By Jessica Martini
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training begins its three-day run Wednesday in Central Florida, with bidding slated to begin at 10 a.m.
During last week's six-session under-tack preview of the auction, 11 horses tied for the fastest furlong time of :9 4/5, while a pair of fillies from Tom McCrocklin's consignment shared the fastest quarter-mile time of :20 2/5.
“There were plenty of people up there clocking on the turn,” consignor Lane Richardson said of the interest level ahead of the three-day June sale. “I think there is going to be good turn out for good horses. Kind of like it has been all year. If you are in the top percentage of horses, I think you're going to be pretty good.”
Consignor Robbie Harris used a familiar phrase when asked about expectations for the sale.
“You know, I've got to think it might be a little tough,” he said, before adding, “We are cautiously optimistic. I guess that's the word everybody uses.”
After a record-setting 2022 renewal, figures at the June sale fell off slightly in 2023, with 630 horses selling for $23,777,900. The average was $37,743 and the median was $21,000. The prior year, 666 horses sold for a sale record $27,052,000, an average of $40,619 and a median of $23,500.
Three horses surpassed the $400,000 mark at last year's June sale, topped by a colt by Blame who sold for $485,000, while 11 juveniles brought $200,000 or more. The 2022 auction saw 21 horses sell for $200,000 or more and it was topped by a $725,000 filly by Uncle Mo.
The last of the company's three 2-year-old sales, the June sale completes a season which has seen steady results at the top, but has often faltered at the lower ends of the market.
“We've done well in some spots and in some spots, we've had to get through,” Richardson said of his results this spring. “I think that's typical of this year. I think everybody has had their ups and downs this year. It's just hard in spots and good in other ones.”
Harris agreed the middle market continued to struggle throughout the spring sales.
“It's been ok,” he said. “We are in the black, so to speak, which is always good. But I definitely felt like it was a little bit softer, unless you were top, top. It's been the same at all the sales. They keep talking about the middle market, but there hasn't been a middle market in our game for a few years now. We are fortunate, we are in the plus column, that's awesome. But there are a lot of guys who got roughed up a little this year. I will be curious to see what the yearling sales look like because I think this will affect the yearlings.”
The OBS June sale continues through Friday, with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.
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