LEXINGTON - Boyd Browning, the chief executive officer of the Fasig-Tipton sales company, shares an opinion with virtually everyone else who works in an administrative office in the Thoroughbred industry.
"It's pretty archaic to walk into the sales office and see 1,500 foal papers stacked there waiting to be filed," Browning said. "You want to say, 'Hey, I thought this was 2010.' "
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Stonewall Stallions in Midway, Ky., and Fifth Third Bank have agreed to the appointment of a receiver to manage the breeding operation's bloodstock, clearing the way for the farm's collateralized bloodstock to be sold.
Fifth Third sued Stonewall, owner Audrey Haisfield, her son Marc Haisfield, and related entities on May 20, alleging they had defaulted on loans totaling nearly $14.9 million.
Avenue of Flags, sire of 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, was euthanized last Saturday after injuring himself in a paddock accident, according to the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association.
A son of Seattle Slew, Avenue of Flags was 22 and had been standing at James Wasson's Winner's Circle Bloodstock Farms in Las Cruces, N. M. for a private fee this year.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fifth Third Bank has sued Stonewall Stallions, farm owner Audrey Haisfield, and a number of related entities, alleging the Midway, Ky., breeding operation defaulted on $14.8 million in loans.
In its complaint filed May 20 in Fayette Circuit Court, Fifth Third seeks to sell Stonewall's bloodstock, including any interests Haisfield or Stonewall Stallions holds in the farm's six stallions. The bank also is requesting that the court appoint a receiver to manage the operation.
Mel Stute's tribute to the late champion Snow Chief took place at his Southern California home on Wednesday, five days after the horse died of an apparent heart attack at Eagle Oak Ranch in Paso Robles, Calif.
Stute dug out a box of videotapes of Snow Chief's three-year career and relived the memories. "He was a gutty little horse," Stute said.
And, he was so much more. Snow Chief was a classic winner, a multi-millionaire, a blue-collar feel-good story, and a fan favorite.
At first, Lance Robinson was disappointed. It was 1976, and the 21-year-old Utah rodeo champion had received word that his mission, the term of service young Mormons carry out sharing their gospel away from home, would not be in Texas rodeo country.
Instead, the church sent him to central Kentucky. While he was there, Robinson bought his first Thoroughbred mare and set off on a long road that has taken him all the way to the Preakness winner's circle as co-breeder of 2010 winner Lookin At Lucky.
Famed French trainer, jockey, and breeder Alec Head has turned over the reins of Haras du Quesnay, a top French breeding farm and training center, to his four children, his daughter Criquette Head-Maarek has told France Sire TVs.
Head s children are Head-Maarek, the trainer, her sisters Martine and Patricia, and brother Freddie, the retired champion jockey.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old auction ended Monday night with gains across the board after trimming the auction from last year's two session's to one.
The auction in Timonium, Md., sold 273 horses, out of 405 originally cataloged, for a gross of $13,099,500. That was up 23 percent from last year's gross for 253 juveniles. Average price also increased, rising 14 percent from last year's figure of $42,099 to $47,984. And median gained eight percent, climbing from $25,000 to $27,000.
Kentucky horsemen Bert Welker and Clark Shepherd, both former managers at Stonewall Stallions, have joined forces to form Allied Bloodstock in Lexington, Ky. The agency will make its debut at the Fasig-Tipton July select yearling sale. In addition to being a sales agency, Allied Bloodstock also will provide breeding advice and general bloodstock consultation. Welker owns Silverton Farm and most recently has been operating his family's Welker Sales. . . .
Stonestreet Stables principals Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke were no doubt thinking of their 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra Monday when they bid $650,000 for another Medaglia d'Oro filly at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old auction.
The price was the second-highest price ever at the sale, behind last year's $850,000 bid for the Tapit colt Trappe Shot. Steve Young, agent, placed that bid for the colt, who was then named Tashop and now races for Mill House.