by Tactical Landing on Monday in HIP 90 Hitchcock. Hitchcock is out of the Father Patrick mare Devilish Delight, making him a brother to $407,928 earner Devilish Hill and to $161,125-earning 2-year-old filly Rio De Janeiro, who has been battling the likes of the undefeated Wall Of Fame in the New Jersey stakes this year.

Finally, HIP 92 Lovelorn is a colt from the initial crop of Volume Eight and a brother to Endurance, who unfortunately suffered an injury in this year's Hambletonian final and wound up having to be retired. Prior to that he was one of the top horses in the division and a multi-time stakes winner at both 2 and 3. Volume Eight stands at Hanover Shoe Farms, and Murphy offered some thoughts on what to expect from his horses.

"I think people will find that he stamps his features on his progeny," she noted. "They are racy-looking, much like the Chapter Sevens. He throws a decent rear end on them with fairly correct conformation. They have been overall nicely-sized, and I believe they will do well in Pennsylvania."

Winbak Farm has something for everyone in Harrisburg

If there's a sale, Winbak Farm is likely there, and Harrisburg is no different as they bring a contingent by a variety of sires.

Everybody is looking for Chapter Seven fillies, both as racing and broodmare prospects, and Winbak has one on Monday in HIP 40 Seven Dances. Seven Dances is out of the Donato Hanover mare Donna's Dance, who is a half-sister to $1,585,741 earner and world champion Wild Honey.

HIP 63 Oopsjoediditagain is a Sweet Lou colt and is the first foal out of Ginger Tree Coco, a Stay Hungry mare who banked $135,031 and had a 2-year-old mark of 1:52 3/5. Ginger Tree Coco is also a sibling to a number of six-figure earners, led by Line Em Up at $347,805.

Bulldog Hanover had a big year with the likes of Redland Rocket Man and Jersey Bulldog, and WInbak has a pair by him to check out in HIPs 66 Redlandshananagins and HIP 74 Lighting Fast. Redlandshananagins, who Winbak is selling as agent, is a full brother to the already-mentioned Redland Rocket Man, while Lighting Fast is out of the Artiscape mare Hypnotize. Hypnotize earned $374,152 during her time on the track and has produced a number of successful horses, topped by Blank Stare ($750,634).

Others to watch

Here are 10 more yearlings from various consignors throughout Monday's opening session:

HIP 34 Make It Lass is a Volume Eight filly offered by Anvil And Lace Farm and is out of the Muscle Mass mare Deal Wise As It. Deal Wise As It is a half-sister to international superstar Vivid Wise As It, whose vast list of stakes successes includes the 2023 MGM Yonkers International Trot.

From the consignment of Peninsula Farm is HIP 38 Caviart Destiny. A filly from the initial crop of Confederate, Caviart Destiny's dam Caviart Davia banked $148,743 during her career to go with a mark of 1:49 2/5 and is a sister to pair of millionaires in Stay Hungry and Treacherous Dragon.

Concord Stud Farm is annually the leader or near the top of the rankings in Harrisburg, and they have the likes of HIP 65 Pure Vision, a Back Of The Neck filly who is the first foal out of a half-sister to Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot and Hambletonian Oaks champion Nezuko Kamado S.

Kountry Lane Standardbreds had the highest-priced seller in Lexington, and they are in Harrisburg as well with yearlings like HIP 75 Kountry Cathy, a daughter of Tactical Approach who is the second foal out of Cash Infusion, a Chapter Seven mare who earned $260,682 and had a mark of 1:51 4/5. Cash Infusion's full sister Swinging Royalty is a successful broodmare with a number of six-figure horses, led by near millionaire Ahundreddollarbill.

Ontario-based Dean and Ashley Wilson's offerings in Harrisburg include HIP 82 Seaside Dancer, an Ohio-eligible by top stallion Downbytheseaside. Seaside Dancer is the second foal out of Kendall Seelster, a daughter of Shadow Play with earnings of $951,651 and a mark of 1:49 4/5. Kendall Seelster is also a half-sister to millionaire Karma Seelster.

Right after Seaside Dancer exits the ring will come HIP 83 Hill Hayley, a daughter of Muscle Hill. Consigned by Fox Den Farm as agent, Hill Hayley is the first foal out of Kenziesky Hanover, a successful Cantab Hall mare who banked $645,627 and took a mark of 1:51.4 during her career which spanned from ages 3 through 8.

As mentioned earlier, Tactical Landing had likely Dan Patch Award recipient Wrong Sounds Right this year, and agent Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc., will sell a Tactical Landing colt in HIP 107 Solar Approach. Solar Approach is the first foal out of a full sister to Sarcy, who is the dam of a pair of millionaires in Tactical Approach and also the dual-continent star Double Deceiver.

Twinbrook Farms is another Ontario operation that has horses at Harrisburg, and they will sell HIP 129 Mufasa, a colt by Green Manalishi S. Mufasa's filly sister Monalishi has earnings of $747,413, a mark of 1:51 2/5 and multiple stakes wins, including the Peaceful Way as a freshman and the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final as a sophomore.

HIP 162 Worldly Power is a yearling consigned by Blue Chip Farms LLC as agent. Worldly Power is the initial foal out of $221,976 earner Sweet Treasure, a daughter of Sweet Lou. Sweet Treasure is a sister to six-figure earners like Mikala and under the third dam you see triple millionaire and leading sire Captaintreacherous.

Last, but certainly not least, is HIP 180 Peachville, a filly by leading sire Huntsville. Peachville, offered by Weaver Standardbred Farm, shows real power under the third dam Bj's Squall as she would produce harness racing's all-time fastest horse and now noted sire Bulldog Hanover.

The Standardbred Horse Sale is a five-day event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, with yearlings offered Monday, November 2 through Wednesday, November 4. The action then switches to a two-day mixed sale on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6. The sale starts at 12 noon (EST) on Monday, followed by 10 A.M. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 11 A.M. on Thursday and Friday.