LEXINGTON, Ky. - It has been almost two years since Fasig-Tipton and the Keeneland Association decided to set a $1,000 upset price, or minimum bid, at their horse sales as a way of discouraging slaughterhouse buyers from collecting cheap Thoroughbreds at their auctions. Both companies believe the change has made a difference.

Fasig-Tipton uses the $1,000 upset price for stock over 2 years of age and also has a $500 upset price for weanlings and yearlings. Keeneland's policy sets a $1,000 upset price on all stock, regardless of age.

Doug Henderson of Marablue Farm knows well the ups and downs of the stallion game. In the last few months he lost the promising young sire Zamindar to European breeders, and Marablue's popular stallion Tactical Advantage died suddenly.

"No one ever said this is an easy game," Henderson said.

Broodmare owners looking for good buys on stallion seasons will have a wide array of opportunities on Feb. 11 and 12, when the Virginia Thoroughbred Association conducts its 21st annual benefit auction.

"We expect to have more variety than ever before - with Victory Gallop as the most expensive horse in the auction," said the Mark Deane, the association's field director. Victory Gallop has an advertised fee of $20,000.

Lordofthemountain, a two-time horse of the year at Finger Lakes and a member of the track's hall of fame, is playing babysitter these days.

A 17-year-old gelding owned by Barbara Brewer, Lordofthemountain is a companion and teacher for many of the 48 horses at Brewer's Onteora Farm, a Thoroughbred boarding and training facility located in Canandaigua, N.Y.

Lordofthemountain spends his days in a paddock with other horses, ranging in age from yearlings to 3-year-olds, at Onteora Farm, located 15 minutes from Finger Lakes,

Gary and Marlene Howard's 94-acre Hideaway Farm is a long way from Lexington, Ky. But breeders perusing the California farm's stallion roster will find Grade 1 winners and Bluegrass-style bloodlines there.

Two of Hideaway's newest stallions - Grade 1 winner Puerto Madero and Danzig's graded-stakes winner Dumaani, a half-brother to champion Shadayid - arrived in California after the Howards struck three-year lease agreements with two prominent central Kentucky farms, Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm and Johnny T. L. Jones's Walmac Inter-national.

Irish stallion Be My Guest has been retired at age 29, the Racing Post reported Wednesday. A son of Northern Dancer, Be My Guest is the sire of Go and Go, winner of the 1990 Belmont Stakes, and such European champions as Pentire, Assert, and Luth Enchantee.

Be My Guest stood at Coolmore Stud's Irish headquarters in County Tipperary and will retire there.

The Barretts winter mixed auction in Pomona, Calif., entered its second and final day Wednesday after mixed results at its opening.

As of 5:30 p.m. Eastern, the $110,000 Storm Cat mare Catrina was Wednesday's top seller. Magali Ventures purchased the 8-year-old mare from Berkey Bloodstock, agent. Berkey Bloodstock sold Catrina, a daughter of Grade 3 winner Marshua's Dancer in foal to Malek, on behalf of the Ridder Thoroughbred Stable.

Little Current, champion 3-year-old colt of 1974 when he won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and at 32 the oldest living winner of a Triple Crown race, died Jan. 19 in Monroe, Wash.

Veterinarians Mark and Ann Hansen, who cared for Little Current in his later years, euthanized the horse after a fatty tumor blocking his intestine caused him to colic.

The Hansens, both veterinarians, put Little Current down at their Pacific Equine clinic, where the horse lived since the Hansens purchased him in 1995.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Barretts winter mixed sale got under way with a quick six-figure price Monday in Pomona, Calif.

Hip No. 3, The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Grade 3-placed stakes winner Regiment, brought a $100,000 final bid. California-based bloodstock agent Bruno de Berdt signed the ticket for the 4-year-old colt, who was the opening session's early leader as of 5 p.m. Eastern time.

LAS VEGAS - This is the sixth and final part of a series on the 2003 freshman stallions, with particular emphasis on how to bet their offspring.

Tactical Cat (Storm Cat). This year should be the Year of the Cat. Storm Cat, the world's most expensive stallion, has at least nine sons (including Exploit, Forestry, and Scatmandu) whose first foals race this year at 2. While his sons Exploit and Forestry were bred to high-quality mares and should battle for supremacy this year, Storm Cat's other sons should also fare well.