Record-breaking Lexington Yearling Sale concludes on high note

Lexington, KY — The five-day Lexington Selected Yearling Sale concluded Friday night at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion having established the harness racing record for gross and second-best average in the history of the event.

A total of 949 horses sold for $67.91 million during this year’s five sessions. The previous record for gross was $65.28 million for 886 horses in 2022. This year’s average of $71,566 was second to only last year’s $73,690 and was 8.95 percent better than the previous second-best average of $65,687 in 2021.

Seven yearlings sold for six figures on Friday, the same total as last year, led by pacing colt Highway Boy (Downbytheseaside-Blazing Yankee), who was purchased for $150,000 by Country Club Acres.

The colt was bred by Fred Hertrich III and consigned by Allamerican Harnessbreds. His siblings include Grand Circuit winners Hurrikane Kingcole and Hurricane Beach. He is Ohio eligible.

Downbytheseaside sired the night’s 12 top sellers and grossed $2.03 million for 33 yearlings, an average of $61,515.

Overall, the fifth session saw 134 horses sell for $4.45 million, an average of $33,265. Last year, the session reached $4.85 million for 138 horses, an average of $35,174 that fell just $539 shy of 2021’s record average for a fifth session.

Trotting sires Chapter Seven and Walner led the sale in gross, with Chapter Seven at $7.57 million for 56 horses and Walner at $6.19 million for 48 horses. Next were pacing sires Tall Dark Stranger, at $5.54 million for 60 horses, and Captaintreacherous at $5.51 million for 48 horses.

Leading in average (among horses with more than two sales) was trotting sire Gimpanzee, at $168,238 for 21 horses. Captaintreacherous topped pacing sires, at $114,854.

For complete results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA