Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — For the first time in more than a decade, there will be a Standardbred sale in Michigan this year. The inaugural Winner’s Circle Speed Sale has been scheduled for Thursday (Sept. 29) at the Fowlerville fairgrounds.

According to Don Marotta, who formulated plans for the sale in partnership with well-known racing official and sale associate Kevin Mack, and former Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association president and current board member Brett Boyd, the sale will be a mixed sale consisting of yearlings, racehorses and broodmares.

“There hasn’t been a sale in the state for quite some time so we’re going to give it a whirl,” said Marotta, currently the starter at Scioto Downs. “It’s pretty exciting and the people in Michigan seem to be pretty excited about it. There’s been a lot of talk about it.

“I talked to Brett and Kevin and I knew Kevin would do it. Kevin has a vast array of sale experience and he’s highly respected in the game.”

This will be the first Standardbred sale in the Wolverine State since one was held at the Michigan State University Pavilion in East Lansing in 2009.

Marotta said horses will be able to ship in to the Fowlerville fairgrounds the day before the sale (Wednesday Sept. 28), with the sale beginning at noon on Sept. 29. The deadline to enter horses is July 15.

“People can go to our website at winnerscirclespeedsale.com where there (will be) contact information there or they can send a message on that site and it will go to us,” said Marotta. “And our Facebook page and social media will be up and running any day now.”

Marotta said he was looking forward to this year’s sale.

“We haven’t had a sale in Michigan in so long and with the state starting to turn a little bit, we thought it was time,” he concluded.