Canadian leads consignors on the world stage
by Kelly Counsel
The 2004 Keeneland
September yearling sale began on the 13th with a record-breaking catalogue
of 4,891 yearlings. The 14-day auction is the largest yearling sale
of its kind in the world, a global marketplace for young thoroughbreds
with buyers from the Far East, Middle East, Europe and America. It
was on this world stage where consignor Michael C. Byrne, owner of
Park Stud in Ontario and former owner and operator of the Canadian
Breeders Sales, made his mark by earning the title of Leading Consignor
by Average. Byrne sold nine horses grossing $4,585,000 for an outstanding
average of $509,444. Two of his consignment topped the million-dollar
mark. Byrne has added these latest halters to a growing collection
of million-dollar sales. His top seller to date, Ella Athena (in foal
to Giant’s Causeway), sold for $2 million at Keenland in 2002.
Sales are not necessarily the benchmark of a skilled Bloodstock professional.
Perhaps more telling are the careers of the horses that he or she
has sold. The exploits of former consignees are indeed carving out
Byrne’s
legacy. In 2003, the Michael C. Byrne consignment sold a Storm Cat
colt for $1,250,000 who went on to win this year’s GI Lane’s
End Breeders Futurity. Trained by D. Wayne Lucas for Bob and Beverley
Lewis, Consolidator also competed in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The colt will be one to watch in 2005.
“I buy some of these as foals in November and winter them in
Kentucky,” he said. A Grand Slam colt Byrne sold for $1,300,000
this fall was purchased as a foal for $400,000 – a gamble that
paid off. “He was an outstanding individual,” said Byrne.
Byrne’s September consignment represented hot sires, Giant’s
Causeway, Kingmambo, Grand Slam, Hennessy and Fusaichi Pegasus, among
other noteworthy individuals. Carefully selecting and acquiring bloodstock
with international appeal, and then strategically promoting them,
is a package of skills that Byrne learned from his association with
Warner L. Jones Jr. in the 1980’s.
“He was the greatest commercial breeder of all time,” said
Byrne. Jones was also the owner of Hermitage Farm in Kentucky, and
for 51 years the Director of Churchill Downs. He made the Kentucky
Derby what it is today. Jones passed away in 1994 at age 78.
As owner of the Canadian Breeders Sales for 11 years, Byrne focused
on bloodstock for the Canadian Stakes program. He worked hard at selecting
quality pedigrees for the Ontario fall sales, attracting powerful
buyers, and with the help of his wife Laurel and a small staff, hosting
first-class select sales.
“I was a great believer in E.P. Taylor’s concept that our
racetrack needed the support of a strong provincial and national breeding
industry. He built the sales pavilion as a venue for our auctions,”
said Byrne. In 2001, the Woodbine Entertainment Group asked Byrne
to step down and the sale was awarded to the Kentucky-based Fasig-Tipton
sales company. It is now managed by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse
Society.
“Without the responsibility of running the sales I have been
able to focus more on international pedigrees,” said Byrne.
Byrne has moved on, and the future of Woodbine’s Sales Pavilion
is left in question. The CTHS is entitled to use it for auctions only
until the end of 2005.
The 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale was the highest grossing
yearling sale in Keeneland’s history, surpassing the $300 million
mark. The top and the middle market were up, and the average and median
were up significantly over last year. Details from this sale can be
found at www.keeneland.com
Not Once but
Twice
Byrne followed
up his success at the Keeneland September Sale with another major
achievement: Leading Consignor by Average at the Keeneland November
Breeding Stock Sale. He sold five head for the gross value of $3,135,000,
an average of $627,000. Beginning on November 8, the sale was the
third highest grossing in the history of the event and broke the record
for the highest average – 2,614 hips averaging $97,348.
Byrne’s highest selling hip ($1,200,000) was a two-year-old filly
by Storm Cat out of the Ogygian mare Myth, dam of European champion
Johannesburgh. The filly, Fairest Cape, was purchased by Skara Glen
Stables which is owned by father and son Stanley and Ira Gumberg of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“We
sold Johannesburgh as a yearling at Keeneland in 2000. He went on
to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was the World Champion
at two years old,” said Byrne.
Michael Byrne has made a huge impact on the Canadian Thoroughbred
racing and breeding industries. Bold Ruckus stood at Park Stud and
ruled as Canada’s leading sire for ten consecutive years. Byrne
has earned international recognition as a bloodstock agent and has
played a part in nearly every aspect of Canada’s racing and breeding
industry. He was the youngest member appointed to the Ontario Racing
Commission.
Byrne is passionate about thoroughbred improvement and was a Director
of the Equine Research Centre for 15 years. He has dedicated much
of his career to commercial improvement of the industry and is a member
of the International Cataloguing Standards Committee, which evaluates
Graded races around the world. This committee promoted the Atto Mile
from listed status to a GI race. Byrne also founded and Chairs the
Canadian Graded Stakes Committee.
Republished with permission from Canadian Thoroughbred
Archives
