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.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland's seven-day January all-ages sale is hurtling toward a record conclusion and picked up more steam at the top of the market Friday, its fifth day of selling.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bertrando, an Eclipse Award champion on the racetrack 13 years ago, led California's stallions in 2005 with progeny earnings of $3,644,295, a figure well below the amount required to claim the championship in recent years.

Last year, Bertrando had 161 runners that won 79 races, including five stakes. His leading money earner was Unfurl the Flag, the winner of the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park in July, who earned $311,360.

Florida's Thoroughbred new year gets in gear this week. The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. will conduct its annual winter mixed sale Tuesday through Friday. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association will hold its annual awards banquet Monday evening, and the following evening will hold its annual charity auction of stallion seasons at the OBS sales pavilion.

With slots riches finally on the horizon in Pennsylvania, leaders of the state's breeding organization are considering how to share the wealth.

"We want to invite people to come into the state and become committed Pennsylvania breeders," said Peter Giangiulio, the recently appointed president of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. "The PHBA's phone number will not become 1-800-VISITPA."

A. P Jet, a 17-year-old son of Fappiano standing at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, was New York's leading sire of 2005, with progeny earnings of $3,430,722.

He will stand the 2006 season at Sugar Maple for a fee of $5,000, live foal.