Michael Machowsky

At 78 years of age, Dana Halvorson is looking to move out of Washington State and live permanently at his farm in Ocala, Florida. He leaves behind a decades-long, storied career in the bloodstock world in Washington. He also leaves behind a state breeding industry in free-fall. Between 2005 and 2025, the number of mares bred dropped 94%, from 1214 to 70. Only two major farms remain in the whole state. "The West Coast has just taken a beating," said Halvorson, president of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association...

The fourth annual Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale returns to the Fairplex Sales Pavilion in Pomona Tuesday. Bidding for the single session gets underway at 11 a.m. PST, which is 2 p.m. EST. The catalogue is comprised of 279 yearlings, which will sell first, and 55 horses of racing age. The majority of the horses are California-breds, but there are several yearlings by Kentucky-breds sired by the likes of Mineshaft, Outwork, Coal Front, Tapwrit, West Coast, Tiznow, Frosted, etc. "We have a very strong group...