Pandemic Forces Fasig-Tipton to Relocate Saratoga Horse Sales to Kentucky

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Fasig-Tipton will consolidate its July, Saratoga, and New York Bred yearling sales into one selected yearling auction – the 2020 Selected Yearlings Showcase – to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 9-10, at its Lexington, Kentucky facility, the company announced Monday.  The decision was made “after evaluating the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic for the last several weeks,” according to a statement.

Billed as “the crown jewel of the North American yearling sales calendar,” the Saratoga Sale, staged Aug. 5-6, 2019 in Saratoga Springs brought more than $55 million.  The two-day New York Bred Yearlings sale one week later brought an additional $16.2 million.

“2020 has been a difficult year so far, and we are all being forced to make decisions that we never envisioned having to make,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, in a statement. “We waited as long as possible to come to these determinations, conducting our due diligence to ensure that we make informed decisions that are in the best interests of our buyers and sellers.

“Our two Saratoga auctions are tied closely to the race meet.  We desperately want to see a traditional Saratoga race meet as much as anyone.  However, the details for the race meet – including whether spectators will be permitted – are understandably not finalized.  We are at a point in time where we must provide our sellers with a definitive schedule so that they can make sales plans for their yearlings.”

The July, Saratoga, and NY Bred Selected Yearling Sales are anticipated to return to their traditional dates in 2021.  The company intends to conduct the remainder of its 2020 auction calendar as scheduled. Fasig-Tipton will offer a group of selected New York Bred yearlings as part of the Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, scheduled to be held on Oct. 20 in Saratoga Springs.