Harrisburg, PA – Three-year-old pacing colt Beau Jangles, the 2025 Horse of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, became the highest-priced Standardbred ever sold at public auction when he was purchased by New Zealand bloodstock agent John Curtin for $3.7 million during Friday’s (Nov. 6) mixed sale portion of the 88th annual Standardbred Horse Sale at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex.
The previous record price, set in 2024 at the Standardbred Horse Sale’s mixed sale, was $1.85 million for 3-year-old trotting colt Amazing Catch.
Beau Jangles, harness racing’s first reigning Horse of the Year to be sold at public auction, won all 12 of his starts last season at age 2, including a Breeders Crown and the Metro Pace (both Grade 1 stakes) on his way to $1.22 million in earnings. For his career, the son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill has won 18 of 27 races and banked $1.63 million.
Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, the colt was owned by Graham Grace Stables of Clifton, Va., Kiwi Stables of LaPlata, Md., Bolton Stables of Clermont, Fla., and James MacDonald of Guelph, Ontario. He was sold as part of a three-horse partnership dispersal. Bob Boni’s Northwood Bloodstock Agency was the consignor.
Curtin said he was still working out details regarding Beau Jangles, but that the colt would race this month in the Matron Stakes and Progress Pace, both at Bally’s Dover Downs, before being retired to begin his stallion career.
“Everyone has called but I’m not sure where he’s going to go yet,” Curtin said. “He’ll stand in America or Canada this coming season and then he’ll stand Down Under. He’ll be shuttled down the first few seasons anyhow. People have to see the horse to appreciate him. You’ll never see a better looker.
“I’m 75 years old, and I’ve seen three great horses that were great gaited and had high, high speed. One was Niatross, Somebeachsomewhere was the next one, and Beau Jangles is the next one. He’s got such a great gait, such great manners, and he’s got high, high speed. And he wears nothing, no gear. He’s just a beautiful pacer, as good as you’ll ever get, and that’s what we need. We want to breed great-gaited pacers with high speed.
“I really believe in the horse. I believe this horse can help to change the breed. I put him in the same boat as Somebeachsomewhere. He changed the breed dramatically, and I reckon that this horse is the next one. That’s my opinion, so we’ll see.”
Bidding on Beau Jangles opened at $500,000 and rapidly reached $2.5 million on the way to its record-setting conclusion, with Curtin bidding remotely by phone.
“When I came here, I had certain numbers in my head, a range, because it was such an unknown; we’d never done this before,” Northwood Bloodstock’s Boni said. “As the past few days went by, and I started to hear some things, I was pretty confident in three (million dollars). After that, it just depends on who wants to stay around. But there was a lot of action from three (million) up; there were still three or four people bidding on the horse. It was a big thrill.
“Whether you’re training, owning, selling – good horses are what we’re here for. They’re special; they’re different. I tip my hat to Dr. Moore, especially to have a horse come in here at the end of the season after racing and shipping, and his condition was just superb. He was fit and bright; I can’t stress enough what an exceptional individual he is. And the horse enjoyed it. Most good horses do; they enjoy being shown. He came out of his stall, and his head was up, his ears were up, and he enjoyed the attention. In addition to the people who were actually looking at him, there were a lot of people who just wanted to see him. And he was great. I thank the owners. It was a pleasure. It was fun.
“There are certainly some nerves that go with it, but it was more about the anticipation. I was looking forward to it. We did everything we could do right to get him there, and then the rest took over.”
Following Beau Jangles on the list of best sellers on Friday, which was the final day of the Standardbred Horse Sale, were 3-year-old trotting filly Victorianas Secret, for $875,000 to Robert Lindstrom, as agent; and 2-year-old trotting colt Yankee Boss, for $430,000 back to co-owner Kiwi Stables.
Victorianas Secret, a daughter of Tactical Landing-Victoriana, won this year’s Delmonica Hanover (G1) and Moni Maker (G3) stakes, finished second in the inaugural Oak Grove Trotting Oaks, and was third in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot (G1). She is this year’s fastest sophomore trotting filly, with a time of 1:50.
For her career, Victorianas Secret won nine of 21 races, hit the board another seven times, and earned $526,892. She was trained by Vernon Beachy. Somefarmsomewhere consigned Victorianas Secret, whose family also includes millionaire Little Brown Fox.
Yankee Boss, an Åke Svanstedt-trained son of Captain Corey-Brigit Of Kildare, counts a division of the Bluegrass Stakes (G3) among his three victories this season and his fastest win time of 1:52 has been bettered by only three freshman male trotters so far this year. He has hit the board a total of five times in 10 races and earned $184,726. His second dam, Buck I St Pat, was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Northwood Bloodstock Agency consigned Yankee Boss, who was part of the aforementioned three-horse dispersal with Beau Jangles. The remaining horse in the group was 6-year-old trotting mare Call Me Goo, who topped Thursday’s session of the mixed sale at $475,000.
Overall, the two-day mixed sale totaled $27.5 million for 495 horses and stallion shares, an average of $55,681. The mixed sale’s average was a record, bettering the mark of $55,156 set last year when 699 horses and stallion shares sold for nearly $38.6 million.
For complete Standardbred Horse Sale details, including results and statistics, visit theblackbook.com.