OBS June Sale Starts Tuesday

by Jessica Martini 
The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age kicks off in Ocala Tuesday morning, with the first of 1,166 horses catalogued for the four-day auction scheduled to head into the ring at 10:30 a.m. The June sale follows in the wake of record-setting renewals of the OBS March and April 2-Year-Old sales and OBS officials are looking for the momentum to continue this week. 

“There are a lot of quality horses here on the grounds,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “From walking around the barn area, there are a lot of people out looking. There are a lot of people who still have orders to fill. People are using June more and more. They recognize there are quality horses here and I think this is the best bunch of horses we’ve had.” 

During last year’s June sale, 712 horses grossed $22,539,500 for an average of $31,657 and a median of $20,000. A filly by Indian Charlie brought the auction’s top price when selling for $500,000 to Bridlewood Farm. 

Once considered the juvenile sales season’s last gasp, the June sale has evolved into a destination in its own right. 
“I think June is no longer just the sale that catches the tail end of anything,” Wojciechowski said. “It’s a quality horse sale in its own right.” 

Consignor Kevin McKathan agreed. 

“June used to be a sale that you ended up in, but in my barn, June is a sale I point a lot of horses for,” McKathan said. “Some horses need more time. And you’re also getting a lot of horses who might have been in March and had hiccups or got sick. You still get a lot of really nice horses here that are coming from another spot and giving people another opportunity at them.” 

The increased strength of the OBS April sale has led to a stronger June catalogue. 

“June has gotten really strong,” McKathan said. “The way April has gotten, a lot of horses are eliminated out of April so they don’t have anywhere to go but June. So you have those horses and then the horses that are pointed that way anyway. The sale has gotten strong enough that people are pointing for the June sale.” 

With 1,115 2-year-olds and 49 older horses cataloged, including one older horse and 32 2-year-olds added in the supplemental catalogue, the June sale will run Tuesday through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m.