The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) Stallions and Services Auction launches on Wednesday, December 15 with two preview days on Starquine.com, and then begins online bidding at 10 am EST Friday, December 17 through 5pm EST on Monday, December 20. Top stallions from Florida, Indiana and Kentucky are featured alongside services such as broodmare board, transportation, marketing and veterinary services. The event will be hosted on Starquine.com.
The inaugural ITA SSA raised more than $36,000, with all of the proceeds going towards aftercare, education and promotion efforts for the Indiana Thoroughbred industry. The ITA has a mission to top the 2020 total to be able to help more Indiana equine industry endeavors.
“Having our auction prior to the holidays is the perfect excuse for some last-minute gift shopping as well as tax deductions prior to the end of the year,” says Christine Cagle, the ITA’s Stallions and Services Auction Chairperson.
Money from the 2020 auction went to assist in launching a first-of-its-kind retirement program called the Broodmare Bunch, which is a program to assist potentially at-risk broodmares in finding homes after their breeding careers have ended. Tri-State Thoroughbred Rehab and Rehoming, Inc., received fundal to help less desirable horses retiring from racing that may have physical or mental issues that need rehab before retraining.
“While the ITA is a group of Thoroughbred breeders and owners, we understand that it is our job to also ensure racehorses are able to move on to new lives and careers after the track,” says Cagle. “This is the one big fundraiser we do, and all of the money goes to a greater good.”
Funding from the 2021 auction also assisted:
· The Indiana Horse Council Foundation Scholarship
· Indiana Grand’s chaplain Otto Thorwarth and his ministry project
· Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Reins of Hope Equine Ministry and Narrow Gate Horse Ranch
· Western Kentucky tornado recovery efforts
· Several educational seminars and farm outreach events throughout the year for the racing industry, as well as general public.
“The ITA’s mission is to do more than be a network of breeders, owners and horsemen,” says Tony Wolfe, DVM, president of the ITA. “We know there are so many great things about our state and our industry, and we are working hard to increase that awareness.”
Multiple graded stakes winner and Indiana’s All-Time Money Earner, Bucchero represents Florida in the ITA auction. Exciting Indiana stallions being offered for the 2022 event include:
· Sleepy Eyes Todd
· Charming Kitten
· Calculator
· Skylord
· Forever d’Oro
· Qurbaan
· Royal Artillery
· And more…
Kentucky farms have graciously donated services from stallions like:
· Keen Ice
· Firing Line
· Oxbow
· Mshawish
· Spun To Run
· Bee Jersey
· And more…
Services such as hard-to-find transportation services, video creation, a free full page advertisement and veterinary services are offered as part of this unique auction. Halters worn by Horse of the Year Gunrunner and multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy (complete with certificates of authenticity) are also available through the auction.
Updates will be posted on the ITA’s social media channels leading up to the auction (search Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance). Bidding opens at 10 am EST December 17.
