Tapit has already proven his mettle as a sire on the racetrack, setting and then breaking his own seasonal record for progeny earnings while earning multiple leading sire titles, and in the commercial arena, with his stock constantly in demand. But the real work of building his legacy is still in a relatively nascent stage.
Owner James McIngvale believes that Runhappy's Lasix-free résumé could make him more attractive in the current U.S. climate, as well as to international buyers.
On paper, Fasig-Tipton is solely responsible for developing momentum in the yearling sales market, as the auction company hosts the first three sales of the North American season over the summer. But some of the momentum may have actually been built up earlier this year, by all three major auction houses, and with the help of some of last year's sale yearlings.
The yearling market is the largest segment by far in the commercial space, which is why breeders approach the yearling sales season with equal parts excitement and apprehension. The financial outcome for the year for many breeders is at stake. Here's a look at upcoming sales in North America where foals from the 2018 crop will be offered.
The yearling sale season in North America began in July as the Thoroughbred racing industry continued to grapple with long-standing horse welfare and safety issues pushed into the national forefront by the equine fatalities at Santa Anita. Among the issues in the discussion is the use of bisphosphonates in young horses headed for the sales ring.
Stonestreet Farm announced Monday that it has partnered with the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center to develop blood sampling, testing, and secure storage protocols that will allow buyers of Stonestreet-bred and -raised yearlings to reveiew a blood-health window of several months prior to their purchase.
Stakes winner Orbolution is headed home after fetching one of the highest prices of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected horses of racing age sale.
Champion Nyquist and multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted entered stud together at Darley as two of North America’s most anticipated incoming stallions of 2017. They were neck-and-neck as the standout first-crop yearling sires of the July 9 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer selected yearling sale, the first yearling auction in North America.
On the day the New York Racing Association launched the inaugural triple turf trinity and tiara series, it was fitting that a trio of Keeneland September “Hidden Gems” earned graded stakes victories for their owners.
Average declined by nearly 10 percent but median remained stable for the first yearling sale of 2019, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, held at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington on Tuesday.
