NEWS
Fasig-Tipton sale at Belmont Park takes big leap in total, average
Posted: Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Total receipts more than doubled at the Fasig-Tipton horses of racing age sale at Belmont Park on Tuesday. And, with donations garnered from the sale's company's commission's, the sale raised about $65,000 for the New York Heroes Fund, established to help the families of rescue workers and others who were victims of terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11.
The sales company reported sales on 95 of 107 horses offered for gross receipts of $1,038,400, a jump of 120% from last year when 74 horses changed hands for $471,600.
The average of $10,931 was up 71% from last year's figure of $6,373. The median also increased dramatically to $8,000 compared to $4,500 in 2000.
"We wanted to do something for the people in and around New York because Fasig-Tipton has been in New York a long time," said Boyd Browing, Fasig-Tipton vice president. "We thought about how we could donate to the Heroes Fund and we couldn't come up with an arbitrary figure, so we decided to donate the commissions from the Belmont sale. We basically worked for free because we wanted to do something for the families of the victims."
Piazza Di Spagna (Chi)—the second horse led into the ring—was the highest price of the one-day sale. Consigned by trainer and co-owner Rene Araya, the five-year-old daughter of the Vice Regent stallion Great Regent attracted a final bid of $70,000 from New Farm. Piazza Di Spagna won the Inside Information Stakes at Monmouth Park earlier this year.
Out of the Chilean Group 3 winner Charing Cross, Piazza Di Spagna is a half sister to Steffi, who is stakes-placed in Chile.—Liane Crossley
Complete sales results are available at http://www.fasigtipton.com/sales01.html
