by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

HARRISBURG – Murray Brown was pleased with the results of the Standardbred Horse Sale, particularly related to the action surrounding female pacers.

On Thursday and Friday, a total of 16 female pacers sold for more than $100,000. Of those, four sold for $200,000 or better, led by record-setter Kikikatie, who went for $500,000, the highest-priced pacing broodmare ever at public auction.

USTA Photo

Murray Brown, General Manager of the Standardbred Horse Sale.

“One of the things that pleased me a great deal was the resurgence of the pacing filly market,” said Brown, the sale’s general manager. “They’ve been kind of an anchor on the entire industry for maybe the last 20 years. Although, it’s not where I’d like it to be, it’s a lot better than where it was.”

In addition to Kikikatie, former Horse of the Year Bunny Lake sold for $400,000, Beachy Lady went for $210,000 and Simple Gesture sold for $200,000. Beachy Lady is the dam of Cabana Fever, who has earned $299,550 this year, while Simple Gesture is the dam of Breeders Crown champ Shark Gesture.

Others top sellers were Latte Lady ($170,000), Cool Yankee ($170,000), Always A Yankee ($150,000), Feel Life ($150,000), Armbro Nest ($140,000), Camadian ($130,000), Yankee Icon ($125,000), She’s A Great Lady ($120,000), Cannae Cindy ($120,000), West End ($115,000) Allamerican Meadow ($115,000), and Ifyoucouldcwhatic ($105,000).

“It just kind of breeds on itself,” Brown said. “The fact that yearlings sold well is encouraging people to buy fillies both to race and then to become broodmares down the road. I haven’t seen such an upbeat feeling for quite a few years.”

For the week, a total of 2,056 horses were sold for $66.5 million, an average of $32,367.

Sales of 423 broodmares totaled $14.1 million for an average of $33,451. A total of 505 racehorses sold for $12.3 million, an average of $24,400.

The yearling portion of the sale Monday through Wednesday saw $38.6 million pass hands, an average of $36,973.

“Every area of it was great,” Brown said. “The people were here and they bid enthusiastically. There wasn’t a single area that showed any weakness, in my estimation. If you had what they wanted, they were willing to pay for it; in some cases, pay very well for it.”