Springfield, OH – The Blooded Horse Winter Sale held Tue. Feb. 11, at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio, was the strongest in its 57-year history. Owners, trainers and breeders flooded the pavilion to restock stables and acquire broodmares. “People love coming to a sale to actually see and touch the horses they want to buy,” said sale manager Jerry Haws. “It may take a bit more time and resources, but the dividends far outweigh the cost. Bringing horses to a venue of eager buyers is a tremendous marketing tool. Consignors seemed to be pleased as there were substantially less RNAs.”

The sale topper was the Grand Circuit placed 5-year-old Donato Hanover broodmare Sneeker Hanover 3,1:55.2s purchased for $49,000 by Michael I. Miller of Ohio. From the immediate family of Marion Maurader, the classy bay trotter consigned by Cactus Acres was in foal to Kadabra. The sale runner-up was the consistent 5-year-old conditioned trotter U Need Stones, consigned by Burke Racing Stable. Popular Canadian owner Adriano Sorella purchased the son of Wishing Stone for $45,000 as well as another Burke Racing Stable graduate, the beautiful chestnut Cracklin Rosie for $37,000.

Burke Racing Stable also offered the innovative opportunity to choose one of two almost equally matched trotting mares that were presented in the ring simultaneously. The winning bidder got to choose the mare they wanted and Burke Racing Stable kept the other to continue racing. Both Wildfire Seelster and Matterlei were 4-year-old daughters of Explosive Matter; both had nine wins lifetime; and both had won five or six of their last eight starts at the Meadows. Herman and Morgan Hagerman of Ohio received the final bid at $43,000 and chose Wildfire Seelster to add to their powerful stable.

For complete sale results visit bloodedhorse.com. The next sale is May 12 and it’s an exceptionally strong market for racehorses. Entries close April 22.