Ocala has record sale

Records fell nearly across the board at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's recent four-day yearling sale in Ocala, Florida, with new marks set for gross receipts, average price, and top price.

The sale included one select session, on Monday, and three open sessions, from Tuesday through Thursday. The select session, which broke records for gross receipts, average price, and median price, established momentum for the open sessions, with strength in the market from top to bottom.

For the three open sessions, 714 horses sold for a total of $9,109,400, breaking a record for gross receipts set in 2000. The average price for the open sessions was $12,758, up 33.8 percent over last year's average and 19.5 percent above the previous record, set in 1998. The median was $7,000, up 16.1 percent over last year, and the number of horses that did not meet their reserve prices was 18.1 percent, down significantly compared to last year's buy-back figure of 25.5 percent.

The top-priced horse for the open sessions, a Pikepass colt, was bought for $220,000, also a record. Additionally, 29 horses this year sold for more than $50,000, compared with nine last year.