Sunday’s Alberta Standardbred yearling sale generated $590,800 for consignors and left officials feeling both pleased and optimistic about the future.
“I was really happy with the numbers,” said Fred Gillis, executive director of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association. “We’re in the midst of a tough economy right now in Alberta, so to average $10,940 per animal sold is an improvement over last year.”
A total of 71 horses were offered and 54 were sold. The top price of $34,000 was paid by long time Edmonton owner, Lorne Duffield. He got Hip #28, Tap the Keg, a son of Camystic out of Tapioca Hanover. The yearling was consigned by Bill Andrew, proprietor of Meridian Farms of High River, Alberta.
“I thought it was a great sale, one of the best I’ve been to in awhile,” said another long time Alberta owner, Don Richardson. Mr. Richardson paid $30,000 for 3 yearlings.
Test Flight and Mystery Chase proved to be the most popular stallions at the sale with buyers snapping up ten yearlings from each sire. Top price for a Test Flight offspring was $22,000, paid by Keith Clark for a colt named Real Sharp. Clark also shelled out $31,000 for a Mystery Chase daughter, Roaring Home. Vertical Horizon had nine youngsters selected, led by Don Richardson’s $16,000 purchase of the yearling filly, Maid in Alberta.
Another consignor, Dr Larry Hanson of Regina, noted that the agreement signed with the provincial government last March, which lays out the support of racing for the next decade, provides some stability and an opportunity to plan for the future for owners and breeders. “I’ve already started to add to my broodmare band,” said Dr. Hanson. “I put three yearlings in the sale this year and I expect to have four ready for next year.”
Long time Alberta breeder, Jim Rhodes, agreed. “I too have started to add to my broodmare band,” said the High River entrepreneur, who’s been breeding racehorses in Alberta for nearly 40 years.
There are still unanswered questions about purse distribution for 2017 and about the future of racing in Edmonton. Those questions are being addressed with definitive answers expected this fall. But for Sunday at least, a sense of optimism dominated the atmosphere of a strong yearling sale for 2016.
2016 Yearling Sale Results
Hip# | Name | Price | Purchaser | Consignor |
1 | WANNABE A DRAGON | $7,000 | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT | |
2 | WHISKEY THROTTLE | $1,500 | JENNIFER CLARK | |
3 | BOILING OAR | $22,000 | JJJ Stables | Dr. LARRY HANSON |
4 | WESTERN TERRORIST | $11,900 | ALLAN NEURAUTER | |
5 | NICE AINT MY COLOR | $19,000 | Al Bird | SURDALE FARMS LTD |
6 | PINKIE PIE | $4,000 | Don Richardson | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
7 | AMERICAN SNIPER | $11,900 | ALLAN NEURAUTER | |
8 | WEST END BOY | $18,000 | Don Byrne Stables Inc | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
9 | MACHITOUTOFTHEPARK | $16,000 | Veikko Pajunen | SURDALE FARMS LTD |
10 | TOP DRIVE | $3,500 | Lorne Duffield | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
11 | POSTMEISTER | JAMES RHODES | ||
12 | THE BROWN DEUCE | $2,500 | JENNIFER CLARK | |
13 | BIG ENGINE | $2,500 | Stephen Crump | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
14 | WHIZ BANG | $2,200 | Preston Shaw | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
15 | AMBOY DUKE | $21,500 | Gerry Hudon | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
16 | REAL CHASE | JAMES RHODES | ||
17 | SNAP TEST | $9,000 | Keith Clark | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
