Horsemen are reminded that the 2014 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, including the Horses of Racing Age Section, is closing on Friday, November 8th. The sale is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, January 22nd and 23rd, with the optional Under Tack Show set for Monday, January 20th. The OBS Championship Stakes races, run this year for the first time in conjunction with the Winter Mixed Sale, are set for Tuesday, January 21st.
OBS received extremely positive feedback on the sale from both buyers and sellers. The Horses of Racing Age section with the under tack show fills a demand for owners looking to add to or adjust the size of their racing stables. Additionally, sellers of in-training horses now have an opportunity to market young, talented horses that may have had to miss juvenile sales. The timing is excellent, with the Tampa, Calder and Gulfstream meets in full swing and Ocala-area training centers, Payson Park, Palm Beach Downs and Palm Meadows occupied with northern racing stables wintering in Florida.
The Racing Age Section has been extremely well received in its first two years. The first year produced a $240,000 sale topper and last year, Falling Sky, a 3-year-old colt by Lion Heart, sold for $425,000. Consigned by Off the Hook LLC, the colt was purchased by Justin Casse, Agent. Racing for Newtown Anner Stud, James Covello and Joseph Bulger, the colt produced immediate dividends, winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
While the Mixed Sale deadline remains November 8th, late entries for the Horses of Racing Age section will be accepted through November 22nd. Horses withdrawn prior to December 1st will not incur any fees. In addition, supplemental entries may be accepted after the catalog has been finalized. These entries will be available on the OBS website at www.obssales.com as well as a supplemental catalog distributed at the sale. At the optional Under Tack Show, horses three and up may gallop or breeze a minimum of three furlongs. Newly turned two-year-olds may only gallop. Video of the under tack show will be available for viewing on the sales grounds and the OBS website.