By all measures, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) Premier Yearling Sale, held Sept. 2, produced the most successful results the sale has seen in years. Gross, average, median, and number of Thoroughbreds sold were all up over last year, and both the gross and average were the highest in at least 10 years.
The CTHS auction, held at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion in Toronto, saw 145 yearlings sold (up 8.6% from 133 in 2025) for a total gross of US$3,216,713 (up 22% from US$2,628,730 last year). That produced an average of US$22,184 (up 12% from US$19,765 in 2025) and a median of US$12,234 (up 13% from US$10,839 last year).
This year's clearance rate was 78%, up from 69% in 2025.
Even several incidents of extremely severe weather—which at one point halted the sale for about 10 minutes—couldn't curtail the positive commerce.
"I think the staff here, and everyone, worked really hard to get some new buyers," said David Anderson, the president of both the national and Ontario branches of the CTHS. "We had faces here that we hadn't seen before, and some old faces that came back. At the end of the day, the breeders put some nice horses in the sale, and they're the ones that really, truly deserve this, and they need to be rewarded."
Anderson also credited additional funding from the Ontario government for helping drive the increase in sale numbers.
The son-and-father team of Al and Bill Ulwelling from Minnesota purchased the sale topper, Hip 131, a Mucho Macho Man colt out of Ghost Painter, for US$100,747. The colt was bred by Phoenix Rising Farms and sold by consignor Susan Foreman. The Ulwellings, via K and J Bloodstock as agent, also purchased Hip 70, a Reload colt out of Arthemisa from Sherry McLean's Northern Dawn for US$19,430.
Al said via text that their trainer, Kevin Attard, picked out the horses, but the additional government money made Al and his father "much more active in the sale. The extra purse money added to the big races for the auction horses, the extra breeding incentives, and an actual long-term thought plan will keep us racing there forever. Without that money, we probably would've had to look at Kentucky as they seem to be the state that is flourishing with racing."
Ontario Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Sue Leslie spent US$156,878, the most of any buyer, to take home four yearlings. Shannondoe Farm was the leading consignor by average, with three sold for an average of US$76,040.
Anderson said the sale results have him bullish on the future of the sale.
"We were so busy," Anderson said. "On Monday it rained all day, and people were still out all day in the rain looking at horses. So, if that isn't a telltale sign, I don't know what is. It's just very encouraging when everybody's happy—the buyers, the sellers, the sales company, the trainers. It makes really for a wonderful business. ... I'm really looking forward to it and excited for the next five years."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
