Horsemen Buy, Sell At Major Event

Horsemen Buy, Sell At Major Event

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

Large pickup trucks, many with horse trailers attached, lined Guilbeau Road on Friday as horsemen from several states bought and sold thoroughbreds during an annual fall event held Friday inside the Louisiana Equine Sales and Event Center.

The Breeders Sale and Auction featured 210 Louisiana-bred horses that highlighted yearlings and older horses. A mixed sales session held afterward included colts and broodmares.

One yearling, the first thoroughbred presented at the auction, sold for $97,500, according to a bid tabulation sheet.

Horses up for sale were led from the array of stables behind the Equine Center and brought on stage where their bloodlines and racing histories were noted. After the introductions auctioneers began canvassing the crowd, soliciting bids.

Some mares and colts sold for as low as $1,000, while others were reclaimed by their owners.

The sales event helped conclude two-days of celebrating the grand reopening of the Equine Center which was purchased for about $1.5 million in 2023 by the Central St. Landry Economic Development District.

Over the past several months, CSLED initiated a refurbishing project for the 12-year-old Equine Center, which was originally owned by a partnership of Louisiana horse owners and breeders.

Roger Heitzmann, secretary-treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, said during a Thursday night rededication ceremony that the event on Friday featured the best sales book offered in several years.

Heitzmann said that the Equine Center purchase by CSLED was essential to the success of state breeders and owners.

“If not for (the Equine Center), which was started by horsemen, there would be nowhere to sell our horses,” Heitzmann told the crowd at the rededication ceremony.