Prices down at Northern California sale compared to last year

Prices fell across the board at Tuesday’s Northern California yearling and horses of racing age in Pleasanton, Calif.

According to the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which conducted the sale, 94 horses sold for $540,500, an average of $5,750. There were 20 horses listed as withdrawn, and nine listed as bought back.

In 2023, with a much larger catalog, the sale reported 119 horses sold for $1,085,900, an average of $9,125. There were 42 horses listed as withdrawn from that sale, and 19 recorded as bought back.

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The average price on Tuesday was the lowest since 2018’s figure of $4,898. The 2022 auction had an average price of $9,181.

Two California-bred yearling colts by Smiling Tiger and Union Rags were listed as sold for $42,000 on Tuesday, the most expensive hips of the auction.

The Union Rags colt was purchased by Michael Nentwig from the consignment of Checkmate Thoroughbreds. The colt is the first foal out of September Secret, a 7-year-old mare by Grazen who won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs at Del Mar in 2020.

The Smiling Tiger colt was bought by trainer Jeff Bonde, and was consigned by Harris Farms, agent. The Smiling Tiger colt is out of Brooke’s Halo, winner of the Grade 2 Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks at Hollywood Park and Las Madrinas Stakes at Fairplex Park in 2005.

Brooke’s Halo is the dam of the minor stakes winners Gorgeous Ginny, Rock and Glory and Shining Tiger.

Tuesday’s sale was held in a year of transition for Northern California racing.

Golden Gate Fields, the flagship trip in that part of the state, closed permanently in June. Pleasanton is scheduled to conduct a two-month fall meeting beginning in late October to replace dates previously run at Golden Gate Fields. Pleasanton is expected to run a winter-spring meeting beginning in late December through early June 2025, pending approval from the California Horse Racing Board.

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