Average at Harrisburg climbs by 6.5 percent

The Standardbred Horse Sales Company concluded its 2009 yearling sale in Harrisburg on Thursday, and when the last horse had been sold, sales totaled $34,185,000. That resulted in an average price of $31,859 for the 1,073 horses sold. 

The average increased 6.5 percent from the average of $29,897 posted in 2008, when the sale was held just after the world economic collapse. 

The median price—the price point where half the yearlings sell for more and half for less—also increased, jumping from $20,000 to $22,000, a climb of 10 percent. 

The top of the market was stronger this year, as evidenced by the fact that 49 yearlings were sold for prices of $100,000 or more versus 40 last year. 

All sectors of the market—trotting colts, trotting fillies, pacing colts and pacing fillies—attained higher averages this year. 

Although the 211 trotting colts sold generated the highest average price at $37,921, and 18 trotting colts were sold for $100,000 or more--the pacing colts—339 strong, or almost 32 percent of all horses sold—gave the sale a very solid base. Pacing colts averaged $32,982, up from $30,638 (7.7 percent), and the median price for a pacing colt climbed $3,000, from $22,000 to $25,000, a 13.6 percent increase. 

The pacing colt market was led by 34 sons of Rocknroll Hanover, which generated an average of $66,059. Overall, Rocknroll Hanover’s 62 yearlings posted an average of $58,685, up from last year’s sale when his 55 offspring sold for an average of just $49,118. No other pacing sire broke $40,000 in average. The second leading pacing sire by average was Camluck, whose 20 offspring were sold for an average of $39,050. Right behind him was Mach Three, with an average of $38,900 for 10 yearlings, with Bettor’s Delight third with an average of $37,771 for 59 offspring. 

The averages for 13 pacing sires increased this year while five trotting sires posted higher averages. The trotting sires were led by Andover Hall, who enjoyed a big rebound at Harrisburg this year. His 45 yearlings brought an average price of $68,700, up from $51,886 in 2008. The late Windsong’s Legacy also had a big rebound as the average price for his yearlings went from $20,238 in 2008 to $41,109. 

The first crops from Chocolatier and Glidemaster received comparable receptions with 21 offspring by Chocolatier bringing an average of $46,286 and 23 Glidemaster yearlings selling for an average of $43,891.

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