Fasig-Tipton Company Inc., which for nearly 20 years conducted Thoroughbred auctions in Texas, recently announced that it would no longer run auctions in the state. However, the Texas Thoroughbred Association, which has sponsored all Fasig-Tipton Texas sales, is actively discussing other options and an announcement will be coming later in April about the continuation of Thoroughbred auctions in the state.
“The TTA would like to thank Fasig-Tipton for their many years of involvement in Texas, and we appreciate everything they did to bring a professional sale operation here,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA. “We plan to have a yearling sale later this year and a 2-year-olds in training sale next spring, and we will have more details on that shortly.”
Over the years, the auctions at the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion on the grounds of Lone Star Park have produced many equine stars, including Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner and $3.3 million earner Kip Deville, multiple graded stakes winner Bwana Charlie, and North East Bay, the dam of recent $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Prince Bishop.
The auctions in Texas have also been tied to the TTA Sales Futurity, a $100,000-estimated stakes at Lone Star with divisions for colts/geldings and fillies. The TTA also plans to continue with those races, which this year will be run July 11.