There was much on the plate for Florida breeders and owners this past week. A number of farms conducted stallion shows from Jan. 14-18. The annual Florida Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association awards banquet was held on Monday evening, Jan. 16. Tuesday, the Ocala Breeders' Sales mixed sales began, and on Tuesday evening Florida Thoroughbred Charities Inc. held its annual auction of no-guarantee seasons.

The veteran Regal Classic, annually a leading sire in New York, had progeny earnings of $3,189,757 in 2005 to finish second to A. P Jet among state stallions.

A 21-year-old son of Vice Regent and grandson of Northern Dancer, Regal Classic stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for a fee of $10,000 for the 2006 season.

Longevity and durability define Maryland's leading breeder, runner, and stallions of 2005.

Maryland's dominant breeder of the 1990's, Robert E. Meyerhoff, again tops the list. Awarded breeder-of-the-year honors by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association eight times since 1986, Meyerhoff last topped the rankings in 2000.

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s winter mixed sale rolled into its third and final consignor-preferred session Thursday off declines the previous day. But the top of the market in Ocala, Fla., was strong enough Thursday to produce a pair of six-figure horses by 5 p.m.

One day after posting mixed returns in its opening session, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's winter mixed sale in Florida continued its four-day run Wednesday with a $160,000 El Corredor colt the early leader.

The Wednesday session was the second of three consignor-preferred sessions. As of 5 p.m., the market appeared polarized. Upper-market stock brought strong prices, but buy-backs also littered the results sheet, with 60 of the first 250 lots failing to reach their reserve prices.

Snowdrops, the effortless winner of the Grade 3 Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap last weekend at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs, has been retired from racing, her trainer, Christophe Clement, said Wednesday.

shipped to Kentucky shortly after the Bayou BC, and after clearing quarantine will leave for her native England, where she will become a broodmare. Clement said owner E. H. Spink had plans to breed Snowdrops to the sire Red Ransom.

Hoping to benefit from recent high demand for broodmares and broodmare prospects, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's January mixed auction opened Tuesday in Ocala, Fla., with the first of three consignor-preferred sessions.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland Association began the new year with another record-breaking auction, suggesting that the 2006 sale season could be as bullish as 2005.

One day after setting a sale record for gross receipts, the Keeneland January sale continued with less fizzy prices but plenty of solid trade.

Grade 1 winner Mass Media will return to training instead of entering stud this season at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington, Ky.

A 5-year-old Touch Gold horse, Mass Media was retired in November and had been set to stand at Hill 'n' Dale for a $7,500 fee in 2006, but his owners, Gary and Mary West, have had a change of heart. Mass Media, winner of the 2005 Forego and two other stakes, will return to trainer Bobby Frankel to resume his campaign as a sprinter/miler.