The Carter Sales Co.’s OKC Summer sale saw a huge jump in median sale prices on August 16. The 15 percent increase is an exceptional bright spot in a depressed Oklahoma City energy market.
The Thoroughbred sale posted returns much like last year’s record-setting sale. The average of $8,517 was just shy of the record average $8,863 set last year. From 73 horses offered, 47 sold this year for a total of $400,300 with a median of $6,000.
“Our market was bolstered by the just announced 10 percent purse increase at Remington Park,” said Sales Manager Terri Carter.
The across the board increase became effective when the meet opened Friday before the sale.
“Maiden special weights are running for $42,750. That increases my buyback rate, but that also makes these horses worth more money, “ Carter continued.
“Scott Wells (Remington’s GM) and the Chickasaws are doing such a good job. They worked with TRAO to get the purse increase and the improvements to the facility are incredible. Remington is a world class facility and continues to put our state in the national spotlight.” Carter added.
“Even though these purses make owners want to keep them and run them, we had more horses this year than ever at the $15,000 to $20,000 level,” she said.
The buyback rate was 36 percent.
“Last year set records in every category and this year we held to those numbers, so we couldn’t ask for more than that,” Carter said.
Henry Thilmony of Minneapolis, MN, took home the $27,500 sale topper, Hip 59, a Country Day colt out of the Not For Love mare, Love in Paris.
Leading consignor Buena Madera prepared the colt for James and Tracy Strachan. Buena Madera had gross sales of $113,700.
Mighty Acres took home the second leading consignor title with $98,500 and Eureka Thoroughbreds presented the second highest seller, a $22,000 Shackleford colt out of the Tiznow mare Tizmeanttobe.
“This is the ninth year for this sale and we had two of the Oklahoma Champions this year. We had the Champion 2-year-old Zealous Vision and the Champion Sprinter Dancing Diva. We’ve also had two recent Iowa Stallion Stakes winners. We are doing what we set out to do and our horses can compete on the highest levels,” Carter said.
For complete results, go to cartersalesco.com.