Harness: Yearling-only section of Standardbred Horse Sale finishes higher year-over-year in average, gross

The three-day yearling-only portion of the 2018 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came to a close on Wednesday with gains in both average and gross from 2017.

When the curtain came down after HIP 876 went through the ring, the first three days had finished up 7.56 percent on average over 2017 ($42,675 to $39,675) and the gross of $35,420,000 for 830 sold was up 4.9 percent from last year's mark of $33,763,500 for 851 sold.

“I’m very happy with such a successful sale,” Standardbred Horse Sales President and CEO Pete Spears said. “Despite the fact we sold 21 fewer horses than last year the gross is way up. I thought today the sale was a little spotty, it was up and down, but there were still some very strong sales. People were still active and enthusiastic and the figures reflected that."

Pacing colts led the sex/gait averages with 226 of them bringing an average of $49,465. Next were trotting fillies ($47,215), then trotting colts ($41,265) and finally pacing fillies ($34,091).

Muscle Hill totally dominated the sire averages again, with his 16 yearlings selling for an average of $178,938, including top seller Fifty Cent Piece ($500,000). He was followed by Father Patrick ($119,000), Captaintreacherous ($81,091), the late Somebeachsomewhere ($72,235) and Chapter Seven ($71,385).

The top consignor who sold multiple horses was Fair Winds Farm, with their 15 yearlings checking in with an average of $95,667. Coming in behind Fair Winds Farm were Concord Stud Farm ($86,393), Blue Chip Farms LLC. ($56,714), Twinbrook Farms ($53,727) and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. ($52,596).

As far as Wednesday's session went, the top seller was HIP 806 Book Seven, who was purchased by Stroy, Inc. for $157,000. Bred and consigned by Winbak Farm, Book Seven, a Chapter Seven colt, is out of Tantalizing Donna (Donerail), a sister to several good ones led by Triumphant Caviar (SJ's Caviar, $796,794).

There was one other six-figure seller for the day, HIP 705 Sports Style, who sold for $100,000 to Adriano Sorella. A Sportswriter colt bred and consigned by Spring Haven Farm, he's out of Nothing But Style (Mach Three). The third dam is Wheres The Beach, who produced Somebeachsomewhere.

For just Wednesday's session, the average dipped by seven percent year-over-year ($20,804 this year and $22,387 last year) and the gross was down 9.85 percent ($7,427,000 v. $8,238,500).

With the yearling-only section of the Standardbred Horse Sale now completed, the attention shifts to the two-day mixed sale on Thursday and Friday. Thursday's session will see HIPS 900-1167 offered and then the sale will conclude on Friday with HIPS 1170-1597 stepping through the ring.

“It was a fabulous yearling sale and now we go on to the mixed sale tomorrow," Spears added. "Breeders should have a little bit of money in their pockets to reinvest in mares and race fillies."

For full results of the sale thus far, click here.

--Pete Spears quotes courtesy of Ken Weingartner / Harness Racing Communications--