18 | BLINK AND GONE | $10,000 | Don Richardson | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
19 | COOL JAY | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT | ||
20 | BLUE STAR HEAT | $3,000 | Derek Stout | WILLIAM ZARETSKY |
21 | RUM THIRTY | $9,900 | KATHLEEN & CLIFFORD COONFER | |
22 | WESTERN LADYBUG | $10,000 | Gerry Hudon | Dr. LARRY HANSON |
23 | MYSTERIOUS MAN | $2,000 | JAMIE D GRAY | |
24 | RELENTLESS DRAGON | $28,000 | Keith Clark | ALLAN NEURAUTER |
25 | MYSTERY COZ | $4,500 | Gord Baxter | JAMES RHODES |
26 | GINGER BEER | $5,500 | Keith Clark | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
27 | HOT TIP | $4,500 | Valeri Emerson | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
28 | TAP THE KEG | $34,000 | Lorne Duffield | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
29 | HOT KISS | $5,000 | Kelly Hoerdt | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
30 | JET JUICE | $6,000 | Kelley Hoerdt | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
31 | DRAGON SLAYER | $26,500 | JJJ Stables | SURDALE FARMS LTD |
32 | SHAKER TANK | $10,000 | Dan Sifert | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
33 | MAID IN ALBERTA | $16,000 | Don Richardson | FRED & ALICE & DEREK GILBERT |
34 | PHANTOM GIRL | $5,500 | David Hayes | JAMES RHODES |
35 | EXIT SMILING | $6,000 | Fred Gillis | MERIDIAN FARMS AGENT |
36 | CONQUER TERROR | $8,900 | ALLAN NEURAUTER | |
37 | MR GLENDER | $8,000 | Lorne Duffield | SURDALE FARMS LTD |
38 | MISTER GIBSON | $7,000 | FRED & ALICE & DEREK GILBERT | |
39 | GRINNING GIRL | $8,000 | Meadowlark Farms | JAMES RHODES |
40 | JUST A DRAGON | $12,000 | Gerry Hudon | BLAIR THOMAS |
41 | PAPERBACK THRILLER | $5,500 | Lorne Duffield | Dr. LARRY HANSON |
42 | MARILYN | $21,000 | Mark Anderson | SURDALE FARMS |
43 | MY DAY | $3,000 | Stephen Crump | MERIDIAN FARMS |
44 | NOISY NORA | $20,000 | Don Byrne Stables Inc | KATHLEEN & CLIFFORD COONFER |
45 | MORTGAGE MY VILLA | DIANE BERTRAND | ||
46 | CUSTARDS LASTSTAND | $24,000 | Kelly Hoerdt | SURDALE FARMS LTD. |
47 | DIVINE HORIZON | $6,500 | JAMES D GRAY | |
48 | MY DRAGONFLY | $3,500 | Preston Shaw | JAMES RHODES |
49 | REAL SHARP | $22,000 | Keith Clark | MERIDIAN FARMS |
50 | BLUE STAR EXPRESS | $25,000 | J F Gagne | WILLIAM ZARETSKY |
51 | NOGARDEO | $21,000 | Don ByrneStables Inc | KATHLEEN & CLIFFORD COONFER |
52 | ROARING HOME | $31,000 | Keith Clark | MERIDIAN FARMS |
53 | DRAGONS PARADISE | $5,000 | Ryan Grundy | ALLAN NEURAUTER |
54 | YANKEE UP | $6,500 | Jamie Gray | JAMES RHODES |
55 | CAUGHT STEALING | $4,900 | ALLAN NEURAUTER | |
56 | CURSE OFTHE DRAGON | $5,000 | Philip Giesbrecht | ALLAN NEURAUTER |
57 | SCREEN TEST | $10,500 | Dan Sifert | MERIDIAN FARMS |
58 | HOT FLAME | $9,500 | Don Byrne Stables Inc | MARIDIAN FARMS |
59 | PROM PROM MISS | $9,000 | JJJ Stables | JAMES RHODES |
60 | TEST STRIP | $4,500 | Quentin Schneider | MERIDIAN FARMS |
61 | TORCH OF ROYALTY | $14,999 | DIANE BERTRAND | |
62 | NO TIME TO DANCE | $3,500 | Brent bodor | ALLAN NEURAUTER |
63 | TRUE HORIZON | $10,500 | Gerry Hudon | MERIDIAN FARMS |
64 | TRUE CRIME | $10,000 | Jamie Gray | MERIDIAN FARMS |
65 | BLUE STAR TROOPER | $3,000 | JimMarino | WILLIAM ZARETSKY |
66 | SPORTS SELECT | $3,000 | Sharon Christiansen | ALLAN NEURAUTER |
67 | KELLY BAR | $3,200 | MERIDIAN FARMS | |
68 | CALL SIGN | $3,700 | Brent Bodor | SIERRA MACDONALD(4-H) |
69 | CHEERS FOR PRES | $3,000 | Randy Ducharme | NYLA WRIGHT (4-H) |
70 | WINK AWAY | $3,700 | M. Dicks/D Gaudet/S Robinson | CHEYENNE WIDDECKE (4-H) |
71 | RARE NUGGET | $4,200 | Brent Lee | WILLIAM & DIANNE NEISH |