Brian Graves

Ryan Norton, who previously served as stallion director at Darby Dan Farm, has been named the new stallion director at Gainesway, the farm announced Thursday. Norton had been at Darby Dan since 2002, starting in the sales division before being named stallion director in 2005. "Ryan brings with him over 20 years of experience in his field," said Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves. "Ryan's meticulous nature will make him the perfect person to give our clients and customers a great experience conducting business with Gainesway Farm." A native of Winchester,...

By Christie DeBernardis and Jessica Martini A $1.4-million son of super sire Into Mischief (Hip 604) led a sextet of seven-figure sellers during the opening session of Book 2 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Wednesday. Consigned by Summerfield on behalf of Stonestreet Stables, the colt was purchased by Larry Best of OXO Equine. With six horses eclipsing the million-dollar mark Wednesday, the sale total now comes to 28. During the equivalent session last year, just two yearlings brought seven figures, including the $1.7-million sale topper. "It was a great...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Fasig-Tipton marks 101 years of selling at Saratoga Monday with the start of its highly anticipated Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale. The Saratoga Sale is known for offering some of the country's top yearlings, many of whom have quite the star-studded pedigrees. The 2022 catalogue, which features 216 yearlings, is no exception. "It's just a fantastic collection of yearlings, both in terms of pedigree and the physical conformation," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. "We were excited all spring when we were going to the farms with the interest and...

LEXINGTON, KY - The yearling sales season kicks off Tuesday with the Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington. Bidding at the one-session auction begins at 10 a.m. "We're optimistic," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said of expectations for the sale. "We've seen a very solid 2-year-old marketplace throughout the spring. There is demand for quality horses, certainly plenty of interest. Racing is pretty good right now." On a balmy Monday morning in Lexington, buyers were out in force and consignors were busy showing yearlings to a...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, delayed a day due to last week's blizzard, took some time to find its footing, but gained in strength throughout Tuesday's opening session to end the day with figures up compared to its 2020 opening session. "We are very pleased with the way things ended up," said Keeneland's vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "We were expecting a very solid day. There was some nice quality, especially towards the end. And that is...

Multiple Grade I winner Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) will stand the 2022 season at Gainesway Farm following his retirement from racing. The winner of this season's GI Maker's Mark Mile is expected to make his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Raging Bull will enter stud in 2022 with an advertised fee of $10,000 LFSN. "Raging Bull is a knockout physically," said Gainesway General Manager Brian Graves. "His six triple digit Beyer speed figures and his performances over 14 Grade I events...

Gainesway Farm enjoyed an unforgettable Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale this year as the leading consignor of the elite auction with 12 yearlings sold including the $2.6 million sales topper. Now, they hope to continue the same success at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Sale on Nov. 9 with a consignment that features three graded stakes winners including the speedy and precocious Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa - No Use Denying, by Maria's Mon). The Grade I winner campaigned by Tracy Farmer will be offered in foal to super-sire Into Mischief....

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale, launched last week with a Bluegrass band, mimosas, and a boutique Book 1 section, continued its momentum straight through to the end of its 11th session, concluding with a sales record average, median and buy-back rate. The gross, which was over $300,000,000 for three straight years before falling to $248,978,700 during the pre-vaccination pandemic in 2020, rebounded to $352,823,000 by the time the last hip went through the ring Friday evening. It was the auction's sixth highest gross in history. "The hope was that we...

by Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - It was a very strong day of trade across the board at Fasig-Tipton's July Selected Yearlings Sale Tuesday, and, to no one's surprise, offspring of Into Mischief proved to be the auction's most coveted offerings. The Spendthrift kingpin accounted for three of the day's top four sellers, including the $800,000 sales topper (hip 123), who sold to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and LNJ Foxwoods. "He is an amazing stallion," Fasig Tipton President Boyd Browning. Jr. said of Into Mischief. "He is always...

By Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY--There was plenty of buzz at Newtown Paddocks Monday with a lively day of trade for Fasig-Tipton's July Breeding Stock and Horses of Racing Age Sales. The popular Horses of Racing Age Sale was back for its ninth straight year and there was plenty of demand for promising or accomplished runners. Stakes winner Front Run the Fed (Fed Biz) topped the auction, selling to George Sharp for $440,000 off a third-place finish in the GIII Poker S. The second highest-priced horses was recent...

Conquest Big E (Tapit), an 8-year-old with a win in the 2018 GII Gulfstream Park Mile S. on his record, was acquired privately Friday by his breeder, Gainesway Farm, with the expressed intent of retiring the gelding. A day earlier, Conquest Big E's story was making the rounds on social media, with many worried that his well-being was in jeopardy. He was entered in a $3,500 claimer Friday at Fonner Park, which was to be his first start since he failed to complete the course in a June 19, 2020...

Tapizar (Tapit--Winning Call, by Deputy Minister), who was set to be shipped to Japan to stand stud at Yushun Stallion Station for the 2021 season, was euthanized after an accident in his stall at the Gainesway quarantine barn Tuesday night. The 12-year-old was scheduled to travel in mid-January. "It is with great sadness that Gainesway confirms the sudden and tragic loss of Tapizar," said Gainesway Farm's General Manager Brian Graves in a statement. "Our hearts go out to all of those involved." Tapizar's top produce is the seven-time Grade I...