Jill Gordon

Jacob West will join the Claiborne Farm team in October as the Stallion Seasons & Bloodstock Manager, the organization said in a release Wednesday. West, a Kentucky native, graduated from UK with a degree in Economics. He began his career in the Thoroughbred industry at the ground level, first serving as a groom in Taylor Made Farm's broodmare division. From there, he ascended to barn foreman, divisional yearling manager, and then Buyer Account Manager. During his tenure at Taylor Made, West managed all aspects of his clients' investment portfolios, including...

Despite the varying levels of industry experience and the assortment of roles held amongst the 80 attendees at the Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) event at Keeneland on Thursday, April 18, the sense of comradery was palpable throughout the day's program. The first HRWS event of the year, the sold-out program included a keynote conversation and two panel discussions focused on the topics of sales and bloodstock, along with a workshop activity and ample opportunity to converse with fellow industry women throughout the afternoon. Shannon Arvin, President and CEO of...

The Horse Racing Women's Summit will host a panel discussion at Keeneland Apr. 18. The day will kick off with a welcome address from Gabby Gaudet, a reporter/analyst for FanDuel TV and Keeneland, who will also moderate the keynote conversation hosted by Shannon Arvin, the President and CEO of Keeneland, alongside Julie Cauthen, a bloodstock agent and member of the Keeneland Inspection Team. "Keeneland is honored to host the Horse Racing Women's Summit, which promises to be a great day of discussion, reflection, valuable connections and fun. We look forward...

The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA), whose 300-strong membership accounts for over 80% of the annual auction revenue in North America, elected new officers and board members at a recent meeting, the organization said in a release Wednesday evening. The CBA's 15-member Board features eight members from the top 20 consignors and seven members from other consignors and commercial breeders. Each year, a portion of the Board completes their term and new members fill the positions. Joining the board for 2024 will be Lakota Gibson (Gainesway), Jill Gordon (Highgate...

Kate Bianco has been named sales director at Highgate Sales. A native of New Jersey, Bianco has worked in the yearling division and in sales and nominations at Three Chimneys Farm, and served as Thoroughbred Administrator at Stonestreet Farms. "I feel privileged to have worked for some of the best in the business and will forever be grateful for that opportunity. Sales have always been a passion of mine and I look forward to starting this new adventure with the team at Highgate," Bianco said. Starting her new role before...

LEXINGTON, KY - With just weeks to the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale begins its two-day run Monday at Newtown Paddocks with an eclectic offering of broodmares, broodmare and racing prospects and short yearlings. The auction attracted 465 entries to its main catalogue and, with the addition of supplemental entries, now features 594 catalogued offerings. Bidding begins Monday at 10 a.m. Jill Gordon and Jacob West's Highgate Sales consignment made its debut at last year's Winter Mixed Sale and made an immediate impact when...

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, which surpassed $400-million in gross sales for the first time in its history, concluded Saturday with new records, not just for turnover, but also for average and median and with 30 seven-figure yearlings doubling the number from the 2021 auction. Keeneland sold a total of 2,847 yearlings through the ring for $405,495,700 during the 12-day auction, surpassing the previous record of $399,791,800 set during the 2006 September sale. The cumulative average and median prices surpassed September sale records set last year, with the average price...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Fasig-Tipton marks 101 years of selling at Saratoga Monday with the start of its highly anticipated Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale. The Saratoga Sale is known for offering some of the country's top yearlings, many of whom have quite the star-studded pedigrees. The 2022 catalogue, which features 216 yearlings, is no exception. "It's just a fantastic collection of yearlings, both in terms of pedigree and the physical conformation," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "We were excited all spring when we were going to the farms with the interest and...

LEXINGTON, KY--Recent GI La Brea S. runner-up Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) (hip 541) was as popular as many expected her to be, topping the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale at $750,000. Japan's Katsumi Yoshida was the winning bidder over the internet. A total of 431 horses changed hands during the two-day auction for a gross of $17,245,500 with an average of $40,013 and median of $16,000. There were 56 horses led from the ring unsold for a very low RNA rate of 11.5%. That was a significant increase over last year's auction,...

The Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, which was pushed back a day due to a late-week ice storm in the Lexington area, kicks off its two-day run Tuesday, with sessions starting at 10 a.m. The first 300 hips sell Tuesday with an additional 308 horses, several of which were supplemental entries, going under the hammer Wednesday. The auction is well-timed, just one week before the Feb. 15 opening of the breeding sheds. "It is really hard to ever compare February sales from year-to-year just because of the nature of it," Fasig-Tipton...

Jill Gordon and Jacob West's new venture Highgate Sales looks to get off to a strong start with its first consignment at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. They have a very good chance to do so thanks to the 10-horse consignment's star, GI La Brea S. runner-up Brilliant Cut (Speightstown) (Hip 541). "We couldn't be more excited to be offering her on behalf of this ownership group [Boom Racing, ERJ Racing, Dave Kenney and William Strauss]," Gordon said. "They are a fun group of guys and I have...

Jill Gordon and Jacob West have launched Highgate Sales, a new sales company which will make its debut at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in February. Highgate Sales will offer consignments at breeding stock, yearling, and horses of racing age sales, as well as offering appraisals, private purchases and sales, and portfolio management services. Gordon formerly worked at Claiborne Farm as the Sales and Client Relations Manager for 3 1/2 years after a three-year stint at Warrendale Sales. In her role at Claiborne, she oversaw all aspects of the...