Fasig-Tipton Preparing for Newly Formatted Midlantic May Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

When torrential rain and severe weather forced the third and final under-tack session of last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale into a gallop-only, untimed preview, the adjustment was used as an experiment of sorts. How would buyers react to the change and ultimately, how would the horses that galloped at the sale go on to perform on the racetrack?

While the sale defied the storm to produce all-time gross, average and median records, three of the top 10 lots and eight of the top 20 were horses that galloped during the under-tack show. The second-highest priced juvenile, a Violence colt consigned by Top Line Sales, sold for $1.05 million to Donato Lanni.

Now that those graduates have officially turned three, their results are starting to accumulate on the racetrack.

Of the roughly 240 horses that galloped ahead of the auction, the biggest star to date has been Ground Support (Army Mule). Campaigned by NBS Stable, the Florida-bred filly broke her maiden on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs, won the GII Miss Grillo Stakes and placed third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The $1.05 million Violence colt, now named Boyd, was a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' on debut at Del Mar and remained undefeated in the Nov. 29 Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs for Bob Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables. Three additional Rising Stars in D'Code (Speightstown), Nothing Personal (Violence) and Spectacular Grey (Not This Time) have also come from the group of gallopers.

Shortly after last year's sale, Fasig-Tipton announced a new format for the 2026 Midlantic May Sale. No official times will be recorded or published by Fasig-Tipton. In addition, use of the riding crop will be restricted. Riders will not be permitted to remove their hands from the reins to strike a horse at any point before a breeze, during a breeze, or while galloping out. Riders will be permitted to tap on the shoulder while both hands remain on the reins to keep the horse focused.

As the industry looks toward the auction, which will be held May 18 and 19 in Timonium, Maryland, the Fasig-Tipton team is optimistic that the key changes will not only shift buyers' focus from the stopwatch to the horse's natural athleticism, but also attract a wider pool of buyers looking for athletes prepared for the longevity of a racing career.

“We had been listening and observing what was happening in the 2-year-old sales market for a period of time and were concerned about the emphasis on a single factor–the time that was being reported–being used as a primary evaluative tool in a lot of instances,” said Fasig-Tipton's President and CEO Boyd Browning. “[The 2025 sale] really became an unintended experiment and I think what we saw was an under-tack show that mirrored what we hope could be the long-term vision for the 2-year-old sales.”

Under the new format, Browning said he expects to see a diverse range of under-tack performances. While some consignors will still opt for a standard breeze, others may choose extended gallops at varying speeds or traditional two-minute licks. The flexibility allows consignors to showcase each individual's ability, prioritizing their way of going over a published number.

“I think that the untimed aspect will eliminate making the breeze on show day maybe the most important day of that horse's life,” Browning explained. “We're trying to allow consignors to present their horse in a professional manner to demonstrate their ability, but also make sure that we give the buyers a product that can move forward.”

Buyers on site at the 2025 Midlantic May Sale | Fasig-Tipton

Fasig-Tipton's Executive Vice President Bayne Welker said that the goal is to present athletes who are ready to transition to the racetrack without having undergone the physical preparation required for a timed under-tack show

“From a purchaser's perspective, the intent is to have horses that are more sound and can move into a trainer's barn to progress right through their training regimen and be closer to a start,” he explained. “The market has seen a high, high demand for horses that are close to making a start. Two-year-old consignors are some of the best horsemen and horsewomen out there. I think this is going to allow them to demonstrate that their horses are going to be ready, sound and fit.”

Browning noted that new format will also reward buyers who rely on horsemanship as they navigate the juvenile market.

“We've got a great level of confidence in the aptitude of buyers, that they'll be able to evaluate horses based on how they move on the racetrack,” said Browning. “I think there will be a lot more emphasis on the conformation of these horses when they look at them at the end of the shank. It's going to allow really good horsemen and horsewomen to have an advantage.”

“I think one unintended consequence we did see last year is that it pushed more people into the barn area to look at those horses on the end of the shank, watch them move, and have a dialog with the consigner,” added Welker. “It eliminated horses falling into a certain criteria because of the time they put down.”

Beyond the timing and crop changes, the 2026 Midlantic Sale will also introduce an onsite Safety Officer starting when horses ship in to train up to the sale. Horses flagged by the Safety Officer will be examined by the veterinary team and either be cleared or placed on a probationary list to be monitored further. If a horse is on that list, the consignor will be required to provide a certificate from their attending veterinarian supporting their eligibility to preview for the sale. The sales company will have the ultimate say on the horse's ability to participate in the under-tack show.

“It is Fasig-Tipton's goal to make sure what we are presenting to the public on breeze show day and on sale day is a horse that is sound and has been followed through the training process and into the sales ring,” said Welker.

In recent years, prominent owners like Mike Repole have been vocal about reforming the juvenile sales model. Browning and his team are hopeful that these steps will bolster buyer confidence and encourage broader participation.

“We believe strongly in the 2-year-old sales market,” he said. “We're very much advocates and think it's a critical part of the marketplace. Some of the world wants to paint the brush that all 2-year-old sales are bad and others want to say that all 2-year-old sales are great. 2-year-old sales serve a vital role in the overall Thoroughbred marketplace and they will continue to be a key element of Fasig-Tipton.”

The Midlantic May Sale will be held on May 18th and 19th, with the under-tack show scheduled for May 12-14. Entries close February 2.

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