First day of OBS sale holds steady after turbulent 2020

Street Ruckus, a dark bay or brown colt by Street Boss and consigned by Kaizen Sales, sold for $85,000 on the first day of the OBS Winter Mixed Sale at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company in Ocala on Tuesday. The colt was one of the top selling horses of the day. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

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Posted January 27, 2021 | Ocala Gazette Staff

The first day of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales winter auction got off to a good start, with sales holding steady after a tough 2020 season.

At Tuesday’s consignor preferred session, 98 horses sold for nearly $1.9 million compared with 85 horses that sold for more than $1.9 million in 2020.

The comparable numbers are significant because the thoroughbred sales industry dropped steeply after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. OBS and other sales companies rescheduled and even canceled sales after March. Prices fell after racetrack across the country shut down amid the pandemic. Tracks resumed racing later in 2020, but sales continued to suffer.

Tuesday’s sale featured mostly yearlings, pregnant females and broodmares. But the day also included horses of racing age, showcasing thoroughbreds older than three years old. During that session, 73 horses sold for nearly $1.7 million compared with 70 horses that sold for more than $1.3 million in 2020.

The day’s top-seller came out of the older horses’ section. Bear Brian, a 3-year-old son of Tiznow, went for $150,000 to Kerri Raven. Summerfield consigned the colt as agent for Stonestreet Stables.

The top-selling yearling went for $130,000 to Ronald Clark Shepherd. The son of Practical Joke was listed as Hip No. 182 and also consigned by Summerfield. He is out of the Uncle Mo mare Mobeautiful.

The sale continues on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.