CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale To Be Held at Woodbine Aug. 27

[Wandering Eyes]

A total of 215 yearlings are catalogued for this year's CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the Woodbine sales pavilion. The single-session auction begins at 11 a.m. ET.

“Historically, [the Canadian sale] has been one of the best value-buying sales in North America,” said David Anderson, the president of both the national and Ontario branches of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) that conducts the Canadian Premier sale. “The return on investment on these yearlings out of this sale is as good or better than any sale in North America.”

This year's catalogue is down from 244 yearlings in 2025, however, Bernard McCormack of Cara Bloodstock–which is due to sell some 20 yearlings this year–said fewer available horses gives buyers a competitive advantage.

In recent years, the Canadian sale has been trending upward. Last year, 244 yearlings were catalogued with 143 sold for a gross of $3,727,700 and an average of $26,297 that was up 10.6 % from the 2023 average of $23,778. The 2024 median of $19,000 was up 27% from the 2023 median of $15,000.

“It's Canada's sale,” McCormack said. “Given everything with the dollar [exchange rate], given everything with the border, given everything with how much money these horses can earn out of this sale, it's a no-brainer in terms of giving it a hard look. I think the buyers, as we've seen in the sales so far this year down south, there's fewer horses around, and these are the horses that are going to win the money. So, the best thing to do is get out and find them and grab them.”

Pointing toward the record-setting trade at Fasig-Tipton's recent Saratoga Yearling Sale, Glenn Sikura of Hill 'n' Dale Farms said, “I think that [the Canadian] sale has been remarkable, year in, year out. We've sold six horses that went on to win a million plus dollars. So, that gives you a pretty good indication. I'm sure Hill 'n' Dale Kentucky has done the same, but they've got the best of the best down there that they're selling. So, I think this is a remarkable place to buy a horse.”

Hill 'n' Dale is due to sell nearly 30 yearlings this year at the Canadian sale.

“You have, as a buyer, far less competition than if you were trying to buy something in Kentucky,” Sikura added. “And you know the good news about this sale is you're buying in Canadian dollars… those horses in Saratoga were really nice horses, but, wow, you saw their average, it was through the roof.”

To view the complete catalog, click here.

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