Page 138 - September 2023

Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale Wrap Up
Soaring Demand Continues
by Michael Compton • Photos by Linda Earley & Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
Ten 6-figure yearlings fueled this year’s Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Quarter Horse Yearling Sale on Aug. 11-12, pushing the sale’s gross and average prices to record heights for the second consecutive year.
With 148 yearlings changing hands (of
the 158 offered), the auction generated gross receipts of $4,238,600, marking a 20 percent increase over the previous year. The $28,639 average represents an 11 percent spike over last year’s average price of $25,818, and the median price dipped slightly to $15,500; it was $16,000 in 2022. Just 10 horses failed to meet their reserves, equating to a seven percent RNA rate for the two-day sale.
Consignor MJ Farms had a sensational sale and topped the leaderboard with eight of the Top 10 highest prices, including the $260,000 sale topper, Ocean Bridge (Hip 158). A gelded son of Woodbridge-Ms Riptide, by Ocean Runaway, Ocean Bridge is a full brother to Zia Futurity-RG1 winner and All American Futurity-G1 runner-up Mister Riptide, an earner of $748,298. Paragon Farms bought Ocean
Bridge and led all buyers at the sale with the single acquisition.
Mac Murray of MJ Farms, said that the resounding sale results, which signals the overall strength of the horse business in New Mexico, exceeded his expectations.
“I’m thankful for whatever help we got, and
I wish the best of luck to all the buyers,” Murray said. “We were absolutely amazed. We thought we might have one bring $100,000, but we sure didn’t think we would have eight. It’s very rewarding and completely unexpected. It was just incredible.
“I attribute it (sale success) in part to the New Mexico-bred program,” he added, “and the advent of the New Mexico Million at Albuquerque. This is the first year they are running it, and there is a lot of excitement about that. Last year was the best New Mexico-bred sale they ever had, and to build on last year’s sale success is pretty incredible.”
A pair of yearlings—both consigned by MJ Farms—fetched $185,000, representing the co- second-highest priced horses of the sale. Alamos, who sold as Hip 209, was bought by Triple R
Rick Baugh, chief operating officer of Ruidoso Downs with Lowell Neumayer, general manager, All American Ruidoso Horse Sales, LLC.
136
SPEEDHORSE
September 2023