OBS sale gross and average drop

After posting record figures last year, the four-day Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's April 2-year-old auction in Oacala, Fla., saw declines in gross and average this year, selling 786 horses for $22,698,400, down 7 percent. The average price of $28,878 was down 11 percent from last year. The median price of $17,000 was the same as 2006. The buyback rate climbed from 23 percent last year to 28 percent in 2007.

The auction ended on a high note Friday with a sale-topping price of $410,000 for a Trippi colt.

E. Paul Robsham purchased the bay colt, offered as Hip No. 1370 in Ocala Stud's consignment. The colt is out of the Unbridled mare Unbridled Bliss and had worked a quarter-mile in 22 seconds at the auction's under-tack preview.