SHAKOPEE, MN – The results are in and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Sale at Canterbury showed declines year-over-year in gross receipts, median and average selling price despite selling more five more yearlings.
In 2024 there were 16 yearlings that were sold to new owners that resulted in a total of $385,500 in gross proceeds. Sunday 21 yearlings changed hands for gross proceeds of $247,500.
The average yearling selling price was down from $24,000 last year to $11,437.50 on Sunday with the median settling in at $5,000, down from $21,000.
The sale topper was hip number 18, a filly out of The Ring by Flameaway, consigned by Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick and purchased by Carin Offerman.
“I really wanted a filly, I really like Flameaway as a sire and I felt that she was the best filly in the sale,” said Offerman. “Troy (Bethke) and I looked at her carefully. I check out the paper and he checks out the horse and we have to agree before we bid and she looked good on all counts. I went over budget a little but compared to last year I reined it in.”
Offerman was the leading buyer last year with three horses purchased worth $124,000. She also was the buyer of the sale topper last year, a Run Happy colt out of Mesa Mirage that sold for $62,000.
“I asked my wife before the sale, ‘Do we really want to sell this one?’” said co-consignor Rick Bremer. “I love that filly and we’ve done so well with two-year-olds in that family. I’m looking forward to watching her run.”
While consignors praised the auction team, many lamented about the prices the yearlings were bringing in the ring.
“This is how sales are going now,” said one buyer. “There is the top end and then the bottom with no real middle level of buying.”
While four yearlings sold for over $20,000, only two horses landed in the $10,000 – $20,000 range with the rest selling for less than $10,000.
The uncertainty that has dogged Minnesota racing since the expiration of the Canterbury Park-Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community agreement crept into the sale.
“It’s hard to think about continuing to sell in Minnesota,” said one consignor. “We have some Minnesota bred yearlings that we’ll sell next year but who knows after that. We’ll have to think hard about dropping foals in Minnesota going forward.”
One consignor said it likely wasn’t helpful having the new amphitheater opening across from Canterbury Park announcing that the naming rights were sold to Mystic Lake Casino just weeks before the horse sale.
While the Minnesota Racing Commission tried to assist racing with the approval of Historical Horse Racing games, the legislature checked that move by making such games illegal. In 2024, a measure legalizing sports gambling agreed to by all affected parties that included provisions for racing and charitable gaming was stymied at the end of a convulsive session of the state legislature. No sports wagering bill got close to passage in 2025.
Here are the full results:
