Category: TTA

2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale Will Be Held On August 29th

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(Austin, TX) – The Texas Thoroughbred Association has announced its 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale will be held on August 29th. The sale, co-presented by Lone Star Park, will be held at the sale pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

“After the results of our 2021 yearling sale, we have a lot to look forward to with the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “The yearling market in Texas in 2021 was strong, thanks to our consignors, who brought quality physicals and pedigree to our sale, and thanks to the buyers who certainly loved the individuals on the grounds.”

The 2021 sale concluded with an increase in the total number of yearlings cataloged and sold, as well as a positive jump in the average and median sale prices. Texas sales graduates are eligible for the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park at two and the new Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks for three-year-olds at Sam Houston.

“There’s really never been a better time to sell and buy racehorses in the Texas,” Bridewell said. “Thanks to the passage of HB 2460 in 2019, the Texas horse industry benefits from the infusion of $25 million per year, increasing purses and Accredited Texas-bred incentive awards. This is all thanks to Texas lawmakers who support racing in this state; it’s truly a great time to bring horses to Texas to sell and for buyers to find quality prospects.”

The Entry Deadline for the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale is June 24, 2022 and consignment forms are now available at www.ttasales.com.

Stallion Power In the 2022 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale Catalog

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(Austin, TX) – One-hundred-thirty-two two-year-olds are cataloged with sire power, both nationally and regionally, in the 2022 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, presented by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park. The sale is set for April 6th at the sale pavilion at Lone Star Park; the breeze show is April 4th at the track in Grand Prairie.

Two-year-olds by Arrogate, Connect, Constitution, Distorted Humor, Ghostzapper, Hard Spun, Kantharos, Malibu Moon, Runhappy, and Sky Mesa represent national and international stallion power. The catalog features prospects from first year stallions Accelerate, Always Dreaming, Army Mule, Cloud Computing, Good Samaritan, McCracken, Mendelssohn, Mo Town, and Tapwrit. And offspring from some of Texas’ leading stallions, including Bradester, Competitive Edge, Eagle, and Too Much Bling, will go through the auction ring.

“We tried to put together a diverse catalog with something for just about everyone,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “Our consignors really had a lot to offer, in terms of stallion strength and pedigree, and we are grateful they saw fit to sell with us. We’re excited about book we’ve put together and think our buyers will be too.”

The catalog is full of notable pedigrees both regionally and nationally. Hip 117 is half to Texas champion Mr Money Bags, by Too Much Bling, from Clary Bloodstock. Hip 19 is a half to Texas Thoroughbred Futurity winner Streak of Silver consigned by Pike Racing. Hip 87 is a half-sister to stakes winner Pinky Ring Bling and Texas champ Gold Pilot from the Benchmark Training Center draft. Hip 98 is a Ghostzapper filly out of a half-sister to GSW stallion Adios Charlie, consigned by Twin Oaks Training Center. Hip 102 is a half-sister to Texas champion Ima Discreet Lady and Hip 114 is a Hard Spun colt out of a mare that’s already produced GSP Crowded Trade. 

“The catalog is strong, family wise,” Bridewell added. “We have horses that are out of stakes winners, by stakes winners, by proven and new stallions, half siblings to stakes winners or stakes placed horses, and half to Texas champions. We couldn’t ask for a better group and can’t thank our consignors enough for bringing them to Texas.”

The interactive catalog is available now at www.ttasales.com. Supplements to the catalog are expected and will be posted at www.ttasales.com. 

TTA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, March 19th

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REGISTER TODAY!
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Join us on March 19th at Sam Houston Race Park for our Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner! Download the invitation by clicking the image above or the button below!

Must RSVP by March 4th!
Download the Invitation Here!
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Texas Thoroughbred Association

192 Cimarron Park Loop, Suite A

Buda, TX 78610

maryr@texasthoroughbred.com
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TTA Releases Video Honoring 2020 Texas Champions and Human Award Winners

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The Texas Thoroughbred Association has released an online video honoring the 2020 Texas Champions and human award winners. Traditionally the TTA would have an in-person awards ceremony, but one will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

“While we are disappointed in not having an awards ceremony this year, we are proud of the accomplishments of Texas-breds and Texas horsemen last year, and we are pleased to honor them with this video,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “Congratulations go out to all the award winners.” 

 

The 2020 Texas Champion horses were previously announced, and those horses are highlighted in the video along with four human award winners that were not previously announced. The video can be viewed on the TTA’s Facebook page and at https://youtu.be/9f3C63Mrk6A.

 

The T.I. “Pops” Harkins Award for lifetime achievement was awarded to Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Joe Straus Jr.  

 

McIngvale has found great success in both the business world and on the racetrack. His Houston-based Gallery Furniture has sponsored numerous stakes races over the years and frequently features racing-related promotions, including one involving the 2021 Kentucky Derby that helped raise the profile of the sport to non-racing fans. He won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Runhappy and now stands the stallion and often sponsors racing events to promote him. He is also a noted philanthropist and has supported numerous charitable efforts within and beyond the world of racing. 

 

Straus is one of the founding fathers of modern Texas horse racing. He was instrumental in the passage of pari-mutuel wagering laws in the state and is a co-founder of Retama Park near San Antonio. Straus also serves as chairman of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, of which he is also an inductee. Also a successful breeder and owner, Straus has worked hard to ensure a level playing field for horsemen and served on the Texas A&M Target 2000 committee and spearheaded efforts for the Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to serve as the lead agency to test competition racehorses. 

 

The Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA member of the year was awarded to Bill Tracy and Martha Claussen.  

 

Tracy is a longtime TTA member and Texas horseman who worked at JEH Stallion Station in New Mexico and Oak Tree Ranch in Bandera, Texas, and presently is farm manager at Mike Grossman’s Eureka Thoroughbred Farm in Fredericksburg, Texas. He has served on the TTA board for a combined total of nearly 20 years, and he has also served on the board of the TTA’s Paddock Foundation and as president of the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund. In his work to support TTA and Texas racing, he has testified before the Texas Racing Commission and spent numerous hours working with legislators to highlight the importance of horse racing to our state. 

 

Claussen has worked to promote Texas horse racing for nearly 25 years after being hired as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park in 1997. Since then, she has distributed countless news releases and photos to better inform the media and general public about the special people and horses in our sport. While many news releases just list out basic information, Claussen always goes the extra mile to include quotes from the winning connections and other details to recognize the effort it takes to win a stakes race. She is among the most active and recognized voices on social media when it comes to Texas horse racing, and she is a familiar face nationwide from her frequent winner’s circle interviews. 

 

Following is the complete list of the previously announced 2020 champion horses: 

 

2-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (by Commissioner) • Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Graffeo, Joseph F., Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus and Johnson, Troy • Breeder: Lisa Kuhlmann 

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Hulen (by Tapiture) • Owner: L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC • Breeder: Keith Asmussen 

3-Year-Old Filly: Boerne (by Fed Biz) • Owner: De Luca and Sons Stable • Breeder: Randi and Eric Moreau-Sipiere 

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Gold Pilot (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch • Breeder: Ronald and Margaret Ellerbee 

Older Filly/Mare: Ima Discreet Lady (by Discreet Cat) • Owner: Duane Coker and Raymond Todd White • Breeder: Larry S. Huntsinger 

Co-Champion Older Horse: Sunlit Song (by My Golden Song) • Owner: Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding • Breeder: Carolyn Barnett 

Texas Champion Claimer: Meme Jo (by Too Much Bling) • Owner: John L. Pierce II • Breeder: Jeanne Bruce 

Champion Broodmare: My Silver Song (by My Golden Song) 

Horse of the Year and Co-Champion Older Horse: Redatory (by Oratory) • Owner/Breeder: James Wessel 

Texas Summer Yearling Sale Attracts Record Number of Entries

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The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale, set for Monday, August 30, at Lone Star Park, will feature a record number of entries with nearly 250 yearlings consigned to the Southwest’s biggest auction. The sale, held jointly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park, will begin at 10 a.m. in the sales pavilion on the grounds of the Dallas-area track.

“This will easily be our largest sale since taking the reins from Fasig-Tipton in 2016,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We’ve seen some solid growth over the past few years, despite the challenges of the health pandemic, and now we’ve really hit a milestone this year. We have several new consignors for this sale, and the sire power is stronger than I can ever remember seeing here.”

In addition to nearly 250 yearlings, there are three 2-year-olds in the sale.

“Texas racing and breeding have been on the upswing thanks to the Horse Industry Escrow Account authorized by the Texas Legislature, which has helped boost purses and breeding incentives,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “That in turn has increased interest in our sales and allowed us to develop a consignor rebate program. We are also pleased to introduce the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Derby to be run in 2023 to complement the very popular Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity.”

Details on the Sales Derby are still being finalized, but the race for sale graduates is expected to offer two divisions (one for fillies and one for colts/geldings) with an estimated purse of $75,000 apiece at Sam Houston Race Park. The Sales Futurity also offers two divisions at $100,000-estimated apiece at Lone Star.

The TTA and Lone Star will host a pre-sale party for consignors and buyers on Sunday, August 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alysheba room on the second floor of the Lone Star grandstand.

The yearling sale comes on the heels of the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale held in April, which posted the highest gross, average and median since the TTA and Lone Star took over both sales in 2016.

Online bidding and live online video will be offered on this sale. For more information and to view the sale catalogue, go to www.ttasales.com.

More than 120 Horses Consigned to Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale

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The catalogue is now available for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale with more than 120 head consigned to the auction set for Wednesday, April 7, at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. The under tack show will be held Monday, April 5, at Lone Star, which co-sponsors the sale with the Texas Thoroughbred Association. 

 

“After being forced to cancel last year’s 2-year-old due to COVID-19, we are very pleased to get back on track this year, especially with the excitement from the increased overnight purses in Texas and the strong stakes schedule coming up at Lone Star Park,” said Tim Boyce, sales director.  

 

First-year sires Klimt, Practical Joke, Lord Nelson, Gormley and Midnight Storm lead a strong stallion list, along with Texas freshman stallions Texas Chrome and Eagle. National and international sire power should be enticing to all buyers with Bernardini, California Chrome, Honor Code, Kitten’s Joy, Maclean’s Music, Malibu Moon and Street Sense among those represented. As usual, offspring of many of the Southwest’s top sires are in the sale, including Bradester, Custom for Carlos, Den’s Legacy, Half Ours, My Golden Song and Star Guitar.  

 

The mailing of catalogues was delayed due to February’s winter weather in Texas, but copies are expected to mail next week. The complete catalogue is now online, and as the sale approaches photos will be posted along with videos following the under tack show. Online bidding will again be available, and interested bidders can register now. 

 

For more information, go to www.ttasales.com. 

Texas Horsemen Encouraged to Complete Survey Regarding Winter Weather Damage

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The Texas Division of Emergency Management is conducting a survey to identify damages across Texas and to help emergency management officials gain an understanding of damages that have occurred during the recent winter weather. The TTA encourages horsemen to participate so that our industry is properly represented. Reporting damage to Emergency Management is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
Take the survey by CLICKING HERE.

Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Set for April 7, 2021

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The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that the 2021 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on Wednesday, April 7, at the Dallas-area track. The breeze show will be held Monday, April 5.  

 

The sale will be held about two weeks before Lone Star Park kicks off its expanded Thoroughbred meet with 48 days of racing starting on April 22. The track has announced an enhanced stakes schedule worth more than $2.2 million and the revival of Lone Star Million Day. As usual, the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity, for TTA Sales graduates and those made eligible through a consignor berth, will be held at Lone Star with two divisions at $100,000-estimated apiece.  

 

“With daily purses at Lone Star expected to be around $250,000 and maiden races at $36,000, this sale will offer buyers the chance to get an almost immediate return on their investment,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “In addition to the Sales Futurity in July, Lone Star will be running two divisions of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds in June, so that’s another opportunity for Texas-sired horses.”  

 

The entry deadline for the 2-year-old sale is January 15, 2021, and consignment forms are now available at www.ttasales.com.

Weanling Son of Bradester Tops Texas Mixed Sale

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The first standalone Texas Winter Mixed Sale in nearly a decade was held Dec. 6 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, topped by a weanling son of Bradester .

TTA reported 50 horses sold for gross receipts of $223,000, an average price of $4,460 and a $2,600 median. There were 67 horses that went through the ring not sold.

Top price of $16,000 was paid by Highlander Training Center for the Bradester colt (Hip 78) from the Benchmark Training Center consignment. Bred in Texas by Haynes Stables, the colt is out of the winning Street Boss  mare Blasted Boss. The colt’s third dam, grade 1-placed Shooting Party, produced millionaire Breaking Lucky  (by Lookin At Lucky ) a grade 3 winner in Canada who finished second in the 2016 Clark Handicap (G1).

Read BloodHorse Article

2021 American Racehorse Stallion Register Now Online

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The 2021 American Racehorse Stallion Register, featuring all-time leading Texas stallion Valid Expectations on the cover, is now online. Printed copies will be mailed to all Texas Thoroughbred Association members later this month. The Stallion Register features dozens of stallions from Texas and around the region. View the online version by clicking here.
Breeders are also reminded that the TTA Online Stallion Season Auction is open with the first round of bidding set to close on December 1.
Thanks to the generosity of stallion owners across the region, you have the opportunity to purchase 2021 breeding seasons while at the same time helping the TTA’s Political Action Committee, General Fund, Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund or Paddock Foundation.
To view a list of available stallions and place a bid, CLICK HERE.
If you have a stallion season you would like to donate, contact Mary Ruyle at (512) 458-6133 or download the stallion season donation form.
Texas Thoroughbred Association | 192 Cimarron Park Loop, Suite A, Buda, TX 78610