LEXINGTON, Ky - Warm weather on Wednesday and Thursday turned to cold on Friday and Saturday, but the buyers remained hot at the Kentucky “After” Christmas Sale. This year’s sale was held January 30 - February 2, 2002 at Tattersall’s, marking down another successful event in the record books.
Sales manager Jerrold Pedigo said that overall he was very pleased with this year’s event. “Once again, our consignors brought top quality entries to be presented in the sale, and our buyers responded. The quality of the sale continues to improve year after year. I want to thank everyone who supported the sale this year and helped make it extremely successful.” That statement is supported by numbers from the sale, with the top five selling horses averaging $25,700 and the top ten averaging $21,370.
With 728 consignments, the four day event got underway on a very successful note with the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday brood mare, pleasure and spotted horse sales.
Horses of color, palominos, grays, cremellos and spotted, were very popular bringing top dollars. Mares in foal to stallions such as Jazz Man, Silver Design, Generator’s Silver Dollar, Jose’ Jose’ , Gen’s Armed & Dangerous, Skywatch, Masquerading, Pusher Busting Loose and many others commanded heavy bidding. Pusher brood mares were at a premium with several bringing ten thousand dollars or more.
Topping the brood mares division was Pushing For Gen, a mare by The Pusher C.G., who was in foal to Santana. She was consigned by Meade Hopkins and purchased by Mountain View Farms and R.M. Ewers. Pushing For Gen topped the Friday session. The next high top selling mare was Pusher’s Coined Gold, only a three-year-old. She is one of the five youngest Pusher mares today and she topped the Thursday sale. She is by The Pusher C.G. and out of Rachel Gold by Pride's Gold Coin. She was safe in foal to Santana and was consigned by Chad Hannah. When the bidding stopped, the proud new owners were Terry and Gail Baker. Numerous other mares brought in the five-figure amounts during the three days as well.
On Friday evening, the audiences had the opportunity to select from an excellent group of up-and-coming two-year-old horses. Commanding the top spot on Friday night was Fame’s Royal Rascal, a two-year-old stallion by Generator’s Fame, consigned by Latham Stables, and selected by Jennifer Brown. Miss Santiago, a black two-year-old mare by Santana, presented by Knox Blackburn, was selected by Randall Ferguson.
With All Du Respect, a three-year-old stallion by I’m Dumas Walker, captured the top Saturday spot. He was consigned by David Kelly, presented by Mickey McCormick and selected by Dr. John Lay. Ritz And Famous received the second top spot on Saturday. This sorrel stallion by He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz, was consigned by Sand Creek Farm, presented by Link Webb and was purchased by Jeff Hatcher.
The Saturday Night Spotlight Sale has eight consignments. Extra Ebony, consigned by Jean Phillips, sold prior to the sale, was purchased by the Bob Parks family and was the highest priced horse consigned to the sale. Beaming Around, a top eight-year-old gelding presented by Kurt Kovalik for Judy McDonald was the second highest horse in the Spotlight session. Del Rush purchased this entry.
For the first time, the Kentucky After Christmas Sale gave three saddles to top consignors in various divisions. Receiving these saddles were Meade Hopkins, Knox Blackburn and Mickey McCormick.
As has become the rule, this 17th annual event was prepared and presented with care, class, and attention to detail.