Executive Corner
From
the Executive Office of Doug Burge
A Common Goal
In mid December the CTBA sales committee made the decision to merge the 2000 Cal-bred
Select two-year-old sale with the Barretts March and May sales. With the strong commitment
from Barretts to offer a select vendue for Cal-breds there was no reason to continue to
fragment the market.
The CTBA established the Cal-bred only sale in April of 1999 to showcase the increasing popular select California-bred juveniles. The revitalization of the sale was in response to the increased demand and worth for quality Cal-breds brought on by the recent lofty purse bonuses for Cal-breds in open company as well as the very lucrative state-bred stakes schedule. Also, at the time of establishment, there were limited selling opportunities for Cal-bred juveniles in a select environment.
The formation of the CTBA sale was accompanied by a similar format at the 1999 Barretts March sale, in which Cal-breds were featured in a Select Session. The results of this session were spectacular, with an $80,000 average and a Cal-bred selling for $400,000.
With such a select vendue now in place at Barretts, and a strong commitment for the future, the CTBA sales committee elected to merge the April sale to better serve the breeders and consignors of California-breds. CTBA and Barretts will work together to promote and support the California-breds offered in the March and May sales. The merger represents two organizations joining forces with one common goal.
I am pleased to announce that the Annual Meeting of the membership and 1999 Awards Luncheon will be held at Santa Anita Racetrack on Sunday Feb. 6, 2000. The Awards Luncheon will take place in the newly constructed FrontRunner restaurant. Placement of the awards ceremony at Santa Anita will give California-breds tremendous exposure. The day will be marketed as "Crowning the California Champions Day," with the divisional winners honored in the winner's circle after each of the nine live races. Plans are in place to have Trevor Denman announce each of the nine divisional champions to the public, with video footage of the winner shown on the large television screen in the infield. This video footage will also be sent to various simulcast outlets across the country, and mention of the champions will take place on Fox Sports Net. It may even work out that the 1999 California-bred Horse of the Year will be seen on the track that day.
Santa Anita will assist in marketing "California
Champions Day," which will provide better exposure. California-breds have had a
remarkable year in racing, and it is only fitting that such recognition take place. Make
your plans to join us on Feb. 6th.
-Doug Burge