The much-asked question of “Are we ever going to have another horse sale in Ohio?” has been answered. With the efforts of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Sales Committee and strong support from the Ohio HBPA, a mixed sale will take place on Sunday, December 3, after a 10-year hiatus. The venue is the pristine Majestic Farm in Batavia, Ohio, which usually hosts dressage and hunter/ jumper competitions. The facility will host the 2017 GIAG/USDF Region 2 Championships on September 14-17. To learn more about the facility, go to majesticfarm.net.
The sales committee, led by OTBO Vice President James Fraser and George Sikora, DVM, organized a feasibility study in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia and received replies from numerous owner/breeders (primarily from Ohio) who indicated they had horses they would enter in such a sale. As of mid-June, potential consignments totaled 146 lots with 37 weanlings, 39 yearlings, 50 broodmares and 20 horses of racing age.
The December 3 date was voted on to allow for supplemental entry for horses that did not sell or meet their reserve at one of the fall sales in Kentucky. Horses will be allowed on the grounds for inspection on Saturday, December 2. The sale date was also agreed upon because there is no live racing in the state that day, which will allow owners and trainers at the Mahoning Valley meet to attend. The sale will likely begin at 1:00 p.m., though the board will meet again to finalize certain details.
Numerous outlets will be created to expand awareness for the sale including an exclusive sale website, a Facebook ad campaign, email blasts to Ohio breeders, local and national advertising and a digital sale catalog to be posted on the sale and OTBO websites. Depending on the number of entries, OTBO expects to print approximately 2,400 catalogs, and the sale will be available to watch via a live feed.
OTBO will be working in concert with highly regarded Dan Mahaney Auctioneers on the sale. Mahaney, OTBO Executive Director John Engelhardt and Barbara McCarthy, director of horse operations at Majestic Farm, recently met to discuss details of the sale weekend and tour the grounds.
“It is an over-the-top impressive facility,” Mahaney said. “It is very safe for the horses and user-friendly for the consignors and buyers.”
For more information and updates, go to otbosales.com. There you will find a “How to Enter” section and can download an entry package. When available, the catalog will be posted there, as well.