Yes, as Chuck said. However, the deal is worked out in advance -- sell, RNA, how high, etc., and both Keeneland and the consignor cut a deal. I am sure it's far off the usual percentage. There would have to be some deal in place if a sale takes place afterward.

Eric

Sorry for sounding a Dunce but your Auctions are different than ours RNA ?:confused:

Reserve
Not
Attained

Thanx mate:D 7.7mill reserve? wow isn't that seller full of SH#T

Obviously, I was not there, but I did see one or two go very cheap. Not sure if they were bought but a couple were sub- $100k, including a Pulpit filly from a nice family. Of course, not have seen them or their records, I'm basing this just on the page.

Being not that familiar with auctions, I have a question. How does a horse that can draw no better than a $40k bid get into Book 1? It is something that came up after the examination process, the market rejecting the pedigree, the lack of expected success by a sire who has his first crop hitting the tracks this year ie. Smarty Jones?
Honestly, if I were selling, and my horse was "only" worth $50-60k, I'd rather have him in a later place in the sale so the "appropriate" buyers would be looking at him and bidding. Tossing him into book 1 makes him look bad by comparison.

The truth is that Book 1 is hard for Keeneland to fill. Many of the owners and consignors would rather sell a $250k horse in book 2 or 3 where there are simply more buyers and less competition. If you take a average $250k horse and match them up against a $2 million dollar horse it is easy to see how they get overshadowed. What happens is that consignors sometimes push 'sacrificial' horses into Book 1, a horse with a good enough pedigree but a physical issue that is going to be a hard sell regardless of where they are booked. In doing so they help keeneland and get move favorable positioning for other lots. I saw a filly by one of the hottest sires in the world today that is just awful. The consignor told me that the owner wanted to be in book 1 and requested it. He advised against but went along simply to get brownie points. She brought less than $50k. As a racehorse I wouldnt take her for free.

Thanks Chuck. I know enough about conformation to know the good ones from the bad ones, but not most of the fine points in between. Some of them must have a leg on backward.

Whats your main point at auctions chuck? For me it's the front legs i can get away with most conformation faults ( lets face it i look at a horse nowadays with no conformation faults & i think slow horse;) ) but i like the front legs to be straight & a good eye:D

With different types of horses there are different things that I can and cant live with. For example with really heavy horse you need a bit more correct front legs and never back at the knee. With a lanky, lighter horse, often fillies, there is a lot more I can live with if they are athletic enough. certainly I dont mind longer pasterns in horses with turf pedigrees but dont want muc pastern in sprinters or strictly dirt horses. The way a horse moves behind is probably more important in ability. I have had some horses that were awful movers in the front legs but made up for it with superior power behind. All that and one i can afford

How do horses like Skip Away go so cheap. I know he had issues

it just seems like you read about how this Kentucky Derby winner could have been yours for $20 to $100k

and horses that go for $16 mil can't win an allowance race

I often see a horse sells for millions and don't bet 'em in their maiden debut figure they are not in a hurry to win.

Skip Away was a 2 year old in training and he had a chip in his ankle. He wasnt the best made or bred horse either. I dont mind him as a sire but you have to wait till they are at least three and they prefer turf.

I believe he was was every inexpensive as well. Aside from what anyone thought of his confirmation, pedigree, and performance -- I am not so sure that he was given every opportunity as stallion from the get-go either. That could have laid the groundwork and dictated the future so to speak.

Eric

PS -- got it. I read the previous posts again.

I watched a good portion of the sale today. One would think with all of Keenelands' money they could afford some guys that know the difference between half, three-quarter, and full siblings.

How'd the Distorted Humor - Lakeway look?

475k seems a bit lite.

http://finalturngallery.com/g2/main....8+_2_.jpg.html

Here's Azeri's colt at the beginning of this year. I'm sure he looks all glistening and such now but for them that have good eyes for conformation, how does he look? I know sometimes horses will just blossom, esp. with 9 months passing, so how does he compare in terms of quality from then to now?

I'd say he has filled out some since that picture was taken...Wow :eek:
Good looking animal :)

I'd say he has filled out some since that picture was taken...Wow :eek:
Good looking animal :)

$22k as a yearling... interesting story was the owner bought him because he wanted a grey horse that he could differentiate from the chestnuts/bays on track.

I think Tiznow has acheived what Skip Away could have as a sire, going from unproven rookie to superstar the way you laid out.

I saw one of them [Be Smart] run at Saratoga and fetched a $100 to win. Apparently no one saw him in the DRF or the program guide that day but me.

Hey.....I wonder if Servis will train any of the future crop?

I saw one go through the sale but it looked light on & very narrow in the chest but could just be a throw back to the mare i have a few from the same sire & they are different as Yin & Yang