San Antonio, Texas - The 27th annual TQHA Yearling Sale will take place at The Freeman Exposition Hall  in San Antonio on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Before the first yearling enters the sales ring, there is tremendous work done by breeders across the Lone Star State to match stallions and mares. Long days and nights of foaling season follow. The Texas Quarter Horse Association staff works tirelessly to plan the sale, assemble the catalog and attract attention from bidders, not just in Texas, but other regions in the United States.  Once the weekend arrives, the yearlings await their turn to parade in front of prospective buyers. Then the excitement begins!

First Sale Began in 1998

In 1998 the TQHA and Sam Houston Race Park teamed up to host the first annual TQHA Yearling Sale.  The first sale showcased 108 yearlings, with War Colors winning the inaugural TQHA Sale Futurity the following  year with a purse of $79,031. This month, 402 yearlings are up for bid. Each will be eligible to return one year later to compete in trials for the TQHA Sale Futurity with the ten finalists running for their share of an estimated purse of $700,000.

With growth in each year, the sale, was expanded to a two-day format in 2007. In 2008, 358 yearlings were listed in the catalog with total sales of $4 million. The sale topper was hip 170 A, Mr Jess Kue sold to Narcisco Flores for $250,000. The sorrel colt by 1994 Champion 2-year-old Mr Jess Perry out of the Gone to the Man mare, Kool Kue Baby, was consigned by Ramiro Lopez.  The following year, the number grew to 385, with $3.4 million in sales.

Rob Werstler, TQHA executive director gives high marks to Texas breeders and horsemen who continue to have allegiance to their home state.

"Our sale was started to offer Texans a place to sell their horses," said Werstler. "We feel it provides a niche for the Quarter Horse industry and gives breeders an opportunity to show yearlings that might get lost in bigger sales."

In 2011, Texas race dates were amended with summer Quarter Horse racing shifting to Retama Park.  A search for a new venue in the San Antonio area was spearheaded by TQHA president Melissa Tiner and sale chairman W.B. Jones and a three-member sale committee. Their selection, the Exposition Hall at the Freeman Arenain San Antonio, Texas, has been well-received by both consignors and bidders.

"This is a great facility and centrally located for buyers and consigners and having it tied to the dates around the Retama Park meet and our Summer Showdown Stakes event and TQHA Sale Futurity final just makes it a that much better,” said Scott Sherwood, TQHA Director of Racing.

Strong Support from Consignors

Breeders from every region of Texas will send their yearlings to San Antonio, where prospective buyers can view them in advance and make bids as they enter the sale ring.

Longtime consigners include  Bobby D. Cox, Jerry Windham, Tyler & Naia Graham, Bullard Farms, Granada Farms, Haddad Ranch and the Terrazas Family. One of the most successful breeding farms in Louisiana, Robicheaux Ranch returns  for the first time in over a decade.

 The TQHA Yearling Sale has grown substantially in recent years with 251 prospects in 2021 to 357 in 2022 to 414 in 2023, with a record $8 million in sales and 402 in the 2024 sale. 

Success Stories Abound

The TQHA Yearling Sale boasts countless graded stakes winners, with many sale graduates making headlines nationally in the Quarter Horse industry.

Oak Tree Special was purchased by owner Raul Rubalcava at the 2001 TQHA Yearling Sale for just $8,000. Rubalcava recalls what impressed him about Oak Tree Special as a yearling.

Oak Tree Special was a standout throughout his career, winning 16 of his 24 starts and earning $628,470 in purses. He was honored as AQHA World Champion and top Three-Year Colt.

Texas horseman Bobby Martinez trained Oak Tree Special, and has fond memories of the accomplished champion.

Oak Tree Special, who was retired at the end of 2004, has produced some significant offspring, most notably AQHA world champion Cold Cash 123 and multiple-graded stakes winners, Acorn, Send Me a Candy Tree and Coors Select.

Azoom was bred in Texas by Jerry Windham and purchased at the 2003 TQHA Yearling Sale for $62,000 by Enrique Carrion of Veracruz, Mexico. He began his career in Mexico, winning four races in Mexico City before Carrion sent him to trainer Frank Cavazos at Sam Houston Race Park. With regular rider, Rodrigo Vallejo, Azoom captured two Grade 1 futurities at Sam Houston Race Park, the $283,422 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1) and the $350,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G1). He not only won that stakes in convincing fashion, he set a new track record of :19.574 for the distance of 400-yards.  He also captured the Texas Classic Futurity (G1) and retired to stud with record of 11 wins from 14 starts and earnings of $738,136.

Every yearling that passes through the sale ring is eligible for the TQHA Sale Futurity run at Retama Park at the end of July. Last year’s edition of the race had a purse of $700,000 and the winner, Dollar Bill, who was sold for $39,000 in the 2022 sale,has already won seven career races and earnings in excess of $581,727.

Many purchases are made by individuals, but partnerships are a great way to purchase a race horse.  Triple Five is an ownership group of five friends from San Antonio, Belton and Temple, Texas. Individually they have been involved in Quarter Horse racing for many years and Eduardo Leon and his wife, Vanessa, shared their experience.

“Everybody went to the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale and were in agreement on purchasing Gotagogh,” said Leon. “We liked his pedigree and felt confident in our trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. Watching him win his Sam Houston Futurity trial was an amazing experience! In 15 years, this was our first qualifier to a major Futurity. As often as our schedules permit, we enjoy cheering him on!”

Gotagogh was honored as TQHA Champion 2-year-old Colt has not lost momentum in his 3-year-old campaign. With his recent victory in the final of the $145,205  Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs, his earnings stand at $213,475. 

“He has been great for us,” added  Diaz. “We were all there at the TQHA Yearling Sale. He was pricey, but got a lot of votes! The owners have been great; no pressure and trust the work that we do. You can’t go wrong with a fast horse!”

TQHA Yearling Sale graduates are already making headlines this year as Kempton, a $30,000 repurchase, is undefeated in three starts in 2024. After winning the $1,081,820 Heritage Place Futurity(G1) on June 1 at Remington Park, he is the second-ranked Quarter Horse in the country by earnings. The son of Kiss My Hocks was bred in Texas by Tyler Graham/Namgis Qhs Llc.

“Our sale always offers incredible value," states Werstler. "We have seen pretty nice horses go for less than $10,000 and win a  six-figure futurity."

"It will be a thrill to see which of the yearlings purchased at last year's TQHA Yearling Sale will emerge victorious in the 2024 TQHA Sale Futurity, which will be contested at Retama Park on Saturday, July 27. In each of the previous editions, thrilling finals have been contested with joyous celebrations shared by the breeder, owner, trainer and jockey. 

So, make a trip to the Freeman Exposition Hall for the TQHA Yearling Sale to see some outstanding Quarter Horses. Enjoy the sights and sounds and even if you are not ready to sign a ticket this year, gather some friends and come back next July!

TQHA YEARLING SALE FACT BOX

2024 TQHA Yearling Sale

Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27

The Freeman Exposition Hall

3201 E Houston St, San Antonio, Texas 78219

Free and open to the public

402 cataloged Accredited Texas Bred yearlings will enter the sale ring beginning at 10 am (Central) each day

Sale catalog available at tqha.com or by calling 512-458-5202

Photo Credits:  

Mark Herron/ TRACK MAGAZINE