by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Harrisburg, PA — The final day of yearling offerings at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pa., saw a record gross and average, according to Sales Manager Murray Brown.

“I think it’s the strongest Wednesday in our history (final figures bore out Brown’s predictions with a gross of $42,165,000 and the average of $41,217). Horses sold extraordinarily well and maybe a few not so good ones sold very well.

“I think we’ve come to the stage in the industry where there’s a reasonably good expectation of possibly making money and those in the business are stretching a little longer than they did. There are a few new faces here and there and it’s just the general sense of the Standardbred economy right now.”

Jean Brown, of Blue Chip Farm, had some thoughts on the yearling portion of the sale as she was preparing for the farm staff to return to Wallkill, N.Y.

“I thought it was very good, trotters remained strong, which I kind of expected because of the exchange rate with the Euro. I thought the middle market did fine, as long as you had a good looking individual. That’s true whether it’s a good sale or a bad sale, conformation always rules. If you have a good individual, but the pedigree’s maybe a B plus or an A minus, this was a sale that was good. But the A plus horses, in conformation and pedigree, they did great.”

For Blue Chip’s offerings, Brown was equally positive.

“We did great, New York is strong.”

She thought the farm’s stallions were well received overall.

“They were all very consistent. I think if you look at the stallion averages, New York is going to be right up there. People still like the new guys (stallions) on the block, but they’re willing to pay for consistency. If you have a strong sires stakes program behind you, it certainly helps.”