Yearlings sired by New Jersey's Walner topped the sales at the 86th Annual Standardbred Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Walner's offspring achieved an average price of $258,063 across 16 yearlings. A standout moment occurred when Cambridge Hanover, a Walner offspring, sold for $1 million, matching the second-highest price ever paid for a yearling.
The total sales for Walner's yearlings reached $4.13 million. Other New Jersey sires also performed well; Muscle Hill's 13 offspring averaged $87,769 each, totaling $1.14 million, while Tactical Landing's 21 offspring averaged $33,618 each, amounting to nearly $706,000. All three sires are based at Southwind Farms in Pennington, Mercer County.
This success follows results from the Lexington Yearling Sale where Walner's offspring led with an average sale price of $175,216. Muscle Hill and Tactical Landing also had strong showings with averages of $124,257 and $87,784 respectively.
"New Jersey-bred yearlings continuing to generate premium prices signifies the effectiveness of Governor Murphy’s and the Legislature’s investment in our horse racing industry," NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn stated. "The benefits for breeding horses here in New Jersey touch a wide range of supporting industries from hay and grain production to the sale of tack and veterinarian care that are all beneficial to the state’s economy."
In total, 124 yearlings sold in Harrisburg will be eligible to race in New Jersey for a combined sum of $7.22 million, averaging $58,250 per horse. The overall standardbred sales saw 866 horses sold for just over $37 million with an average price of $42,830.
Concord Stud Farm from Cream Ridge in Monmouth County had the highest consignor average at Harrisburg with an average sale price of $74,880 across 75 horses. The farm is operated by David and Robin Meirs and their family on 249 acres.
Walner is notable as a former world champion who won nine out of ten lifetime starts including major victories like the Breeders Crown and Stanley Dancer Memorial at Meadowlands. He has sired six trotters who have earned over a million dollars each.
Muscle Hill is another past world champion with significant achievements including winning his last 20 races consecutively and being named Horse of the Year in 2009. His progeny includes three Hambletonian winners among other high earners.
Tactical Landing was crowned Breeders Crown Champion at age three and is closely related to other champions like Mission Brief. He has produced two Hambletonian winners from his first two crops.
