Fasig-Tipton to host sales at Santa Anita as Barretts winds down

The Stronach Group and Fasig-Tipton announced on Friday they have reached an agreement to conduct thoroughbred auctions at Santa Anita Park beginning next year.

The new partnership is stepping in just as the Barretts sale company is winding down the auction business it has operated since Fred Sahadi, Jerry McMahon and Ralph Hinds founded the company in 1989.

"Fairplex, the parent company of Barretts, is shutting us down at the end of the year, so someone needed to step in," said Barretts general manager Kim Lloyd.

"I feel good about what we've done to support the industry and stay in there as long as we have. It's good to see Santa Anita and Fasig stepping in. I have great respect for Fasig, and they'll do a great job."

Santa Anita and Fasig-Tipton have tentatively scheduled a two-year-olds in training sale for June 5 and a yearling sale for September 24 or 25.

"We're thrilled to have Fasig-Tipton back in California and to host these sales at Santa Anita Park," said The Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo. "The Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale in March has been an incredible success for both Gulfstream and Fasig-Tipton, and we want to continue building on that relationship here at Santa Anita.

"These sales are exciting for horsemen as well as fans. Fasig-Tipton is a wonderful partner, and our work with them allows us to re-energise our facilities with different events while continuing to bring the inventory right to our horsemen."

Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning Jr said Santa Anita makes sense as a sales venue.

"We're very excited to be returning to the auction marketplace in California. Santa Anita is the perfect venue to conduct quality sales in California," Browning said. "We will work closely with The Stronach Group to serve the California West Coast marketplace."

The venture is receiving support throughout the industry.

"We're pleased that Santa Anita and Fasig-Tipton are joining the auction arena," said Miguel A. Santana, president and CEO of Fairplex, the parent company of Barretts Sales. "We applaud Santa Anita for stepping up and taking the lead to support the equine sales industry and keeping a footprint on the West Coast. We look forward to supporting them and the industry in the future."

The Los Angeles County Fair Association, which operates at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., has been reducing its interest in the racing industry in recent years. It closed its racetrack and moved its traditional September racing dates to Los Alamitos in 2014. At the end of May, the LACFA and William Baker, Barretts' vice president and controller, ended their relationship.

On July 12, Barretts announced plans to move its Paddock Sale —originally scheduled for July 25 after the races at Del Mar — to October 16 in conjunction with the Barretts October Sale of Yearlings and Horses of All Ages. Lloyd also talked about the move at that day's California Horse Racing Board meeting. That news frustrated CHRB vice chair Madeline Auerbach.

"I'm concerned about the sales. I'm concerned for the breeders of this state and concerned for people bringing in horses," said Auerbach, who called for a guarantee that this year's other two sales will go off as scheduled. "Any more postponements just can't be tolerated by the industry or by any of us. I want to be assured that those two sales will go off as originally planned."

Lloyd told the CHRB he's had assurances that the August Select Yearling Sale (on August 28) and the Fall Sale of Yearlings and Horses of Racing Age would run as scheduled, but he understood the concern. He said the decision to combine the July Paddock sale with the October sale was made by Fairplex as a cost-saving measure.

Lloyd said the October sale will likely be the last auction conducted under the Barretts banner, though a January mixed sale remains a possibility.

Doug Burge, president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, was pleased to see a smooth transition in place for California's commercial markets.

"The CTBA has worked diligently the last few years with Barretts and the Los Angeles County Fair," Burge said. "We are extremely gratified with the support shown by both Santa Anita and Fasig-Tipton, as this partnership will provide the needed stability and confidence for California breeders."

Terry Lovingier, chairman of the CTBA sales committee and Thoroughbred Owners of California owner relations committee, said the Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita sales will benefit the entire California horse industry.

"I'm excited and pleased to have been part of working with Santa Anita and CTBA to bring a brand-name sales company to a brand-name racetrack," Lovingier said. "It's best for all breeders and owners in California and provides the stability we all need in the horse industry.

"I would like to give a special thanks to Tim Ritvo at Santa Anita, Boyd Browning at Fasig-Tipton, and Doug Burge at CTBA for making this happen."

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