The reasons, as obvious as they may seem, are not only pandemic related, but the uncertainty that has surrounded us all throughout the year did not help. However, the general consensus, following the re-located CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale at Chilliwack this week was that, while it definitely could have been better, it also could have been a lot worse - a lot worse.

In the end, a 20 percent drop in average price, while difficult for many hard-working and committed consignors to swallow, felt like about the least horrid medicine we were going to be asked to taste this year.

When the dust had settled, 48 yearlings were sold (16 fewer than 12 months ago where the catalogue contained 12 more yearlings) for an average price of $13,304.

While there were fewer fireworks than normal, there was solid trade for horses with the conformation to match their undoubtedly nice pedigrees.

Local owners again went above and beyond to support consignors as best they could and there was also some input from Alberta.   

The highest-priced horse to sell came close to the end of the auction when Whitewood Farms as agent saw its MIDNIGHT STORM (Pioneer of the Nile) filly knocked down to Swift Thoroughbreds for $46,000.

The purchaser wasn’t much of a surprise, given that Swift campaigned the filly’s useful half-sisters ARCHITECTURE (Dixie Chatter) and TIPTOE (Tiz Wonderful).

Three of the four yearlings offered by Whitewood found buyers for a total of $67,000, placing them easily within the list of leading consignors topped by the likes of Emerald Acres, Wild Rose Farm and Jamie Demetrick.

Swift, who continue to do so much to help underpin our sport in the Province, also purchased a Jersey Town half-brother to former CTHS Sales Stakes victor, BRECHIN’S COMMAND (Second in Command). The two Swift buys totaled $58,000, making them the fourth-largest purchaser in terms of value behind Glen Todd ($75,000), Willow Creek Farms ($97,500) and Peter Redekop ($101,000).

Numerically, Willow Creek headed the list of buyers, signing for seven yearlings, including going to $22,000 for a LENT (Pulpit) half-sister to former Jack Diamond Futurity winner, POWER CORRUPT (Storm Victory).

Peter Redekop’s four buys included the $20,000 he paid for a SUNGOLD (A.P. Indy) filly out of MARCADO (Second in Command), a Stakes-winning half-sister to the magnificent HERE’S HANNAH. Redekop also went to $40,000 for Bryan and Carol Anderson’s MIDNIGHT LUTE half-brother to Redekop’s recent CTHS Stakes winner, AT ATTENTION (Shanghai Bobby).  
 
The priciest of Glen Todd’s three purchases was hip 38, an OXBOW (Awesome Again) full-sister to Arlington-Washington Futurity winner FLAP JACK, who was pinhooked out of last year’s Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Todd’s bid of $39,000 secured the filly from Mike Anderson, agent.   

Another notable and positive aspect of this year’s sale was the introduction of an online bidding system hosted by Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS). The system worked well, with several lots purchased remotely during the sale. This was an excellent initiative and, as we have seen with the betting handles, potentially opens up our product to a much wider audience on sale day. Buying online has quickly become an integral element of most of the world’s best-known sales companies. Buying digitally will only grow in popularity as we all become used to using these various systems and rethink our approach to how we inspect potential purchases.

Full results can be seen here: SALES RESULTS