Equine Sales Company on Wednesday held its annual Consignor Select Yearling Sale in Opelousas, Louisiana, and recorded significant gains over last year with an all-time record price for a yearling at the sale. All told, 139 of 208 head sold for $1,510,400 with an average of $10,866 and a median of $5,500.

Gross sales this year were up 41.5 percent from last year’s gross of $1,060,600 when 121 of 177 head sold. The average this year jumped 24 percent from $8,765 and the median increased 37.5 percent from $4,000. Buybacks were 33.2 this year compared to 31.6 percent last year.

This marked the first unified yearling sale held by Equine Sales Company together with the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which had previously conducted its own yearling sale as the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana.

Eddie Woods’ Quarter Pole Enterprises LLC made the two largest purchases, topped by a bay colt by Into Mischief who brought $145,000. That marked the highest price for a yearling at the sale since Equine Sales Company started in 2012. Bred and consigned by Clear Creek Stud LLC, agent, the Louisiana-bred is out of the stakes-placed Capote mare Mystery at Sea, who has also produced stakes winner Cook Some Rice and stakes-placed Carmen’s Mystery.

The second-highest price, and top selling filly, was a Louisiana-bred daughter of Overanalyze who sold for $60,000 from the consignment of breeder 4M Ranch, agent. The Louisiana-bred is the first foal out of the Congrats mare Happy Destiny, whose dam is multiple Grade 3 winner and stakes producer Dance o’my Life.

“I thought we had a good sale, especially considering the current market,” said Foster Bridewell, sales director for Equine Sales Company. “By teaming with the LTBA to present a unified sale, we were able to increase the average, median and gross sales from last year. The consignors did their part by bringing quality horses to the sale, and the buyers responded to that. We’d especially like to thank Eddie Woods and wish him good luck with his Into Mischief colt, as well as good luck to all the buyers.”

For complete results, go to http://www.equinesalesofla.com.

Equine Sales Company will hold its third and final auction of the year on October 16 with an open yearling and mixed sale.

Hip #219, a bay Accredited Louisiana Bred colt by Into Mischief out of stakes placed winning mare Mystery At Sea, topped the Equine Sales of Louisiana 2016 Consignor Select Yearling Sale. The bidding for the half brother to stakes winner Cook Some Rice and stakes placed winner Carmen’s Mystery was fast and furious. When the hammer fell, Eddie Woods had purchased the March 2015 colt for $145,000. Clear Creek Stud, LLC, Agent was the consignor.

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) and Equine Sales of Louisiana announced in early March of this year a mutual agreement with the purpose of encouraging and supporting a single annual yearling sale, and racing opportunities for Louisiana thoroughbred horse owners, breeders, trainers and potential buyers in Louisiana.

“At the time we agreed to suspend the operation of the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana’s Annual Yearling Sale for a period of five years in order to assist with advertising, information gathering, and to provide a full endorsement of the Equine Sales of Louisiana,” said Warren Harang III, president of the LTBA Board of Directors.

Yesterday’s sale was packed with buyers and horsemen from multiple states. Equine Sales Company of Louisiana cataloged 224 head for its Consignor Select Yearling Sale held in Opelousas, La.

“Our number one priority continues to be the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association and its members,” said Harang. “We are moving forward as a unified group to solidify the future of our industry in Louisiana. This sale is a good example of what can happen when we all work together.”

Consignors and buyers agree that the facility has all the right amenities for people and horses. The sales staff performance received high marks for organization, overall program and attention to detail. The Opelousas facility is easily accessible located mid-state on Interstate 49. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants for out of town buyers and consignors, both in Opelousas and nearby Lafayette, La.

“The stabling for the horses is excellent and the sales pavilion provided a great setting for the sale,” said Harang. “The financial results should be posted shortly and we expect a good result for this first ever unified yearling sale.”
For more information about the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association call (504) 947-4676 or go to: LouisianaBred.com.

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) and the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana are happy to fully endorse the Equine Sales Company of Louisiana Consignor Select Yearling Sale to be held Wednesday, September 7 at the Equine Sales Pavilion in Opelousas.

In an arrangement reached this past spring, the LTBA agreed to suspend operations of the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana to combine efforts with Equine Sales Company of Louisiana to host a single yearling sale in Louisiana. The LTBA gives full approval to this agreement and encourages everyone to come to this sale.

LTBA Secretary/Treasurer Roger Heitzmann, says of the combined effort, “As the Greek storyteller Aesop once said, ‘United we stand; divided we fall.’ Putting the Louisiana Breeder first is what the LTBA is all about. We invite all buyers to attend the Equine Sales Company Yearling Sale.”

The Equine Sale Consignor Select Yearling Sale has 224 head catalogued and includes offspring of leading Louisiana sires with last year’s top five overall stallions in the state—Half Ours, E Dubai, Songandaprayer, D’Wildcat and Closing Argument—all represented, along with many others. The list of prominent national sires represented in the catalog includes Curlin, Gemologist, Into Mischief, Oxbow, Paddy O’Prado, Quality Road and Warrior’s Reward.

Graduates of this sale will be eligible for the 2018 Equine Sales Derby and Equine Sales Oaks, both offering a $75,000 purse at Evangeline Downs.

The sale catalog is available on Equine Sales website
http://www.equinesalesofla.com

The sale will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7 at the Equine Sale Pavillion, 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas, LA 70570.

For further information, contact Equine Sales of Louisiana Sale Director, Foster Bridewell, Cell: 214-718-7618 Office: 337-678-3024 Fax: 337-678-3028. foster@equinesalesofla.com
or LTBA Secretary Treasurer Roger Heitzmann, III. Tel: 504-947-4676. roger@louisianabred.com