March Madness at OBS

Led by a trio of seven-figure juveniles–including a pair of $1.6-million co-topping colts by leading sires Giant’s Causeway and Tapit–the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2014 March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training shattered records for gross, average and median Tuesday. 
For the sale, 198 2-year-olds grossed $37,817,500, surpassing the previous mark of $33,380,000 set in 2008. Last year, 185 juveniles brought a total of $28,794,000. The average price was up 22.7% to $190,997 from last year’s sale record of $155,643. The median was also a record at $137,500, a 10% increase over last year’s previous high of $125,000. The buyback percentage rose slightly to 24.1%; it was 21.6% in 2013. Nine horses brought $400,000 or more in 2013. That number skyrocketed to 17 during this year’s renewal. 
“We were really excited about the horses that were coming here after doing our inspections, and it was really gratifying to see that what you thought could happen, did,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski commented. “It was a great sale. It’s a testament to our consignors for bringing quality horses here. The quality horses bring the buyers, and the success of the horses that are bought here, bring the buyers back. That was the first time that we’ve sold three million-dollar horses in one sale, and those were three beautiful horses.” 
Following the postponement of the first breeze show due to heavy rains, officials at OBS called an audible and consolidated the sale, originally slated for Monday and Tuesday, into one continuous session yesterday. 
“Everyone adapted to the circumstances and I don’t think it had a negative impact in any way, shape, or form on anything,” Wojciechowski continued. “The buyers appreciated the two full days in between to do their work and the consignors understood that.” 
Leading buyer Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing made its first big splash on the United States auction scene, purchasing a pair–including the co-topping Tapit colt from the Eddie Woods consignment–for a total of $2,050,000. Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables came away with the other co-topper consigned by Northwest Stud, and was second in gross receipts at $1,920,000. 
Eddie Woods led all consignors with 18 sold for $5,235,000. Eisaman Equine was second with 22 sold for $3,665,000 and de Meric Sales rounded out the trifecta with 18 head grossing $3,020,000. 
“It’s been a career day [for my consignment],” Woods revealed. “It’s been an amazing sale. It looks like it’s been a good sale for several people. It wasn’t for everybody–of course it never is–but when you have what they wanted, they gave you more than enough.”